Hearts Of Pine Debut First Of Four Films

The first film, directed by Austin Mills, tells the story of the Rosati Leadership Academy.

The first of four films produced by Portland Hearts of Pine premiered in front of a sold-out crowd at the State Theatre for the club’s jersey launch event. The films are another example of the club making the right steps ahead of its inaugural season in 2025.

“Rosati” tells the story of a program in Lewiston, ME that uses soccer to teach leadership and social-emotional skills. Elementary and middle school students play futsal and engage in a mindfulness curriculum.

Film director Austin Mills, who was born and raised in Maine, was eager to share details about this transformative after-school program.

“The biggest thing that I heard from the people was that Rosati is not just about the game of soccer, it’s about respect,” Mills told The Blazing Musket. “It’s about the person next to you and listening to them and essentially giving them a chance to be more than the surroundings outside of that school.

“These kids come from a background where they may not have the opportunity to play soccer at that capacity or go on to these DI or DII schools, but through the help of Coach Noah [Riskind] and Coach CW [Chris White], who are in the film, and their mentorship, they have a program to do that.”

Founded in 2018, the Rosati Leadership Program has affected the lives of many young players. During interviews, Mills frequently heard past and present athletes express gratitude for the experience.

“They showed appreciation for those mentors in their community, and they themselves have become mentors,” Mills said. “A lot of them would say, ‘So and so, they are mentoring me.

They're a little older. Maybe they're a freshman in high school, but they come back here to play with Rosati. They've shown me this good path.’”

Mills’ ten-minute film played just before the club announced its inaugural jersey. He admits that it was “a bit surreal” to see the video premiere at a marquee event in front of friends, families, and supporters.

But he was quick to note the moment wasn't about him.

“My goal with this film was obviously to create something for the team, but also to create something for this program and give them a platform,” Mills said. “That’s what I love to do with my work. Seeing it there was just really one of the best feelings in the world and hopefully we can get more eyes on it.”

Mills and Hearts have three films to come as they look to tell soccer-related stories “from the south tip of the state to the north tip.” Mills, just like the club, wants to connect with all of Maine.

“It’s not just about Portland, it’s about the entire state and all the people that live here,” Mills said.

Mills is grateful for this opportunity, expressing appreciation to club founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson and Executive Creative Director Burke Cherrie.

He’s also grateful to have professional soccer in his home state. Mills, who considers himself just as much of a fan as he is a partner, has been keeping track of Hearts from the beginning.

One thing that has stood out to him is that the club has prioritized community. These films are just another example of their positive work.

“They are doing everything right from the perspective of somebody with a marketing and media background,” Mills “Every step along the way, they're doing better than I've ever seen anybody else do, from the smallest details to the big events. To me, they're doing everything right.

“This series is just another one of those things. I can talk about the team for hours. The front office staff Gabe has built is really incredible. And Gabe, also being from Maine, has so much love for this state, and genuinely just wants to give back. I think this team is a testament to that and who Mainers are at our core."

You can learn more about the Rosati Leadership Academy and how to help by clicking here.