06/04/2026
This past Sunday was a special night for everyone involved with Kings of the Beach. Coolfire Studios hosted a private cast and crew screening of our new documentary feature film in Los Angeles, and we were humbled to see a sold-out crowd of athletes, industry leaders, friends, family, and supporters come together to celebrate the project.
The film has been a long time in the making. Produced and directed by Coolfire’s David Johnson, and co-directed by Tom Feuer, Kings of the Beach began filming in November 2023 and features more than 28 interviews with many of the most influential figures in the history of professional beach volleyball, including Sinjin Smith, Karch Kiraly, Randy Stoklos, Tim Hovland, Mike Dodd, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Leonard Armato, Holly McPeak, chris mcgee "Geeter", Chris Marlowe, Dain Blanton, Jose Loiola, Doug Beal, Jon Miller and many others.
The film tells the remarkable story of the rise of professional beach volleyball from its explosive growth and cultural impact in the late 1980s and early 1990s to the challenges that nearly brought the sport to its knees. At its heart, it's a story about catching lightning in a bottle, and then holding on for dear life to maintain it.
Making this film has been a labor of love for nearly three years, and this initial screening was also a reminder of how much great filmmaking is a team effort. Coolfire's Kevin Johnson delivered an incredible edit, Patrick Vaughan's graphics helped bring the era to life, and Brent Johnson's sound design and mix gave the film the energy and scale it deserved in a theater setting.
We're currently exploring distribution opportunities and look forward to sharing more news soon.
In the meantime, you can check out our first teaser on the official Kings of the Beach Film Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYkjdKivMin/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
A huge thank you to everyone who trusted us with their stories and helped bring this film to life.
Images by Dave Jacobsen of Foxtrot Images
