Filmmaker Spotlight: Nick Santore (Bouncy Brothers)
September 9, 2025
tweet
share
Every year, the Charlotte Film Festival brings bold voices to the screen—but some voices echo off-screen too. In this spotlight, we’re getting to know Nick Santore, whose work caught our eye and stuck with us.
What led you to creating Bouncy Brothers?
BOUNCY BROTHERS explores the brotherly relationship between two of my uncles with whom I am very close. I have always wanted to create a documentary grounded in the unspoken bond of brotherhood. Having a brother myself, I know firsthand that there is something special and enduring about the relationship between siblings. Brothers always challenge each other; there are no boundaries. Because of this, that relationship brings a curious mixture of support and frustration. But no matter what happens, they always have each other’s backs.
What were some inspirat
ions going into the creative process?
My uncles Tony (55) and Ted (53) have been next door neighbors for most of their adult lives. Their houses, located in the west suburbs of Illinois, also happen to be next door to my grandparents (their parents) who first moved into the neighborhood in the early 1960s. As you can imagine, I’ve spent much of my 38 years on that block.
After Tony moved next door to Ted, they spent most of their time working on projects together in Ted’s home workshop, including several years completely gut rehabbing Tony’s house from the ground up. Raised in a tight knit family with a strong blue collar work ethic, together they could achieve anything they put their minds to.
But during the end of the pandemic, Tony was restless for a change. He couldn’t handle the confines of the suburbs and his 9-to-5 job and wanted to be the first one in the family to give it a go on his own. Tony had visited a friend who moved to Bushnell, Florida on several occasions and made the decision to move there when he was offered the opportunity to take over an inflatable bounce house rental business. On a whim he traded his newly renovated home for the business, which included five acres of land, a house barely holding onto its foundation, and a collection of inflatables. Even with zero knowledge of how to manage the business, Tony felt it was the perfect opportunity to take a leap and figure it out.
I knew this move was the beginning of a bigger story. Over the next year, I kept track of everything happening between Tony and Ted. I kept thinking how incredible it would be if they were in a position to run the business together; I could somehow show the bond they share by grinding through hard work. Until finally I had that one fateful phone call with my uncle Ted. He had told me that Tony was struggling to run the business by himself and was in dire need of help. Ted, a high school teacher, decided to spend his entire summer in Florida to get Tony on the right track. I knew I had to follow along.
And so, I headed down to Florida to spend a full week capturing Ted’s arrival as he jumped in to help Tony save the business. Over the course of the week I discovered more than just a beautiful bond, chronicling the ups and downs of brotherhood – I came to realize that Ted was not there to save just the business, but Tony himself. This film delves deep into the inner turmoil we undergo when we choose to leave behind family in pursuit of a dream, how that dream isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, and what it really looks like if you’re lucky enough to always have family by your side.
Tell us what you hope the audience gets from Bouncy Brothers?
Today in the United States, our lives are shaped by the values of capitalism—where ambition often takes precedence over relationships. We’re encouraged to chase our dreams, yet it’s becoming harder than ever to take that leap. With this film, I wanted to explore that tension. The pursuit of the American Dream isn’t all Shark Tank pitches and fairy-tale endings. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of sacrifice. But within the struggle, there’s beauty—especially when you don’t chase it alone. This film is a reminder that even in our boldest pursuits, keeping family close can be the thing that carries us through.
Why is a story like this important to tell?
I think we often forget how important family is, especially in a day and age like this where we are so heavily wrapped up in our own personal goals and struggles. This story is a reminder that chasing your dreams isn’t always easy, and that it’s still important to put family first.
