Medals a documentary about love, joy and sports
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Medals is a film about the power sports plays in the lives of special needs kids. The challenges and competition of sports bring out the love, support, confidence, and assurance that changes the lives of everyone involved. Medals looks at the reality of raising special needs kids from the parent’s perspective. The tantrums, the looks, the judgments, and the joy all combine to be an emotional journey that no one expected to take.
This is a film for those families who have been told that their child has a special need and is seeking a place to find comfort, understanding, friendship, and love. This film is for those parents who want to know what the future will be as their special needs child grows up. Filmed over 15 years, the film captures the insights of brave parents who will share their experiences, quick responses and genius solutions for those “surprise” moments of conflict and emotions. Their stories will inspire anyone who has a special needs person in their life.
I’ll never forget the day I found out my child was “special”; diagnosed on the autism spectrum, a rush of thoughts went through my head: fear, anger, sadness. I was completely lost. What did it mean? What was his life going to be like? Would he ever speak, be potty trained, play a sport, or have a girlfriend? How “special” would he be? Special, I started to hate that word. I didn’t ask for this, and now here we were faced with our special child and a life sentence.
When my wife signed up my son for sports, we immediately noticed the changes in Andrew. He started to talk more as he gained confidence and we experienced his new outgoing personality. That’s when I picked up a camera and started to film and take pictures. Every Saturday at Andrew’s games, we met other parents and created an invaluable support system that taught us how to raise our special needs child. I listened to their stories, many of which we had in common, and some I could never imagine. Our problems seemed so small in comparison. It’s one thing to have a special needs child, it’s a whole new level of despair to lose a special needs child.
Medals demonstrates the power of sports on a child. How after 9 swung on and missed pitches, the determination and grit to just try one more time pays off with a hit. Players and parents erupting in excitement that rivals any big-league homer. Success for these kids is not the result of a great play, goal or basket. The victory is often just having the courage to walk up to home plate and get ready to bat.
It’s not always big hits or a basket made, there are tantrums, sadness, and hurt feelings. However through humor, fellowship, and team spirit; sports transforms a special needs life sentence into a blessing and not a punishment. This is the soul of Medals.
Please help us complete this special feature documentary, parents are looking for comfort and hope. We may have an answer.
We need your help to raise $85,000 to complete production. The funds will be used to fund the remaining 18 days of shooting as well as post production, licensing, music, stock images, and location fees.
Any funds raised above our goal will help us reach more parents through online and social media marketing, festival submissions and copies to give to organizations and communities looking to make a difference in the special needs community. Ultimately, we would like to have a red-carpet premiere for the kids, and when that happens, all supporters are invited!
Thank you for your time, please spread this link. Especially if you know someone who can benefit from watching the video. There is hope, and they are not alone.
Mike Rodriguez
Director and Andrew's dad
The Team Leaders
Mike Rodriguez - Director
Mike is a filmmaker, editor, Clio award winning sound designer and mixer who has been working in the audio, film, television and music industries for more than twenty years. He started his career as a drum/ keyboard tech and midi-programmer for the biggest acts in the music industry. Mike then made the jump to film and television and amassed an enormous credit list that includes audio mixing for over a thousand film, television and bonus material spots. Mike continues to host the prestigious AudioNowcast podcast for audio professionals that he created over 12 years ago, and is heard worldwide. Currently he is directing and editing his own projects mixing documentaries and filming around the world for a web series.
Bliss Maginnis - Producer
Bliss is a filmmaker and multiple Clio award winning producer who has worked in advertising, partnering with the major studios in the industry for most of her career. She specializes in theatrical digital creative marketing campaigns, behind the scenes extras and home entertainment bonus content. She has also produced national TV programming for kids. Writing has also been a strength that has carried her through her career from the beginning as a copy writer. She is currently working for her own production company and creating original content and documentaries on issues that matter deeply to her.
This is a film for those families who have been told that their child has a special need and is seeking a place to find comfort, understanding, friendship, and love. This film is for those parents who want to know what the future will be as their special needs child grows up. Filmed over 15 years, the film captures the insights of brave parents who will share their experiences, quick responses and genius solutions for those “surprise” moments of conflict and emotions. Their stories will inspire anyone who has a special needs person in their life.
I’ll never forget the day I found out my child was “special”; diagnosed on the autism spectrum, a rush of thoughts went through my head: fear, anger, sadness. I was completely lost. What did it mean? What was his life going to be like? Would he ever speak, be potty trained, play a sport, or have a girlfriend? How “special” would he be? Special, I started to hate that word. I didn’t ask for this, and now here we were faced with our special child and a life sentence.
When my wife signed up my son for sports, we immediately noticed the changes in Andrew. He started to talk more as he gained confidence and we experienced his new outgoing personality. That’s when I picked up a camera and started to film and take pictures. Every Saturday at Andrew’s games, we met other parents and created an invaluable support system that taught us how to raise our special needs child. I listened to their stories, many of which we had in common, and some I could never imagine. Our problems seemed so small in comparison. It’s one thing to have a special needs child, it’s a whole new level of despair to lose a special needs child.
Medals demonstrates the power of sports on a child. How after 9 swung on and missed pitches, the determination and grit to just try one more time pays off with a hit. Players and parents erupting in excitement that rivals any big-league homer. Success for these kids is not the result of a great play, goal or basket. The victory is often just having the courage to walk up to home plate and get ready to bat.
It’s not always big hits or a basket made, there are tantrums, sadness, and hurt feelings. However through humor, fellowship, and team spirit; sports transforms a special needs life sentence into a blessing and not a punishment. This is the soul of Medals.
Please help us complete this special feature documentary, parents are looking for comfort and hope. We may have an answer.
We need your help to raise $85,000 to complete production. The funds will be used to fund the remaining 18 days of shooting as well as post production, licensing, music, stock images, and location fees.
Any funds raised above our goal will help us reach more parents through online and social media marketing, festival submissions and copies to give to organizations and communities looking to make a difference in the special needs community. Ultimately, we would like to have a red-carpet premiere for the kids, and when that happens, all supporters are invited!
Thank you for your time, please spread this link. Especially if you know someone who can benefit from watching the video. There is hope, and they are not alone.
Mike Rodriguez
Director and Andrew's dad
The Team Leaders
Mike Rodriguez - DirectorMike is a filmmaker, editor, Clio award winning sound designer and mixer who has been working in the audio, film, television and music industries for more than twenty years. He started his career as a drum/ keyboard tech and midi-programmer for the biggest acts in the music industry. Mike then made the jump to film and television and amassed an enormous credit list that includes audio mixing for over a thousand film, television and bonus material spots. Mike continues to host the prestigious AudioNowcast podcast for audio professionals that he created over 12 years ago, and is heard worldwide. Currently he is directing and editing his own projects mixing documentaries and filming around the world for a web series.
Bliss Maginnis - ProducerBliss is a filmmaker and multiple Clio award winning producer who has worked in advertising, partnering with the major studios in the industry for most of her career. She specializes in theatrical digital creative marketing campaigns, behind the scenes extras and home entertainment bonus content. She has also produced national TV programming for kids. Writing has also been a strength that has carried her through her career from the beginning as a copy writer. She is currently working for her own production company and creating original content and documentaries on issues that matter deeply to her.
Organizer
Mike Rodriguez
Organizer
Aliso Viejo, CA