Westlake club soccer coach making documentary film

Photo courtesy of DAN METCALFE FUTURE STARS- Players from the DMS11 Soccer Academy in Westlake celebrate a victory in the final of the National State Cup in England. A film is being produced about the team's trip overseas. Two months ago, the DMS11 Soccer Academy from Westlake Village showed a few teams in England just how good they were on the pitch. Thanks to head coach Dan Metcalfe's cinematic skills, others will soon be able to relive the experience.

Besides serving as the team's head coach, Metcalfe is also a filmmaker, having previously worked on soccer movies such as "Kicking & Screaming" with actor Will Ferrell.

With the majority of the Westlake team's 18yearolds going to college this fall, Metcalfe thought the time was right to shoot a documentary on his U-18 squad that's ranked No. 1 in the nation.

"I've been with this team since most of the players were only 9 years old," Metcalfe said. "You never know just how good these teams are going to be when they start, but this one has continued to grow, and they've just dominated competition in America."

To make the film work, Metcalfe had four cameras rolling at all times. Metcalfe said his toughest task during shooting was playing the dual role of coach and filmmaker. Most nights on the trip, Metcalfe would spend hours with the production crew after serving a full day on the bench.

"I've known these kids and their parents for a long time, and they've become like family to me," Metcalfe said.

"I didn't want to show their sons in a bad light, ever, but at the same time I had to show the truth of what happened and be honest during the filming. I think, by continuing to be honest, it turned out to be an excellent shoot."

Players such as Vinny Muscarella, who played for Newbury Park High this year, said having cameras around took some time to get used to.

"At first it was a little weird always having a camera in your face," Muscarella said. "I didn't know how to act in front of the camera at all. Then I tried too hard to pretend the camera wasn't even there.

"Finally, after three days I got used to it. We have such a funny team that by the end of the trip we were all goofing around in front of it most of the time."

By attempting to shoot everything on the field as well as off, Metcalfe currently has 160 hours of footage to be edited before the documentary is produced.

"This is an honest, true story of kids going to England and enjoying themselves," Metcalfe said.

"Not all the players were in the same frame of mind when they made the trip. Some of them took the soccer very seriously. Some of them saw it only as a vacation, and some just saw it as personal freedom away from their parents."

When the team wasn't joking around in front of the cameras, they were playing pretty good soccer. Baker Boyd, who competes for Westlake High after moving from Colorado last summer, said the trip helped him see just how big the sport is overseas.

"Soccer is a lot faster in England," Boyd said. "The players are extremely quick, and that's what makes the sport so great over there."

The DMS11 team held its own, however, and soon found themselves in the tournament's finale against the Attack B89.

The local team trailed 20 after the first 15 minutes but rebounded to win 4-3 in double overtime.

The comeback was even more remarkable considering the Westlake squad only had 10 players on the pitch the entire second half due to a red card.

"That was definitely one of the most intense games I've ever played in," Muscarella said. "I was scared at first, but I knew we would come back and pull it off."

On June 13, the team will travel to Hawaii to play for a national title. As soon as the game ends, Metcalfe will begin the long process of taking the footage and making it into a feature film.

"I'm very happy to give the players and parents something back for all their support," Metcalfe said. "All the hours I didn't sleep on the trip will be worth it when this film finally comes out."

For the film's production, Metcalfe has the backing of Mark Burnett, who Metcalfe called "the most powerful man in Hollywood."

Burnett has won two Emmy awards and is the producer responsible for bringing reality television shows such as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" to America.

Boyd knows a lot of work was put behind the film, and he can't wait to view the final product.

"I think it's going to be great," Boyd said. "I know (Metcalfe) put a lot of time and money into the project, so I know it's going to turn out good. I'm looking forward to seeing it."