Out for the Run - a documentary
Donation protected
Sport has been a straight man’s club since the first official wrestling match. That’s changing as one by one, recognizable athletes come out on the grand stage of professional and Olympic sports.
While these athletes are inspirational, what about the extraordinary transformations and more accessible achievements of everyday LGBT amatuer athletes?
This film will spotlight an underexposed creative and cultural phenomenon – LGBT athletes discovering identity, community, family and even careers - within grassroots groups all dedicated to the sport of running.
Published 40 years ago, Patricia Nell Warren’s The Front Runner tells the tragic tale of a gay Olympian who struggles for public acceptance of his sexuality. Her work inspired a generation of LGBT runners to bust stereotypes, create social frameworks for belonging, and make their sport a unifying force.
Today there are independent Front Runners groups in cities around the world. This film will focus on the runners themselves and their amazing stories of realization and transformation. They are a microcosm of the massive change going on in our society, as LGBT becomes a subset of the mainstream one step at a time.
The power of their stories extends beyond the LGBT community. The poignant messages of knowing yourself, acceptance and building community will inspire viewers everywhere – gay and straight alike.
The Project
The possibilities of who to profile in this film are endless. From couch potatoes becoming triathletes, to the relief of finally being “just me,” to changing gender with nothing but love and support. These stories – and dozens more like them – frame a profound journey that has yet to be captured on film and shared on a global scale.
Where the money goes
Let's start with where the money won't go - five star accommodations, fancy video equipment, and a large film crew. We will rely on the generosity of a few to open their doors to host in the selected cities. All filming will be done with a crew of one; sometimes two.
I won't be running from city to city on foot, so we'll need to pay for on transportation expenses, which accounts for a large portion of the production budget. If we are able to exceed the goal of $10,000, we will be able to add destinations - or consider far reaching locales! Other production expenses currently include hard drives and transcription fees.
While these athletes are inspirational, what about the extraordinary transformations and more accessible achievements of everyday LGBT amatuer athletes?
This film will spotlight an underexposed creative and cultural phenomenon – LGBT athletes discovering identity, community, family and even careers - within grassroots groups all dedicated to the sport of running.
Published 40 years ago, Patricia Nell Warren’s The Front Runner tells the tragic tale of a gay Olympian who struggles for public acceptance of his sexuality. Her work inspired a generation of LGBT runners to bust stereotypes, create social frameworks for belonging, and make their sport a unifying force.
Today there are independent Front Runners groups in cities around the world. This film will focus on the runners themselves and their amazing stories of realization and transformation. They are a microcosm of the massive change going on in our society, as LGBT becomes a subset of the mainstream one step at a time.
The power of their stories extends beyond the LGBT community. The poignant messages of knowing yourself, acceptance and building community will inspire viewers everywhere – gay and straight alike.
The Project
The possibilities of who to profile in this film are endless. From couch potatoes becoming triathletes, to the relief of finally being “just me,” to changing gender with nothing but love and support. These stories – and dozens more like them – frame a profound journey that has yet to be captured on film and shared on a global scale.
Where the money goes
Let's start with where the money won't go - five star accommodations, fancy video equipment, and a large film crew. We will rely on the generosity of a few to open their doors to host in the selected cities. All filming will be done with a crew of one; sometimes two.
I won't be running from city to city on foot, so we'll need to pay for on transportation expenses, which accounts for a large portion of the production budget. If we are able to exceed the goal of $10,000, we will be able to add destinations - or consider far reaching locales! Other production expenses currently include hard drives and transcription fees.
Organizer
Da Ping Luo
Organizer
New York, NY
