Team effort: Libertyville High School’s baseball state title serves as backdrop to short film

The celebration ended months ago, but the feel-good magic of back-to-back state championships by the Libertyville High School baseball team lingers as the backdrop of a short film that its director hopes can translate into a full-length production.

Earlier this month, various village locations became movie sets for the filming of “HUDSON,” named for the fictional main character who plays shortstop for the team.

Director David Bianco, who also wrote the screenplay, said the story follows a high school baseball player approaching his 18th birthday when the extraordinary surfaces in his seemingly ordinary life.

The film is co-produced by Bianco and his wife Jennifer, who also acts alongside local talent and veteran actors.

“There may or may not be something special that takes place in the game,” hints Bianco. “The goal here is to create a compelling short film but also pose questions.”

It's a coming-of-age story about an adopted 18-year-old who doesn't know his origins, Bianco explained, but has special abilities and is trying to understand his place in the world.

Baseball is central to the story. While a work of fiction, the baseball backdrop parallels the pride, momentum and sense of community surrounding the school’s championship season, he added.

The endeavor is a first for Bianco Productions, a Libertyville-based company operated by the couple. The jack-of-all trades actors have more than 20 years of international experience in film, television, theater and education.

The pair started their careers in New York City, acting in theater, working as street performers and guest lecturing. They learned the language of film and cultivated a passion for collaborative storytelling, according to their bio.

In the Philippines, the couple worked on a musical TV series and acted in stage productions. David led marketing campaigns and produced commercials. The journey continued to London, Singapore and China before the couple settled in Libertyville, Jennifer’s hometown, in 2021.

Bianco Productions began with actor mentorship programs, demo production and on-camera training before expanding to commercials, promotional videos and minidocumentaries for small businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs.

The genesis for “HUDSON” came from a scene shot with actor RJ Smith, who plays the main character and is credited with Bianco for developing the story.

Bianco said the involvement of Libertyville businesses and organizations reflects a larger spirit of a locally made story brought to life with help from the community in which it’s set.

A private, local screening is planned, and Bianco said he expects to submit the finished product to film festivals in 2027, with hopes of generating interest in a full-length feature.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com