Marty Supreme

A24’s Marty Supreme is premiering in theaters on Christmas Day, as is an all-day schedule of NBA matchups on ESPN. Since both of these events share the cinematic spectacle of live sports and a festive launch date, the Josh Safdie film and Disney CreativeWorks have come together with a shared promo film directed by Julia Pitch of Greenpoint Pictures and edited by in-house Greenpoint Pictures editor, Ben Schwaeber, starring Marty Supreme’s Timothée Chalamet and retired NBA superstar Metta World Peace in a game of table tennis rhythmically set to the classic “Carol of the Bells.”

Combining the endorphin hit of a satisfying ball thwack with the hauntingly dramatic carol, the film kicks off with a mysterious silver briefcase containing ping pong balls, each emblazoned with the NBA teams playing on Christmas Day. Chalamet, in his now-iconic Marty Supreme-branded windbreaker, calls Metta World Peace to the table, serving with a Knicks ping pong ball as a nod to the small forward’s former team. From there, the percussive symphony of “Carol of the Bells” unfolds, incorporating elements of the game, from the sound of a ball hitting the paddle to the squeaks and grunts of sneakers.

Keeping time with the song and the game are spectators, each with an oversized ping pong ball for a head and a corresponding NBA team logo, moving their heads in unison to the escalating volleys. Taking place in a vacuous liminal space, the film, directed by Pitch, is illuminated with warm light to imbue it with the glow of an athletic match. Slick and stylized for dramatic effect, the audience is ultimately watching two professionals face off. Elevated and unexpected, the film ends with Chalamet cueing Metta World Peace to say his line, prompting a reminder to “See Marty Supreme, in theaters Christmas Day,” with Chalamet echoing “And watch NBA Christmas Day on ESPN and ABC.”

“This project was special because the Disney CreativeWorks and A24 teams truly opened the door to creativity, encouraging us to have fun, take risks, and collaborate deeply throughout the process,” remarks Pitch on directing this film. “Knowing the track was Carol of the Bells, I wanted the spot to tonally match the song’s hypnotic undertones, joyful spirit, and precision from the very beginning. The film is designed to create a sense of mystery. The song. The choir. The boom operator. Every beat became an opportunity for surprise.

Machine Sound composed the track pre-shoot, which our editor, Ben Schwaeber, paired with an animatic, to lock in the BPM. Diego, the table tennis consultant from Marty Supreme, was instrumental in making sure both performers were hitting the exact rhythm.

Knowing the edit would be fast-paced, my department heads, Xiaolong Liu, Helen Morales, and Karla Miranda, and I worked closely together to ensure every element was sleek and minimal, creating breathing room for the speed and energy of the ball.

This one was a blast, and I cannot wait to see Marty Supreme on Christmas Day!”