Our film team is dedicating a year and a half of their time and many talents to produce 7 Yards and provide a source of inspiration for our viewers to summon the courage and resilience it takes to overcome. The crew will film for 35 full days. Collectively, the crew is donating more than $72,500 of time to keep the budget as lean as possible.
To best capture and honor Chris and Emily’s story, we have budgeted for the best equipment in the business: including insured RED cameras, Cine-lenses, lighting and audio. Although we own professional gear, equipment rentals are needed for larger production scenes needing multiple angles, special effects, lighting and challenging audio situations. We have eight planned filming trips, averaging $8,300 per trip)
Our talented post production team will have the massive task of meticulously paring down nearly a month’s worth of footage to craft a final 75-90 minute documentary. Budget includes editing, color correction, and sound mix.
To capture the appropriate tone and emotions of this film, we have enlisted the talents of Jesse Keller of Rellek Entertainment to bring 7 Yards to life with professional musical scoring. He has graciously given us a discounted rate. Budget also includes the purchase of licensed music needed for the film.
As a part of our "Ultimate Wedding Gift" for Chris and Emily, we have arranged for renowned wedding photographer, Sarah Kate, to photograph their big day and will further gift them with a wedding video package by Jonathon Link Studios and highlights from our footage. ($15,000 valued gift)
As a part of our "Ultimate Wedding Gift" for Chris and Emily, Nathan Johnson, Creative Director of GRO Designs, is donating his time and wedding planning expertise to help create the wedding-scape of their dreams. Funds raised will help cover the expense of flowers, linen and decor. (Budget will be based on giving from our amazing backers)
Our film crew lives in Dallas, Texas and our travel budget includes round trip flights for these scheduled trips to film entire story:
Decorah, Iowa (film and re-enact football game, helicopter and hospital scenes)
West Palm Beach, FL (film Emily’s interview, real life, Chris’s workouts at Barwis Method’s)
West Palm Beach, FL (for the wedding walk) - 10 crew member round trips - Includes crew, photographer, event team
Dallas (film "College days" with Chris and his four best friends, hospital and campus scenes)
Rochester, MN – (Film crucial interviews with Chris’s Doctors, PT’s and nurses at Mayo clinic)
Des Moines, Iowa - (Film additional b-roll, interviews with family members, re-enactment scenes)
Dallas, TX – Fly Chris and Emily to Dallas, TX to shoot movie poster with Sean Berry, dating scenes, childhood re-enactments)
Total round trip flights: 48
Lodging: 2 hotel rooms for approximately 35 nights
Car Rental: Van for 35 days in various shooting locations.
Check out our instagram page to see our hotel accommodations, our guys help us keep the budget lean by bunking up in one hotel room and we stay in the most affordable hotel option without risking getting bed bugs :)
If you would like to donate mileage or can help us get a discounted hotel or car rate, please email us at films@fotolanthropy.com
Upon completion of this film, we will work tirelessly to distribute and inspire viewers all over the world with Chris and Emily's story through film festivals, theatrical screenings and digital distribution. Our previous work can be found on iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Pureflix and we hope to continue these great relationships to screen 7 Yards in homes across the globe. Funds will be used for marketing, advertising, licensing, closed captioning fees and attorney fees.
As an 18-year-old freshman at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Chris Norton suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a college football game. Told by doctors that he had only a 3 percent chance of regaining movement below the neck, Chris has continually defied medical odds and, in 2015, successfully accomplished his goal of walking his college graduation stage with the help of his fiancée, Emily. Video from the event went viral, inspiring millions worldwide.
Facebook: @chrisanorton16
Instagram: @chrisanorton16
Emily Summers has always had a heart for helping others. Raised in the small town of Muscatine, Iowa, she encountered many children living in unfortunate circumstances. Not one to sit by idly, Emily sought relational ways to care for those who were hurting. She served as a peer mentor, initiated an after school program for girls in middle school and created a talk show to share encouraging stories.
Read MoreSimply put, Chris and Emily's story deserves to be told and their journey needs to be experienced in the way only a documentary can offer. Through interviews and reenactments done by the real film subjects, we will capture the full vignette of their journey: from Chris' life-altering injury on the Luther College football field in 2010 and his viral graduation walk video to Chris and Emily's "swipe-right" love story and their goal of walking side-by-side down the wedding aisle.
Furthermore, Fotolanthropy exists to inspire viewers and empower our film subjects. We believe there is a real need for more positive content - raw, honest stories that spark change and uplift the soul. We also often see our work being used as a platform by film subjects. Through our documentaries, we strive to help raise awareness for such causes, and hope that 7 Yards will be an effective tool for Chris to use in his continued advocacy for those with spinal cord injuries and motivational speaking career.
Our team has traveled to Iowa, Florida, Dallas and Rochester to gather over 40 hours of initial interview and reenactment footage to develop the storyline for Chris's injury and rehabilitation. We are currently in full blown fundraising mode and once we raise the funds needed, we will continue the film journey of producing 7 Yards.
Between the four film trips coming up we estimate approximately we will film for a total of 35 days.
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to capture crucial interviews with Chris' medical team
- West Palm Beach, FL to document the days (and training) leading up to the big wedding walk
- Des Moines, Iowa to gather additional b-roll, finish up interviews and re-enactment scenes
- Dallas, Texas to shoot movie poster with Sean Berry, film childhood re-enactments, and college scenes.
"The Ultimate Wedding Gift" is what we are calling our crowdfunding campaign for 7 Yards. Between the funds needed to film, produce, edit, score, and distribute our feature length documentary gift to the soon-to-be Nortons (as well as arrange much deserved wedding day accoutrement), we are considering every donation a contribution to this ultimate wedding gift for the most admirable couple we know.
Share! As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we choose to be very lean with our advertising budget and rely on super-fans like you to spread the word. Join our grassroots approach by sharing this unique opportunity to give on social media, emailing your network of friends, family, co-workers, and even reaching out to those you know involved in the wedding industry that would be interested in helping.
Want to become an official ambassador for the film? Please email us at films@fotolanthropy.com to learn more about how you can contribute by sharing this story!
We are Fotolanthropy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to producing and distributing documentaries that celebrate the hope of those who have defied great odds.
We have produced 17 short films and two award-winning documentaries, Travis: A Soldier’s Story and The Luckiest Man. Our first documentary, Travis: A Soldier’s Story gathered people across the country and received a standing ovation at every screening. We were invited to screen the film at the U.S. Capitol for our nation's leaders, and the film was also endorsed and screened by actor and veterans advocate, Gary Sinise. The film received national media coverage and launched SSG Travis Mills' motivational speaking career. It also inspired The New York Times Bestseller, Tough As They Come. The film has been seen by millions via iTunes, Amazon and Netflix.
We have a dedicated following of viewers who are passionate about our films. And, we often hear that our supporters find fresh perspective for their own lives after viewing our inspirational, true stories.
Our long-term vision for 7 Yards is to continue the movement of bringing positive content to more of the world. We are committed to this film, just as Chris has committed to his rehab and training these past seven years. We want to celebrate this extraordinary young man’s life, and gather crowds across the country to participate in not just a screening, but rather an impactful and unforgettable viewing experience.
