On These Fields
A football (soccer) obsessed Jamaican-Canadian immigrant battles external pressures to devote his life to the beautiful game, tirelessly spending his days on the field as a player, coach, referee, embodying a culturally rich community of amateur football in Toronto.
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29 year old Richard Stewart, born in Kingston, Jamaica, lives and breathes football. Immigrating to Canada as a kid, Richard brought with him his unwavering love for the sport. Though having never played professionally, competitive opportunities to play quickly dry up for football players approaching 30 and the mounting pressures of financial and career stability often forces soccer to take a back seat. For Richard, that is simply an impossibility. His refusal to relinquish his passion for football leads him on a journey navigating a nonstop assortment of pick up games, indoor tournaments, beer leagues and even varsity college soccer to get his fix. When he’s not playing, he's working as a referee and youth soccer coach to pay for his college education. After first meeting Richard while playing for the Sheridan Men’s Soccer Team, I could immediately tell that the field was his happy place.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
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"Richard told me that if there’s a soccer field, he’s probably there. It seems like an exaggeration, until you meet him. |
MEET THE CREW
"I wanted to work on this documentary because I love hearing people talk about what makes them happy and what they’re most passionate about it and Richard’s story is truly heartwarming and inspiring :)"
- Nico
"I was inspired to join lachlans documentary fields because the story immediately stood out to me. not only that, but it was a great opportunity to work with such an amazingly talented crew. i’m so grateful to have been apart of this project, richard is a great guy so i’m glad i got to play a part in sharing his story!"
- Madelyn
"I joined this team because I saw how passionate Lachlan was on telling RIchard's story and fell in love with the creative vision that came alongside it. Richard's story also moved me in ways that I can't even explain, the way Richard carries himself, his passion and dedication is very admirable.
I LOVE SOCCER RAAHHHH"
- Ashley
"When Lachlan reached out about a composition for the film, I immediately was reminded of my childhood playing FIFA games and all the memories I have associated with that soundtrack, I hope to bring that memorability to Fields."
- Adam
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"Football has been a big part of my life and personality since I was a kid. My grandpa got me into it, I fell in love, and from then on I played it, watched it, and cared about every little thing — the players, the jerseys, the teams, all of it. That love never went away. So when I met someone who felt the same way about the sport, it grabbed my interest right away.
Before I met Richard, Lachlan told me he was one of the coolest and most charismatic people he knew. And honestly, when I finally met him, it felt like seeing an old friend from home again. He had this easy, welcoming vibe that made me want to understand his story and what football really means to him.
Because I’m Caribbean and moved to Canada two years ago, getting the chance to tell a story that connects to my own experience — but through someone else — felt right. It gave me a chance to bring my culture and my style into the project in a real way. The more I got to know Richard, the more excited I got to make this documentary and dive into the reasons behind his lifelong love for the game.
This experience meant more to me than I expected. Meeting someone who shares my background, my love for football, and parts of my own journey made the project feel personal in a way I didn’t see coming. Getting to know Richard as the film unfolded didn’t just help me tell his story — it made me reflect and reconnect with my own. I’ll never forget the road trips, the laughs, the keep up competitions, and the moments where it felt like we were both reconnecting with pieces of home.
We will see you on the field."
-Dylan
"When I first heard about Lachlan’s idea to bring Richard’s passion to life, I knew I was intrigued. The opportunity to help bring someone else’s story to the screen felt both meaningful and creatively fulfilling. Richard’s dedication to the sport is not just a hobby, but a foundation of who he is. I want to be able to translate Richard’s world through the energy of the game, the lively community and the emotional highs and lows that reveal the depth of his commitment. I hope that by capturing that burning passion in a rich sonic landscape, I can inspire everyone to believe it’s never too late to chase their dreams."
- Emily
" Sports Photography is always such a fun challenge. Capturing the dynamic energy of a game in a single frame is what I was most excited for when shooting Fields"
- Esteban
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"This was an awesome idea for a film and so I jumped at the idea of being involved in any way I could :^))"
- Ayub
"I wanted to work on Fields to help Lachlan bring his vision to life. Like him I really love playing soccer and after hearing his idea and passion on this project , it really made me want to help him even more. I love sports, and I love that we are able to tell a story as unique and important as Richard's, where we bring more people together through the love of a sport."
- Ana
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"Lachlan is a great friend of mine and I love football. Doing transmedia on this doc felt like a no-brainer"
-Abdullah
"I wanted to work on fields because I thought it would be really fun to edit a sports film and I knew it would be a good experience because we have a really great crew"
-David
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