Director Cynthia Hill: ‘Kyle Larson vs. The Double’ ‘about what happens when life refuses to follow the script’

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Director Cynthia Hill: ‘Kyle Larson vs. The Double’ ‘about what happens when life refuses to follow the script’

This weekend includes the biggest day in American auto racing as the Sunday before Memorial Day includes both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. These are two different race tracks in two states, and only five drivers have attempted “The Double,” with Tony Stewart (2001) being the only one to complete all 1,100 miles in one day.

Amazon Prime Video Kyle Larson vs. The Double is a documentary about Larson’s efforts in 2024 and 2025. Director Cynthia Hill was joined by Larson, his family, and his team to document his history. Hill knows his way around the track. He directed Race Day Going to the raceis an eight-part documentary featuring the 2016 Hendrick Motorsports drivers and teams. We recently caught up with Hill to discuss his new documentary.

Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

How to convince someone to watch you Kyle Larson vs. The Double?

Cynthia Hill: “I think it will depend on whether they’re a fan of Kyle Larson or motorsports in general, or if they’re just couch potatoes. I think it’s a great energy, and it’s not just about racing; it’s an actor-driven portrait of someone who’s trying to do something that’s almost impossible. And it’s one of those movies, he refuses to follow what’s important in his life.”

Is it a hard sell when racing fans already know how the story ends?

“Because of the reach, it gives the audience a chance to go on this journey and get an understanding of what it takes to try something like this. I think what you see on TV is a great presentation. It’s like a highlight reel, almost. This film goes deep, getting to know Kyle and understanding what it takes.

“We’re there for those unpolished moments. We’re there for the excitement. We’re there for the big disappointment. And I think it’s one of those movies where you’re not surprised by how much you didn’t know about what you thought you knew.”

How did you get into this?

“I did a series with Hendrick Motorsports when we followed the 2016 season with their teams. Race Day Going to the race. So I had developed a good relationship with the people there. And when they prepared to announce his attempt at The Double, they really wanted to write it. I think, because of the work I had done with them in the past, I was an obvious choice for them. Well, when they called me, I had to Google what Double was because I didn’t know. But when I got a little deeper into it and understood its higher nature, I felt like, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to be embedded with someone who is trying this?”

What were the challenges of doing the job?

“I try to keep up with him. This guy runs a lot. He’s on the dirt track several times during the week. He runs NASCAR races on the weekends. Just keeping up with him, trying to arrange to go next to him or him, and running to get seats on the plane or in the helicopter when he’s on the way. Those kinds of machines were a lot to contend with. point B. And then throw a film crew in there, trying to be with him from point A to point B. It was a lot to represent. quarreled.”

What was different about putting together the first attempt compared to the second?

“In the first attempt, it was all new to him. It was the first time he got an IndyCar-sized seat. It was the first time he did Sims for an Indy track or in a car. It was just the first time. The first time he was in an IndyCar. So, it was just a bunch of firsts in the 2024 season. And the second year, he had that new kind. And I think the first year he had a lot of media attention on him and that kind of pressure was obvious with that one. this year.

Did it take some convincing to get his wife, Katelyn, to be part of the film?

“I don’t think it needs a lot of confirmation. We developed a very good relationship at the beginning. The film and the main team I work with are all women. So it was easy to be friends with Katelyn very much. And I think that was new for her, because she is asked to participate in the content as Kyle’s wife, I’m sure, often. But not to the extent that we wanted to spend with them.”

What was it like to ask him in 2020, when he was fired again it is suspended by using a racial slur during a live virtual race?

“I knew it was a moment in his life that had a big impact. And I wasn’t really sure, from the things I’d seen online, what his take would be when we sat down and started talking about that particular scene. So, he wasn’t prepared. I didn’t send him a list saying, ‘Oh, these are the things we’re going to cover today.’ But when we talked about it, we had been with him for over a year. So, it wasn’t the first thing we discussed.”

Have you considered including Black drivers or academics in the documentary to give their input?

“We did. And it was the subject of a lot of internal conversations that we had with the film crew about how best to make sure we were telling it honestly. But we also understood that, stylistically, the film we were making was a recent film. And again, the people involved were on screen. They were people who were part of his story, the Double Story. So, in the end, it seemed like it didn’t fit anywhere.”