In the lead-up to WCT7 Worlds, WCT is releasing a series of short films spotlighting teams competing in Évry-Courcouronnes. The first focuses on Parkour59, the Roubaix-based squad that has been a fixture of Chase Tag® since its earliest days.
The video was directed and edited by Thomas Rodrigues.
Behind the Film
The project started as a proof of concept: can you build a compelling narrative on a minimal budget if you think creatively?
« I chose Parkour59 for two reasons, » Thomas explains. « First, they’re relatively close to us, so filming for a few hours kept costs low. Second, they’re at an interesting moment. Their iconic players may be nearing the end of their athletic careers as new jobs, less time, and family responsibilities take priority. WCT7 feels like the end of an era. »
That feeling was sharpened by what happened at WCT6. Parkour59 lost to Hollywood Freerunners in a match many felt was theirs to win.
« Yet Parkour59 is also one of the few gyms in the world actively nurturing new players, » Thomas adds. « A new generation of incredibly talented, hungry kids is rising, ready for their chance. »
If he had to sum up the whole idea in one sentence: « Things change, but our love and passion will carry our memory long after we are gone. »
The Structure
The video is divided into three parts:
- The past. Naim is at the gym remembering moments. Like how they went from winning everything to a crushing loss, and suddenly, no one believe in them anymore. The red flashes as Naim looks at his jersey mark two moments when PK59 became champions, and the last flash is their elimination against HF. Then, Naim “leaving the past behind.”
- The end of an era. A jersey is left alone in the gym to symbolise the end of what happened. But then things change form an carry on. That’s why we go from the jersey left alone in the gym to a jersey that Alex picks up before starting a livestream. Because the community now carries the emotions PK59 gave them through all their competitions.
- A new generation. Born from this passion, carrying their heritage and building a legacy for the club.
« I tried to match shots of the teenagers competing in ranked sessions with iconic moments from the original Parkour59 squad, » Thomas says. « Movements, starting positions, celebrations. Bastien and Moha are still present in the video. »
One detail mattered to him: a kid wearing a Quad Talk jersey.
« Quad Talk itself reflects this cycle. Born from the passion of one fan, Alexandre, who admired Hugo and the other Parkour59 players. Now kids wear the colours of what he built, carrying the legacy forward, even after the page stopped. »
A Personal Note
Thomas wanted to end with something more personal:
« Parkour59 has always been a place where kids, some struggling financially or in school, could come together and share a passion far from the anxious world we all live in.
For all the emotions these guys, who had nothing in common with me, made me feel. For all the love they shared and the adventures they lived. I wanted to say thank you, at least one more time.
Naim, Yoann, Bilal, Bastien, Hugo, and Mohammed: merci à vous. »
