Mark Hamer and The Cheerleader: Bringing the Athlete Behind the Performance Into Focus

When fans watch professional cheerleaders perform, they see the finished routine. The preparation that makes those moments possible often receives far less attention. The Cheerleader, the new feature documentary from filmmaker Mark Hamer and Crash Cat Media Group, sets out to explore that work through the story of Ashley Anna Martinez.

According to the premiere announcement, the film follows Martinez’s journey through professional cheerleading while examining training, nutrition, discipline and the recognition of cheerleaders and dancers as athletes. Its Cincinnati premiere is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Cincinnati Museum Center, presented by Crash Cat Media Group in partnership with Film Cincinnati.

Hamer, professionally credited as Mark Andrew Hamer, brings experience across documentary filmmaking, fictional features and commercial production. Crash Cat’s official biography identifies the Cleveland-based filmmaker as an Emmy and Gold Telly winner and the company’s CEO and president. It also describes his involvement in film education, including teaching at the Tri-C Film Academy.

His credits demonstrate that versatility. He directed and co-wrote The Hunting and Replicator, served as an executive producer on I See You, and worked as a film editor on documentaries including G-Funk and Lovely Jackson. Those distinctions matter: his contributions span several filmmaking roles, rather than a collection of films he directed.

Crash Cat Media Group provides the production framework behind that range. The company develops narrative films, documentaries and series, with services extending from concept and production planning through filming, editing, visual effects, color grading, sound and final delivery. It also offers corporate and advertising production services.

Its leadership includes Richard Maurer, listed as chief sound officer and vice president, whose background encompasses sound design, recording, mixing and music. The company describes its mission as creating entertainment with emotional and social impact through collaboration. The Cheerleader’s announced focus on an athlete’s life fits that mission naturally.

Martinez offers a particularly interesting perspective because her professional identity extends beyond performance. She is a registered dietitian and fitness coach as well as a professional cheerleader. That background gives the documentary an opportunity to connect the demands audiences can see with the preparation they rarely witness.

Interview with Mark Hamer

SOAS: Guest Mark Hamer Discusses His new Documentary ” The Cheerleader”

The announcement says the majority of filming took place in and around Cincinnati, with additional filming following Martinez back to Ohio University. She cheered there for four years while earning a degree in nutrition. That connection gives the project a personal and regional foundation, linking her college experience with her professional journey.

For viewers familiar with Hamer’s fictional features, The Cheerleader represents a change in subject and format. This is a comparison of premise and career direction; without reviewing the completed documentary, it would be premature to rank its filmmaking against his earlier work.

His documentary editing credits provide a useful connection. G-Funk explores a musical movement and the artists behind it, while Lovely Jackson follows Rickey Jackson’s experience of wrongful imprisonment and eventual freedom. Their subjects differ substantially from professional cheerleading, but both examine lives and experiences behind a larger public story. The Cheerleader’s announced approach similarly places an individual at the center of a broader subject.

The clearest attributable enthusiasm for the new film comes from Film Cincinnati. In the premiere announcement, president and CEO Kristen Schlotman describes the project as an example of the region’s filmmaking momentum.

“It was shot here, it features a Cincinnati woman, and it premieres at one of our most iconic venues,” Schlotman said.

Her comments celebrate the production’s local connections and the partnership bringing it to Cincinnati Museum Center. They represent an endorsement from a premiere partner. Independent reviews were not located for this article, so claims of widespread critical acclaim or enthusiastic audience reactions would be premature.

Even at this preview stage, there is a compelling case for putting The Cheerleader on a must-watch list. Its subject invites sports fans to consider athletic performance through preparation, precision and discipline. Martinez’s nutrition background adds another dimension, while her Ohio roots give local audiences a direct connection to the story.

For cheerleaders, dancers and coaches, the documentary offers the prospect of seeing their work examined with attention to its demands. For audiences outside those communities, it offers an opportunity to better understand a profession they may know primarily through brief performances.

The potential appeal also extends beyond sports. A story connecting education, professional ambition and physical preparation can resonate with anyone who has worked toward a demanding goal. Martinez’s combination of athletic and professional experience gives the film several avenues to explore that commitment.

The premiere will bring together professional cheerleaders, athletes, dancers, coaches, filmmakers and members of the cheer and dance community. The October 24 event is invite-only and is not open to the general public. Media red-carpet coverage is scheduled from 6:30–7:15 p.m., with credentials requested in advance. The supplied announcement does not identify a public theatrical or streaming release date.

Hamer’s varied background makes The Cheerleader an intriguing addition to his body of work. Its strongest promise lies in the attention it gives to Martinez as a person and an athlete: her training, education and commitment to performing professionally. If the film delivers on that premise, it could leave audiences watching the sidelines with a deeper appreciation for the work behind every routine.