I



I. Documentary Title:

We Grew Wings

a. Producer/Executive Producer:

i. Ellen Schmidt-Devlin

• Ellen.devlin@

• 503-830-4519

Logline

Through the revealing perspective of the Oregon women’s track teams of 1985 and 2011, a view of the struggles, victories and the ultimate respect of women’s athletics will be revealed to inspire the next generation of female athletes.

Synopsis

“They walked around in shirts that said, “Men of Oregon” like they were a part of history and we weren’t.” Marie Davis, UO Track/Cross-Country (’95-’99) All-American

“Magic” is the word often used by past and current athletes to describe competing at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. “Tracktown” has elevated the track and field experience to iconic heights while emphasizing inclusion and diversity; and teaching young people discipline, confidence and leadership skills. National and international running communities are familiar with the storied history here; the birth of the running boom, the brilliance of Bowerman and the guts and grit of a kid named Prefontaine.

But few people know the stories of the Women of Oregon.

The film will vault us into the emotion packed lives of the athletes on the championship-bound University of Oregon women’s T&F teams of 1985 and 2011. We will experience their challenges, and inspirations; the disappointments and the exhilaration of these goal-oriented women competing at the highest level of the sport. We Grew Wings will reveal how competition and teamwork have shaped their characters beyond track and field.

Juxtaposing two teams nearly three decades apart will illustrate the progression of women’s track and field, as well as the opportunities gained for all women in sports.  The ’85 team was clearly in the shadows of the men’s program, winning an improbable national championship with few resources and a group of local distance athletes inspired by the track heritage of Oregon. The 2011 team is a diverse group of international “star” athletes that have garnered more accolades and attention than their male counterparts, finishing second in the NCAA national meet three years running. The film will slice into the fabric of these young athletes and their respect for all that has been done before them as they train for their next victories in athletics and in life.

We Grew Wings will set out to inspire the next generation of athletes by experiencing telling the real-life stories of these accomplished athletes.

The Teams

The film will outline the fierce battle between UCLA and Oregon in 1985, and the Oregon vs. Texas A&M fight in 2011. Both contests were decided by a heroic effort at the end of the final day of competition. One brought disappointment while the other brought sheer pride and joy to the team from Eugene.

The Characters

The film will be athlete-focused with profiles of 2 women from each era. From the preliminary interviews and interactions, we decided upon the following 4 women.

• 1985 team

o Leann Warren- A 49-year old Caucasian local Oregon middle distance runner who would become the best Oregon distance runner ever to run in the Green and Gold. Leann struggled with a new program, inexperience coaches, old facilities, injuries and an undiagnosed eating disorder during her time at the University of Oregon. Leann is a known radio voice at KINK’s cool jazz, and currently the radio’s website producer. She lives in Portland with her partner, Megan.

o Quenna Beasley- A 47-year old who graduated from HS in 1980 as the Washington State Shot and Discus champion. Quenna, an African-American from Pasco, Washington had one thing on her mind: She needed a job. Her HS Track coach found her working as a janitor in town. Both of them knew she had the talent to excel in athletics, but her family didn’t have the money for her to go to college. Scholarships were being awarded to female athletes now because of Title IX, and her coached asked her to travel with him to the University of Oregon for a “try out”. Although no athlete had been offered a full, ride, Oregon offered one to Quenna, and she started her career at a thrower at UO. See followed her dream to the Olympic Track and Field Trials of 1984 and 1988, and still holds the UO Shot put record. Her life as a single mother of two bright children, one a football star at Washington State University and the other a musician, has been rewarding and challenging for this former athlete.

• 2011 team:

o Jordan Hasay- A 20-year old Caucasian, who is one of the most decorated women runners to ever sign with Oregon, Jordan offers us a look at a girl sport-star becoming a woman in front of a fanatical audience of track and field fans in Eugene, Oregon. She completed a phenomenal sophomore season included a pair of NCAA titles, three Pac-10 titles and six All-America awards. In the classroom, she was named the Academic All-American of the Year for Track & Field/Cross Country, becoming the first sophomore to win this honor in any sport in the program's 60-year history.

o English Gardner- A 19-year old African-American five-time New Jersey Group 4 winner in the 100 and 200 meters combined, English took the lead as a sprinter with an impressive freshman season. She was the Pac-10 title winner and U.S. Junior Record holder at 100 meters. After breaking Gail Devers' Pac-10 meet record, English received a phone call from Gail and they talked about their first meeting when English was a girl and Gail showed her how to start out of her blocks. English is a dynamic speaker growing up with both parents involved in ministry. We will show her coach, Robert Johnson, and how he transformed Eugene from a distance mecca into an attractive destination for place where sprinters want to compete despite the rain and cold.

1. What are the aesthetics of the project? 

Our DP has a vast background as an artful still photographer. Her eye will capture the beauty of running, the variety of landscapes and interesting compositions. Our director has a's style of culling insightful story from interviews and building character arcs to crystalizingcrystallizing and impactful profound moments is proven.  Our music composer has a knack for designsing scores that embellish rather than drown the story.  We will also rely on our close relationships with musicians for selecting cutting-edge music tracks to accompany our score. Our aim is to boldly take the audience inside the female athlete's world., intimately, insightful and boldly-- 

 

2. What is the visual and story telling style? 

The style of our film will lean on subjective camerawork within the framework of the diverse lifestyles of our main characters. In classic documentary style, the story will be told primarily by the subjects; and those that have experienced the historic and contemporary roles of the subjects.  A narrator will be used sparsely as a transitionary element, concise and emotional.

 

3. Are there any specific challenges that this particular documentary presents and how do we plan to address them?

The challenges of capturing the lives of athletes from different eras are unique to each character. As we develop the core message of our film, we will unravel new emotional insights to the challenges of being a champion female athlete in track and field-- as with most documentaries, we can set out on one road, but find there are many others to consider. . We may or may not dDelveing into issues such as gender, eating disorders and family dynamics may result in a curtain that will hang undrawn- or hopefully will be openedas they arise.  Also dealing with contemporary Aathletes who are still competing in college and competing, and are often protected from the media, will bepresenting a challenge at times.  Knowing these hurdles, we have developed solid trusting relationships with the coaches and family members during our preliminary shoots and preproduction meetings. 

II. Status and Time-line

We started the project in June 2010 with research of the history of women’s track at the University of Oregon conducting interviews with past and current athletes, spending time in the archive collections at the University of Oregon, Nike, Inc., The Eugene Register Guard, and KEZI TV. The co-directors joined the team April 2011, and have done four photo sessions including three track meets and over twenty on-camera interviews of past, and current athletes and coaches. We have produced a four-minute teaser, as well as interviews for the website.

We have 4 additional photo shoots, and all post-production work to be completed from Sept. 2011 through May 2012. The 60-minute film will premiere in June 2012 at the US Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Plans are being laid to partner with the Oregon Bach Festival for an evening event focused on Film and music connected to Women’s Track and Field on June 28th or 29th, 2012.

Following the Eugene opening, we will offer the documentary through direct and indirect channels of distribution. Direct will include website sales, and running expo sales, while indirect will include specialty running stores, Nike stores and the University of Oregon stores.

II. Funding Strategy

In July 2011 I began conducting meetings with prospective individual funders, many of them from Nike, Inc. because of my past affiliation with the brand (27 year employee), and the company’s interest in the University of Oregon. At the same time, I started preliminary discussions with key members on the boards of Oregon based foundations such as the Chambers Family Foundation, The Jaqua Foundation, The Bowerman Foundation, The Del Hayes Foundation, and The Alton Baker Family Foundation. Applications are currently being completed, but require the non-profit status I am seeking from the IDA.

My first major fundraiser is scheduled for September 16, 2011, where over 50 potential funders will be entertained at a festive night of food and libations followed by a chance to see the documentary teaser. I will be asking Phil Knight, the Chairman of the Board, Nike, Inc., to match the donations I generate from September through December 2011.

Finally, I have a website, trackwomenoforegon that is being used to generate funding; and I have been approved by Kickstarter, and will be investigating the use of this medium further down the road.

IV. Audience, Distribution and Outreach

The primary market will be 12-18 year old sports-minded girls and their parents. There will be a number of secondary markets including University of Oregon fans, the running community as well as female athletes of all ages.

Track and field is a growing sport with strong interest from girls. In 2010, outdoor track and field supplanted basketball as the most popular sport for girls with 457,732 participants in the USA.[1] Also, over the last five years, track and field has grown by over 6.5%. Parents are still participating too. In the area of running and jogging, Oregon ranks as a ‘high participation’ state, with approximately 6-9 million people currently involved.

IV. Distribution

The following distribution plans are being considered:

1) ESPN- On June 25, 2011, the eve of the Women's World Cup 2011, was launched. espnW is the company's first dedicated content and digital hub designed to serve, inform and inspire female athletes and fans. The launch included the introduction of the HERoics Documentaries; six short films on women and soccer that were aired on ABC, ESPN2 and now live digitally on espnW.

In 2012, the United States will honor the 40th anniversary of Title IX, as well as enjoy the London Olympics 2012. Oregon will have it's centennial celebration of women's suffrage. The focus will be on women's history and performance, and We Grew Wings should fit well into program.

2) Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)- The Oregon Experience is a partnership between OPB and the Oregon Historical Society. A past program called, Bill Bowerman, Legendary University of Oregon coach and co-founder of Nike tells the story of men's track in Oregon. Our documentary would tell the other part of the story, focused on the contributions the University of Oregon women's track coaches and teams have made in Oregon.

3) PBS- We Grew Wings would fit in several different areas of PBS. The first would be POV, documentaries with a point of view. The second would be PBS Teachers, in the Grade 6-8 and Grade 9-12 Health and Fitness section. We Grew Wings would provide positive inspirational role models for young girls and boys.

4) Media Education Foundation- We Grew Wings would fit well in both the gender and health sections.

5) Self Distribution- We Grew Wings DVD will be distributed at booths Track and Field meets and running event expos, Running Specialty stores, the University of Oregon Duck Stores and on the website.

Target Consumer(s) Profile

“Angelina is 38 years old, wife, mother and full-time lawyer, living in Portland with her husband and twin, 12 year old daughters. She ran track in high school, and enjoyed the team aspect of the sport and the confidence it built in her. Today, she enjoys being fit, but rarely has time for herself. Running is a luxury she can’t afford.

IV. Premiere- We are currently working with the Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, Oregon to premiere the film on June 29, 2012 at a Women in Sports and Music event. We will also use the Olympic Track and Field Trial expo to show excerpts of the film. We have been working with Nike on a Women's Focus Day that may include the opportunity to show the film at the Olympic Track and Field expo event.

Outreach-

“Angelina’s daughters have played soccer through local clubs since they were five years old, but the level of play is starting to require more skills and time than her girls have to give. Angelina would like to see them join the track and field team in high school. This would give them the opportunity to participate in a sport she loves and gain the benefits she realized through her participation. With the variety of events in T&F, the size of the teams, and the no-cut policy at most schools, she is certain they will find a place to grow their confidence and skill levels.

Angelina would like to inspire her daughters by showing them the beauty of the sport. She wants the girls to hear and see strong, confident, diverse women with interesting and positive stories to tell. She wants her girls to have good role models leading their way. And for herself, she hopes to start fitting more time into her schedule for running as well.”

V. Bios of Key Personnel and Advisers

Project Team

• Ellen Devlin (Producer/Executive Producer) (1976-1979 University of Oregon Cross Country/Track). Meeting Bill Bowerman, former University of Oregon and Olympic Track and Field Head after her first cross country meet, Ellen is one of only a few women ever coached by the storied coach. She joined Nike working for Bowerman, followed by management positions in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Korea. After 27 years with Nike, Ellen has returned to her passion for track and field and her desire to tell the stories of past female athletes to help inspire the next generation of girls to never give up their dreams.

• Kim Spir (Book Writer) (1975-77 UO Cross Country/Track) Writer/Photographer, editor Track and Field Writers of America Newsletter. After completing her Master Degree at Columbia University, Kim returned to Oregon to work at the University of Portland in the College of Engineering. She is a professional photographer who has photographed and written about track meets in Eugene for over 10 years.

• Tom Heinonen- (Project advisor) UO Women’s Head Coach 1975-2003, current UO T&F Club Coach. After 28 years as the University of Oregon Women’s Head Coach, Tom retired to a busy life including coaching the UO T&F Club team, announcing at local, national and international meets at Hayward Field and continues to volunteer at the UO Athletic Department. Tom’s teams won two cross country national championships and one track and field championship during his tenure. His 1985 national championship team is the focal point for We Grew Wings.

• Janet Heinonen- (Project Advisor) (1970,72 UO Track) Former UO Women’s Sports Information Director, Editor/Publisher, Keeping Track Newsletter. Janet was one of the first distance runners at the University of Oregon, helping to start a program for women. As the University of Oregon Women’s Sports Information Director in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, she was instrumental in partnerships with KEZI, the Eugene Register Guard and the Portland Oregonian which led to more coverage of women’s sports in the media.

• Vin Lananna- (Project Advisor) One of the premier leaders in Track and Field in the USA, Vin was named Associate Athletic Director at the University of Oregon in 2005. He oversees both the men’s and women’s cross country and track programs and was the driving force behind the UO bids for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials.

• Erich Lyttle- (Co-Director, Producer, Writer) Eray Motion Media, Award winning documentary: Fire on the Track: the Steve Prefontaine Story, 1995; There Is No Finish Line: The Joan Benoit Story, 2011. Erich is an Emmy Award winning director, writer and producer with almost 30 years of experience crafting documentaries, television series and films. In the past several years, he has completed 4 feature length documentaries and a feature length dramatic film. 

• Erich Lyttle- (Co-Director, Producer, Writer) Eray Motion Media, Award winning documentary: Fire on the Track: the Steve Prefontaine Story, 1995. There is no finish line: The Joan Benoit Story, 2011. Erich has almost 30 years (producing, directing, shooting, writing) He has been focusing on the world of sports, travel and music. He has been producing and directing action sports and youth culture magazine shows with his company ERAY MOTION MEDIA.

• Sarah Henderson- (Co-Director, DP), Sirena Pictures, There is no finish line: The Joan Benoit Story, 2011. A still photographer specializing in Stock, Portraits, Editorial, Fine Art, Advertising, Travel, Lifestyle, Sarah brings a fresh perspective to the Co-Director role with the experience she gained her last project profiling one of the most famous women athletes, Joan Benoit. She is the Principal of Sirena Pictures.

VI. Additional Material:

• We Grew Wings Teaser

• Project website with additional information and insight about the project

VII. Budget

WE GREW WINGS

Budget PHASE 1 $35,500 (Spent to date)

Master Budget PHASE 2 08/22/11

(Needed to complete the project)

PRE-PRODUCTION 6,000

VIDEO PRODUCTION 61,750

POST PRODUCTION 84,450

Travel 19,504

TOTAL 171,704

Overage contingency 15% 25,755

TOTAL $197,459

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[1] Sports Participation in America 2010, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. (SGMA)

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