“Miles & Trials” is a film about a group of women attempting to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials. For many, just qualifying for the Trials is their Olympics.
"Miles & Trials" isn’t so much about qualifying for the Trials; rather, it’s for anyone who has ever put on a pair of running shoes, for anyone who knows a runner and for every woman who has overcome obstacles to pursue big dreams. We are also producing this film to raise awareness of women’s racing in the hopes that it will create more opportunities and better sponsorships for our U.S. female distance runners, as well as empower everyone who has a goal of doing something extraordinary.
Our athletes come from diverse backgrounds and have varying levels of experience. From a "newbie" who ran her first marathon in 2009 to a 37-year-old mother of four children, they have put in countless miles of training while balancing work and family life. Production kicked off in March 2010 at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago, Illinois and has continued throughout the U.S. as our athletes continue to attempt to run an Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:46 or under. Shooting will conclude on January 14, 2012 at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Houston, Texas.
With the qualifying window closing in mid-December, we only have a month to raise the funds needed to get to Houston to shoot the very last segment of our film at the Olympic Marathon Team Trials. We really need your help!
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $1,200
FROM NOVEMBER 24 - JANUARY 10 ONLY, we're launching this Kickstarter Fundraising Campaign to get to Houston to film our last segment. Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world, and a unique opportunity for fans to get involved in the creation of artistic projects they believe in. Our “Miles & Trials” Campaign will take place over 45 days with a goal of raising $1,200 (US). **VERY IMPORTANT** We MUST reach our minimum goal of $1,200 in order for Kickstarter to fund the project. If we don't raise a minimum of $1,200 by January 10th, we don't receive ANYTHING. So we really need your help in making this campaign successful!
HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED?
Currently, the film is approximately 4-6 months away from being completely finished but we have one more marathon to shoot. We need funding to pay for our travel, renting our video gear and hire a Production Assistant. Our total fundraising goal to make it all the way to the finish line in Houston is $1,200, and our hope is to jumpstart the fundraising process on Kickstarter by involving as many of YOU as possible—our wonderful fans!
Your donations will directly support this production by expanding the filmmaker’s resources. Each dollar will help us finance computer and software expenses, gear rental, crew, and travel to races to interview Olympics hopefuls across the country while following our core athletes in their attempts to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials.
THE STATUS
The film is currently in the pre-production stage. We have recently received attention from USA Track & Field, Runner’s World magazine and the Chicago Marathon, who have promoted the film. We have been releasing film trailers on a regular basis and are continuing to seek financing and sponsorships for the feature-length film we are so passionate about producing!
Pledge $25 or More: A "Special Thanks" credit on the film, and the eternal gratitude of the filmmakers and the athletes.
Pledge $50 or More: A "Special Thanks" credit and a digital download of the completed film (expected release in 2012).
Pledge $100 or More: You'll receive a “Special Thanks” credit, hard copy DVD of the completed film (expected release in 2012) and an über cool “Miles & Trials” technical t-shirt or running singlet.
Pledge $500 or More: You'll receive an Associate Producer credit in the film, a hard copy DVD, and a “Miles & Trials” technical t-shirt or running singlet.
