WhatsApp and Arsenal star release new documentary
A new film Bukayo Saka: The Time is Now, capturing Saka's journey ahead of soccer's biggest summer on US soil and the people who have kept him grounded along the way, including the private WhatsApp conversations that connect them.
)
WhatsApp has released Bukayo Saka: The Time is Now, a new documentary film produced in partnership with Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka, and Modern Arts.
The documentary film arrives at the pinnacle of Arsenal's historic season, having won their first Premier League title in over 20 years. It is streaming on Disney+ in select international markets, and in the United States later this month, along with the ESPN App. The film is also available on FOX One.
Directed by Emmy-award winner Robert Alexander, Bukayo Saka: The Time is Now brings together two generations of Arsenal greats as Saka joins club legend Thierry Henry for an unguarded look at what it takes to perform at the highest level. He and Henry reflect on pressure, resilience, and the joy that first drew them to the game, with the conversation taking them back to Saka's childhood home in Ealing where it all began.
Post production was handled by the team at MakeMake, with editing by David Brodie, Shelly Rose, and Chris Mitchell, and VFX from creative director Andy McKenna.
Credits
View on- Agency Modern Arts/Los Angeles
- Production Company Neo Studios
- Director Robert Alexander / Director
-
-
Unlock full credits and more with a shots membership
Credits
View on- Agency Modern Arts/Los Angeles
- Production Company Neo Studios
- Director Robert Alexander / Director
- Editing/VFX MakeMake
- Color TRAFIK
- Sound Unbridled Sound/Los Angeles
- Head of Creative Rodrigo Moran
- Creative Director Jose Luis Martinez
- Art Director Lauren Duane
- Copywriter Taylor Christmas
- Executive Producer Vivian Odior
- Executive Producer Eshan Ponnadurai
- Executive Producer Jennie Morel
- Producer Jamie Zimmermann
- Creative Director Kevin Kunitake
- Creative Jay Lledo
- Senior Art Director Lauren Bruno
- Design Director Justin Flood
- Executive Producer Zac Ryder
- Executive Producer Adam Groves
- Executive Producer Brooke Stites
- Executive Producer Anouk Mertens
- Executive Producer Charlie Greenstein
- Head of Production Marta Calvin Font
- Producer Chris Perry
- Producer Conor Duffy
- Producer Katy Murakami
- Producer Tanna Tarpley
- Producer Jessica Seng
- Production Designer Ellie Beale
- Art Director Felix Villiers
- DP JP Garcia
- Post Managing Director Eve Kornblum
- Executive Post Producer Meagen Carroll
- Executive Post Producer Shada Shariatzadeh
- Executive Post Producer Andrea (Dre) Krichevsky
- Head of Post Production Dani DuHadway
- Head of Post Production Ashley Bartell
- Post Producer Nhu Phan
- Post Producer Aymi Sanchez
- Editor David Brodie
- Editor Shelly Rose
- Additional Editor Chris Mitchell
- Assistant Editor Sawyer Nicoll
- Assistant Editor Vanessa Yuille
- Executive VFX Producer Chris Harlowe
- VFX Producer Matt Lathrom
- VFX Producer Emily Avoujageli
- VFX Producer Cameron McManus
- VFX Creative Director Andy McKenna
- Lead Flame Artist Jerome Knight
- Color Producer Geoff Linville
- Color Producer Alexandra Garcia Ortiz
- Colorist Ricky Gausis
- Sound Designer Jacob Flack
- Audio Mixer Brent Kiser
- Audio Mixer Jedy Shiheng Xu
- Sound Editor Pete Osterlund
- Music Craig Deleon
- Talent Thierry Henry
- Talent Bukayo Saka
Explore full credits, grab hi-res stills and more on shots Vault
Credits
powered by- Agency Modern Arts/Los Angeles
- Production Company Neo Studios
- Director Robert Alexander / Director
- Editing/VFX MakeMake
- Color TRAFIK
- Sound Unbridled Sound/Los Angeles
- Head of Creative Rodrigo Moran
- Creative Director Jose Luis Martinez
- Art Director Lauren Duane
- Copywriter Taylor Christmas
- Executive Producer Vivian Odior
- Executive Producer Eshan Ponnadurai
- Executive Producer Jennie Morel
- Producer Jamie Zimmermann
- Creative Director Kevin Kunitake
- Creative Jay Lledo
- Senior Art Director Lauren Bruno
- Design Director Justin Flood
- Executive Producer Zac Ryder
- Executive Producer Adam Groves
- Executive Producer Brooke Stites
- Executive Producer Anouk Mertens
- Executive Producer Charlie Greenstein
- Head of Production Marta Calvin Font
- Producer Chris Perry
- Producer Conor Duffy
- Producer Katy Murakami
- Producer Tanna Tarpley
- Producer Jessica Seng
- Production Designer Ellie Beale
- Art Director Felix Villiers
- DP JP Garcia
- Post Managing Director Eve Kornblum
- Executive Post Producer Meagen Carroll
- Executive Post Producer Shada Shariatzadeh
- Executive Post Producer Andrea (Dre) Krichevsky
- Head of Post Production Dani DuHadway
- Head of Post Production Ashley Bartell
- Post Producer Nhu Phan
- Post Producer Aymi Sanchez
- Editor David Brodie
- Editor Shelly Rose
- Additional Editor Chris Mitchell
- Assistant Editor Sawyer Nicoll
- Assistant Editor Vanessa Yuille
- Executive VFX Producer Chris Harlowe
- VFX Producer Matt Lathrom
- VFX Producer Emily Avoujageli
- VFX Producer Cameron McManus
- VFX Creative Director Andy McKenna
- Lead Flame Artist Jerome Knight
- Color Producer Geoff Linville
- Color Producer Alexandra Garcia Ortiz
- Colorist Ricky Gausis
- Sound Designer Jacob Flack
- Audio Mixer Brent Kiser
- Audio Mixer Jedy Shiheng Xu
- Sound Editor Pete Osterlund
- Music Craig Deleon
- Talent Thierry Henry
- Talent Bukayo Saka
It reveals Saka's private support system behind the public moments, including a WhatsApp message from Henry that shifted his perspective following Euro 2020, a pivotal point in his career. It's a testament to the power of staying connected to the people who matter most, especially when the stakes are highest.
"This film has given me the chance to tell my story in a way I never have before,” said Saka. “People see the goals and the matches, but they don't see what it takes behind the scenes, and part of that is my support system, the WhatsApp messages from the people who were there long before any of this who have believed in me every step of the way.”
"This is a defining year in Bukayo's career, and this film shows what that really looks like, not just on the pitch, but in the private moments with the people who keep him grounded," said Jennie Morel, Head of Brand Marketing at WhatsApp. "We're incredibly honored to be part of how he stays connected to his inner circle, and to help him share this story with the world."
Used by more than three billion people globally, including over 100 million in the U.S. and growing, WhatsApp is at the centrE of how people connect around the sport they love. As the sport's popularity surges in the US, WhatsApp is where fans in the US organiSe their watch parties, trade match predictions, and share post-match highlights. It’s where football's biggest moments are shared and celebrated.
