{Untitled} Special Olympics Doc.
Update: July 8th, 2021
Some BIG news to announce! After spending the past 16 pandemic months reviewing footage and trying to piece together a fully functioning documentary and with the world finally opening up again, it dawned on me. This is not a documentary film. This is a documentary SERIES! There have been so many wonderful people we have been able to meet and get glimpses into their lives, I want to fully dedicate individual mini docs for each person. This opens up so many more possibilities for growth with this project. We can continue to travel and meet and capture remarkable and uplifting souls doing what they love.
I am very excited about this and hope to have the first episode released by the first week of September. The episode will be about my aunt, Becky, who without I would not be doing this.
So please bare with me another 2 months, you’ve already waited this long… I can’t wait to share these amazing stories and continue the adventure.
- Devo
Update: April 10th, 2021
It's been 3 months since our last update and I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but we're still in a holding pattern as the vaccination rollout continues. But at least wanted to touch base. We seem to almost be out of this pandemic. Here's to returning to some normalcy this summer. My aunt Becky got her first dose a week ago which is a huge relief to our family. She's excited to return to Special Olympics practice whenever it gets back going. And we are excited to get back to filming when all is safe again.
It's almost over! Stay strong everybody!
Update: January 5th, 2021
We did it everyone! We made it through 2020! Can I get a HALLELUJAH!
2020 was a rough year everyone, but I hope you were able to enjoy to small things and gain gratitude and some perspective. I know I sure did and I'm going to take that new found appreciation into this year
As far as our film goes we're still waiting for the world to turn back to some semblance of normal. Like I've mentioned before, our subjects are considered high risk, so I don't want to put them in any danger until the virus is contained. I wish I could I give a rough estimate of when we might get back to filming. Hopefully this summer? Maybe this fall? The Olympics are only 6 months away! We'll keep you in the loop here as we move forward.
Until then, keep healthy and stay safe. I think this will be a great year. Stay positive!
<3
Update: August 6th, 2020
Hi everyone.
Sadly no updates on our end. We still have to wait to continue filming. We can't just take extra precaution. There are risks with traveling and we don't want to add any additional stresses to the stars of our film, their parents, and their caregivers. It's frustrating that it's August and things don't look like they will change anytime soon.
In the meantime, all we can do is be good to each other. Be good neighbors. Help out our communities. Be kind and love each other. That's really the heart of this film...
I hope you're finding peace during these trying times. Stay well.
Update: May 20th, 2020
Hi Friends, Family, & Funders,
This is... not the year any of us were expecting. I hope quarantine has been treating every one well and that you're sane and well. This are truly unprecedented times. Obviously our production is still in a holding pattern. We'd love to go and shoot, but even with masks a lot of our subjects are high risk. So we need to wait until until it's absolutely safe to be around them. I'm hoping that can be by the mid-summer, but I honestly have no idea. I'll continue to keep you posted. Until then, be safe, get some fresh air and exercise when you can (but wear a mask), and be kind to those around you. We need to practice kindness in times like these.
<3
Update: March 22nd, 2020
Hello everyone,
I hope this update finds you well and unaffected by the recent Coronavirus epidemic. NYC has been shut down for roughly a week and our plans are currently in a holding pattern. Not sure what travels will look like for the next month or so. This is a really weird time I was supposed to be at a wedding this week. I hope this virus gets sorted out quick and we can carry on soon.
But in the meantime, be safe, be well, don't panic. There's enough toilet paper for us all.
Update: January 28th, 2020
Happy New Year!
It's a new year. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle this seemingly unending filmmaking process. No one said it was going to be easy. I've evaluated where the film currently sits and we simply need more content. Currently scheduling 3 - 5 more shooting dates this Spring to fill in the gaps as well as touch up some areas where we botched some technical aspects. Please stand by...
Update: December 23rd, 2019
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Just updating you that the editing process has been more labor intensive than projected. We have a solid edit to work with but seem to be missing a few components. We'll be reassessing what we need come the new year and then schedule several more shoots, but we're hoping to have this picture locked in 2020.
Thank you endlessly for your patience as well as your generosity.
Happy Holidays and Happy (almost) New Year!
See you in 2020!
Update: July 4th, 2019
Hello Family, Friends, & Funders!
Happy 4th of July!
Just checking in to let you know that we are sifting through hundreds of hours of footage to piece this film together. Post-Production is a tedious, yet rewarding process. We thank you for your patience and support as we bring this film to life. That said we are still looking to wrap up the fundraising for post-production. Just $4,000 to go.
ATTENTION! We are now also accepting donations via PayPal at the address PayPal.me/SpecialOlympicsFilm
PayPal doesn't charge as steep a fee as GoFundMe.
All donations made via PayPal will be added to the campaign page here.
Please share our campaign with friends who might be willing to donate.
I hope it's beautiful where you are.
Update: April 14th, 2019
I've been receiving messages on whether or not we are going to travel abroad and film some athletes in other countries. Honestly, we'd love to, but right now our focus is on editing the footage we currently have. What's we get grounded and confident with that, we'll definitely consider hoping the pond. We'd love to take this film global.
https://youtu.be/9r-qQFzv-iY
Speaking of global, here's a video of my special olympian aunt, Becky, dancing on a recent trip to Uzbekistan. Let's just say she knows how to put the "Beck" in Uzbekistan... Anyone?
Update: February 16th, 2019
Hello Family, Friends, & Funders!
Did the groundhog see his shadow? We haven't been paying attention because we've been neck deep in sorting through hundreds of hours of footage.
We hope you've had an awesome start to the year and have been staying warm, productive, and happy. We bring you this update to introduce our new line of perks for donating to our production to better incentivize donations. Please share these new perks with anyone and everyone who would like to be apart of this film.
$25 - Thank you Thank you Thank you! You’ll get a digital link to watch the film once it gets released. Plus our endless gratitude.
$50 - All of the above perks plus a digital link to watch the film before it’s public release.
$100 - All of the perks above plus your name will be featured in the credits as a funder.
$300 - All of the perks above plus I will personally run a New York City based errand for you. Need something picked up or dropped off? Wait in line for you? Singing telegram? Let’s get creative! (1 hour max)
$500 - All of the perks above plus your business or company will become an official sponsor of the film and will get your company name/logo in the film’s credits.
$1,000 - All of the perks above plus you and a plus one will get VIP tickets to our national premiere and after party. (Travel and Lodging not included) If you’re unable to make the premiere we will make sure you get you to a screening when we take the film on tour.
Please continue to spread the word of our fundraising efforts as we try and finish this film.
Have a wonderful week!
Update: January 22nd, 2019
Happy New Year!
I hope you had a joyous and restful holiday season. Our team used the last month of the year to step away from the project to relax and recharge, so we could hit the ground running in the new year. Post-Production is an incredibly tedious process, but so incredibly rewarding as you get so see your film come together piece by piece. We are excited to begin this process the instant I hit send on this update.
Post Production is very costly, but vital to create a quality film that gets into top film festivals and gets broadcast widely. We believe the message of this film is so important and want it to be seen by as many people as possible.
We are looking to raise an extra $6,000 for post. We'll use these funds in the following ways:
• Finalizing our Editing - Getting to "Picture Lock"
• Music Score - This will tie together themes & give coherence and depth to the story
• Sound Mix - This will create a professional and impactful sound design and mix
• Title Design - This ties all of our visual elements together and underscores themes
• Color Correction - This evens out and enhances the "look" of the film
• Licensing - We have famous songs and images to license...expensive but worth it!
• Outreach Plans - We'll begin building an ambitious plan to get the film out far & wide
I believe we can get to this fundraising goal by the month's end but it's going to take some effort. Please spread the word far and wide about our film. Thank you, once again, for your support. It truly means the world.
We'll continue you to keep you updated here and via email.
Update: December 17th, 2018
That's a wrap.
Wait... That's a wrap? As in we've finished production?
Yes.
THAT'S A WRAP!
It's hard to believe that we're already at the finish line of production. We can't thank our supporters enough for helping us get here. We'll be taking a break for the next month to rest over the holidays and then it's off to the post-production races. Shifting through footage, editing said footage, adding a soundtrack, promoting the film and finding distribution.
Once again, thank you so much to every single one of you who donated or shared our project.
We love you!
Update: October 22nd, 2018
Hi Friends,
We are just about halfway through production which is an incredible feeling. This weekend we travel to D.C. to film some interviews and competitions and then after that, we head Southwest to Denver and Albuquerque. It's hard to believe that we'll actually be done with production by the holidays... We could not have gotten this far without your support.
That said, we are in the final stage of fundraising. These funds will go toward the last 3 shoots. Please spread the word.
As a side note, we have been sending out email updates to all donors. If you see this but have not received any of our updates please let me know.
Thank you!
Update: September 18th, 2018
Greetings Friends, Family, & Funders,
As you probably know we recently went to Seattle for the Special Olympics US games and what a time it was! It was the perfect event to get us fired up to dive into the next 4 months of production. I keep receiving emails about links to the various write-ups about the project so I will just post them below. Stay tuned for the production blog.
Blog post about my aunt Becky
Landmark Article
Faithwire Article
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Original Post:
Dear Family, Friends, and anyone else who stumbles upon this campaign:
The past several months I have been developing a treatment for a documentary that I’ve wanted to make for years. I've been a volunteer, coach, and fan of the Special Olympics since 1999. Over those 18+ years I have continued to be inspired and awed by the spirit of the community and genuine human beings that take part in the Special Olympics. It's been one of the greatest privileges of my life to encounter such a positive and empowering community. The focus of this documentary project will be to profile Special Olympic athletes focusing on their day-to-day lives as well as their Special Olympic competitions. The purpose of this documentary is to help build a bridge of understanding. More often I find that people in our society don't know how to interact with people with intellectual disabilities and rather than trying to learn they simply shun them. I want this documentary to help change that. I want this documentary to drive a dialogue of inclusion and understanding.
Which is why I plan on making this film WITH athletes with developmental disabilities.
Too often is this community simply just the subjects; they should have the opportunity to be the filmmakers themselves. Think of the different scopes and perspectives that can be be provided as we collaborate on this project.
The concept has since taken shape to create two documentaries. The first will profile athletes as I've stated above. The second will essentially be a behind the scenes "making of the doc" doc that captures the collaboration of making this project a reality.
I have been extremely fortunate to grow up in an environment that has allowed me to not only attend Special Olympics events, but to also volunteer and eventually coach. It has truly been one of the most enriching parts of my life. My aunt, Becky, has been competing in the Special Olympics since the 70's.
After 6 months of making contacts and developing a game plan, I’ve gone as far as I can without financial backing. So now I am reaching out to family and friends for donations to get the ball rolling to finish out pre-production and hightail it onwards to actual production. I’m looking for $10,000 in total over the course of the next few months. A third of that money is strictly going to camera gear, audio gear, lighting, storage, and insurance while the other two-thirds will go towards production expenses. For the next several weeks I plan on building a production team that is “all in” and from there I will seek out athletes who will also join our team. From the there the sky's the limit.
This is a lofty project, but with the right support, enthusiasm and encouragement from beloved family and friends, like you, I plan to make this a reality.
Devon Alexander Flynnperrault
