As The Short Game opens in theaters this week, D Magazine shines a light on how filmmaker Frank Sanza and his team brought the indie golf drama to life during one of the toughest North Texas summers on record. Shot near Sherman in 2023, the production battled triple-digit heat as cast and crew worked through long days on local courses, including Legacy Ridge Country Club in Bonham. Producer David Parks said the team never considered filming anywhere else. “The story was written for and set in Texas,” he shared, noting that despite the extreme conditions, the crew “were really troopers” throughout the shoot.

The film arrives more than a decade after Sanza first began developing the script, a deeply personal story inspired by his years as a high school golfer and his experience as a father to an adopted son on the autism spectrum. After an extended festival run — including six awards and a warm reception at the Dallas International Film Festival — the movie follows Jeremy Avery, a young golfer trying to balance his athletic ambitions with the responsibility of caring for his autistic brother, Ethan. For Parks, the heart of the film lies in where people turn when life weighs heavy: “It’s easy to rely on family and faith and things that lift you out of that funk.”

With North Texas actors Glenn Morshower, Adyn Alexander, and Rocky Massey appearing in supporting roles, The Short Game also marks a milestone for Sanza, a California-born teacher-turned-filmmaker who now operates a production studio in Grayson County. The project, co-written with two additional writers, reflects his connection to both golf and family, crafting a story grounded in compassion, resilience, and the quiet victories that matter most. As the film expands nationwide ahead of its digital release, Sanza hopes audiences connect with its central message: “The measure of success isn’t in trophies or titles. It’s choosing to do the right thing. I think you’ll leave encouraged.”

Read the full Article/Interview here: https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2025/08/why-this-indie-golf-drama-took-a-swing-in-the-north-texas-heat/