Brett Rapkin: The Weight of Gold, HBO

Born and raised in the shadows of the Hollywood hills Brett Rapkin was destined to be a filmmaker. As CEO of Podium Pictures, he has created a deep track record of success in producing impact-driven sports films, from narrative to documentary. Most recently, Brett’s The Weight of Gold, a documentary produced in partnership with Olympic legend Michael Phelps detailed the mental health challenges of elite athletes. It was selected to the SXSW Film Festival and acquired by HBO. 

 Brett shared with us the life changing event that led to the making of the Weight of Gold. He explained why Michael Phelps got involved in the doc and how he was able to get so many other Olympians to contribute.  Speaking on mental health made for a very open, honest and  enriching conversation on so many fronts.  We tackled it all here on Beyond the Lens.