THE PROJECT

The Endeavor Games, an annual sports competition held at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma, provides athletes with disabilities the opportunity to overcome adversity and find empowerment in various sports competitions.

The documentary Endeavor follows a group of these athletes as they prepare to compete in the 2023 Endeavor Games. We meet Haven Shepherd from Vietnam, a 19-year-old swimmer who is a bilateral below knee amputee following the detonation of a bomb her birth parents set off in an attempted familial murder/suicide when she was just 14 months old. We are then introduced to 24-year-old Derek Loccident, a runner from Oklahoma City who is a lateral below knee amputee after a train accident that saw him lose his foot in 2018. We also meet 17-year-old Micah Campbell from Wichita, Kansas, a multi-sport wheelchair athlete born with spina bifida. Finally we follow Lakisha McFadden, a 47 year old mother of two from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She had a stroke in 2016 that left her unable to walk, talk, or use her right arm. Lakisha began competing at the UCO Endeavor Games in 2019 with the Cajun Crushers team. She competes in javelin, shotput, sitting volleyball, and air rifle shooting. 

Endeavor is a celebration of these athletes and the dedication to their craft, as well as a portrait of how giving those without a platform a place to achieve their goals can be a chance to witness greatness.

 

THE IMPACT

The UCO Endeavor Games in Edmond, OK have had a significant impact on the community and beyond. Through the Endeavor Games, Edmond has become a hub for Paralympic sports, attracting athletes from across the country and around the world to compete in a range of events. This has not only put Edmond on the map as a destination for adaptive sports, but has also provided opportunities for local residents to witness and engage with the Paralympic movement. The Endeavor Games have also had a positive impact on the economy, bringing in tourism dollars and creating jobs for local residents. Perhaps most importantly, the Endeavor Games have helped to promote greater awareness and understanding of disability, showcasing the talents and abilities of athletes with disabilities and challenging negative stereotypes and perceptions. By doing so, the Endeavor Games in Edmond have helped to promote greater inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, both in sports and in society as a whole.

 

THE BUDGET

This film is very crew-heavy! Because of the nature of this film, we will need multiple crews to capture the athletes doing what they do best, training and competing. Our goal is to raise $50,000 for a short film, or $100,000 for a feature film. We believe that our project has the potential to tell a compelling story that will resonate with audiences around the world.

 

THE TEAM

DIRECTOR: BUNEE TOMLINSON

Bunee Tomlinson was born in Constanta, Romania on October 30, 1992. He spent the first six years of his life in a Romanian orphanage until being adopted and moving to Oklahoma. His passion for filmmaking began in 6th grade and has intensified each passing year. He has worked as director, producer, cinematographer, sound engineer, sound editor and other positions on films, TV reality shows and music videos. He studied film at Santa Fe University of Art and Design.

 

PRODUCER: MARISA CARLSON

Marisa is the Director of Programming for Simply Indie Film Fest and the Event & Program Coordinator at the Edmond Fine Arts Institute. She co-founded Red Dirt Film Festival in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2013 and was the Festival Director there for seven years. Simply Indie, now in its third year, was created to highlight film as an important part of the art community in her hometown of Edmond, Oklahoma. Marisa’s passion lies in telling and showcasing great stories in all genres. 

 

PRODUCER: LYNZI CARLSON

Lynzi is the Executive Director of Simply Indie Film Fest in Edmond, Oklahoma, and works as a Lead Genius at Apple. Having co-founded Simply Indie three years ago, she loves bringing the arts through independent film to the community. 

 

ASSISTANT PRODUCER: NICK HODGE

Nick Hodge is based in Oklahoma City with a background in film, music, and communications. Nick holds a Bachelors degree of arts from the University of Oklahoma in Film & Media Studies. He has worked on film and television sets, assisted in a casting office, & currently does work with the Simply Indie Film Festival in Edmond, Oklahoma.

 

UCO ENDEAVOR GAMES PARTNERS (left to right): 

Leigha Pemberton: Marketing and Partnerships

Cassidhe Walker: Events Coordinator

Katrina Shaklee: Endeavor Games Co-Founder

 

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If you or your business wishes to become official sponsors of Endeavor, please contact us for more information and bigger perks!

Thanks for your support!