Los Angeles Rams and Gatorade present “Born and Bred”, an inspiring short film with Rams recipient Robert Woods
Gatorade has partnered with the Los Angeles Rams to debut a powerful short film about Los Angeles Rams receiver Robert Woods, who remembers growing up in Carson, California and the greatest inspiration of his life and career in the NFL – his older sister Olivia Woods, who was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at age 12. After a five year battle with this rare cancer, Olivia died in 2007. Robert was 15 years old at the time of her death.
“My sister’s attitude and attitude towards life in the fight against cancer had a huge influence on me,” said Robert. “The doctor told her that she only had a few months to live when she was diagnosed, and she lived beyond that for several years. She was my role model and I hope Olivia’s story inspires everyone who watches this movie.”
The film was created by Peabody-winning Shamrock Studio / DLP Media Group, which also recently won a pair of sports clios – silver for social and bronze for film – for Fighting For Light, The Concrete Rose, a Rams short that premiered , won last year and features Watts-based amateur boxer Meryland Gonzalez. The credits for producing Born and Bred are listed below. The film, which is part of Gatorade’s current “Greatness Starts with a G” advertising campaign, will be broadcast on Rams’ YouTube channel.
Born and Bred follows Robert’s football journey, where he dominated the gridiron first as a youth player with the Carson Colts and then at Junipero Serra High School before becoming an All-American standout at the University of Southern California. The film tells of Robert preparing for his first season in front of the fans in the SoFi stadium. Not only does Born and Bred take a look at the people and places that made Robert great – whom he represents every time he puts on a Rams uniform – but especially focuses on his big sister Olivia, whose unwavering support, encouragement and love-driven, the local hero continued to be successful in her career long after her absence. She saw something in Robert early on as he attended his youth soccer trainings and games and cheered him on from the sidelines. And while Robert struggled to make his dreams come true, she struggled for her life. As the film notes, Olivia’s last words to Robert were, “Be a [role] Model.”
The film is a dynamic narrative of new scripts mixed with documentary footage that lead Robert Watson and Scott Altenberg to play their real roles as Roberts youth soccer and high school coaches, respectively. Current players from the Carson Colts and Junipero Serra High School football teams took part as extras. Robert’s high school jersey worn from the game was also featured in the film. The jerseys were unofficially withdrawn after Woods and Serra won the Division III state championships to wrap up their undefeated 2009 season.
“We tried to tell Robert’s story as authentically as possible,” says Matt Schlef, director of production at DLP media group, who directed the film. “We captured the people and places of Robert’s childhood and worked closely with his family. Robert is a huge inspiration to the LA community, team, and family, and the greatest inspiration for him is the memory of his supportive older sister, Olivia. ”
“Robert embodies what it means to be a rammer in Los Angeles on and off the field, and this short film will give fans a glimpse into the experiences, adversities and relationships that have guided him on his journey,” said Lexi Vonderlieth , Rams vice president of branding strategy. “We are excited to be working with DLP Media Group and Gatorade to create a meaningful video that also illustrates Oliva’s impact on his life and how she continues to inspire Robert on his journey to recovery.”
Robert originally signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, who picked him in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. Since joining his home club, he has been elected team captain and is consistently one of the best receivers in the league.
Robert was well on his way to another successful season before suffering an end-of-season injury in November 2021, two months after filming Born and Bred was completed. He finished the year with 45 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns in nine games and 46 rushing yards for eight carries. Remaining in Southern California, Robert is rehabilitating with the support of his wife Alexandra and newborn daughter Shi and the motivation to return to the elite game in honor of his family, fans, and Olivia’s legacy.
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