Sidelined: The QB and Me hit Tubi this past weekend, bringing with it a host of Canadian talent to bring the story to life.
Filmed in Victoria, BC, Canada, Sidelined: The QB and Me, adapted from Tay Marley’s popular Wattpad story, follows Dallas (Siena Agudong), an aspiring dancer pursuing a prestigious scholarship, whose path becomes intertwined with quarterback Drayton (Noah Beck). Under the guidance of dance instructor Miss Alicia (Deborah Cox), Dallas must navigate the delicate balance between her artistic aspirations and burgeoning romance.
With award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Deborah Cox, this young teen story about love and ambition brings solid talent to the screen. Sidelined: The QB and Me is a heartwarming tale of ambition, love and determination. Cox brings her years of experience to the role while adding aspects of herself to the character.
“I loved the storyline of these two young passionate creatives, one in sports, one in dance, coming together, falling deeply in love. I just loved all the complexities of it,” Cox explains. “Pretty much everything that I get myself involved in has got to be something that I have a real connection to. And I had a connection with this. I just knew it was a story that I wanted to tell, and it was a character that I wanted to play.”
The film also features Dawson’s Creek‘s James Van Der Beek, Riverdale‘s Drew Ray Tanner, and is directed by Justin Wu, known for his work on Reginald the Vampire and Kim’s Convenience. The screenplay adaptation was crafted by Mary Gulino and Crystal Ferreiro, bringing Marley’s beloved story to life for a new audience.
Not only is Sidelined: The QB and Me featuring Canadian talent, it is also featuring Canadian locations. “The way I see it is that not only do you have Canadian stories, but you also have Canadian vistas,” said director Justin Wu when talking about Canada and the film industry.
“I find that, to me, what really excites me is just being able to tell unique stories with a fresh perspective, and the fact that Canada has such a blossoming and booming industry with incredibly talented young upstarts from cinematographers to costume designers. As a Canadian myself, I am a big proponent of trying to, you know, find international stories—Canadian and international—and shoot them in Canada if possible, or utilize some of the incredible talent that we have.”
Tubi stands as one of the biggest free streaming platforms in Canada, offering a host of ad-supported content. With more original content like Sidelined: The QB and Me, it shows a strong commitment to Canadian talent both in front of and behind the scenes. Sidelined: The QB and Me represents a unique collaboration between Canadian talent and emerging stars, offering a fresh take on the classic themes of following one’s dreams while navigating the complexities of young love.
