A Fighting Chance is the vivid, character-driven story of Kyle Maynard, a young man born without arms or legs. At 23 years-old, Kyle has already become a nationally ranked wrestler, ESPY award-winner, motivational speaker and bestselling author. However, when Kyle seeks an official Mixed Martial Arts match against an able-bodied fighter- a highly controversial and dangerous goal - Kyle has to face even greater challenges in a world that fails to see him as anything but "disabled." Whether fighting in the MMA cage or extending his "No Excuses" philosophy to recovering military veterans, Kyle Maynard shows what life can be like when every day is a battle.
Ask yourself: what is a disability? What is normal?
Takashi Doscher is an award-winning writer/director from Atlanta, GA. His previous directing efforts have premiered in international film festivals, won National History Day competitions in 2003 and 2004, and entertained live audiences of over 50,000 people. As a National Merit Scholar, he graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a BA in English as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Takashi is a contributing director and writer as a Protege of Whitestone Motion Pictures and a founding partner of PoetZero, the first online initiative of its kind to enable independent filmmakers and artists to view, share and collaborate. His latest project and first feature narrative film, currently untitled, is his effort to raise awareness, discuss, and combat the growing methamphetamine epidemic in his home town. A Fighting Chance is Takashi's first feature documentary.
To contact and view more of his work, please visit him at www.TakashiDoscher.com
Alex Shofner is an award-winning filmmaker born and raised in Nashville, TN. He earned a National Merit Scholarship to the University of Florida and graduated with a B.A. in Finance in 2008.
He has worked on commercials, music videos, and feature films in two different countries. He has produced and directed short films which garnered attention at international film festivals. In 2010 he, with co-director Takashi Doscher and three others, launched PoetZero and is currently developing several projects in Nashville. A Fighting Chance is Alex's first feature film.
Ted Leonsis is the founder, chairman and majority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which comprises three professional sports teams - the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA) - as well as Verizon Center and the Baltimore-Washington Ticketmaster franchise. The company also operates Kettler Capitals Iceplex (the Capitals training facility and front office) and George Mason University's Patriot Center.
In 2008 Leonsis founded SnagFilms, which enables online audiences to find, watch, share and support thousands of documentary films. SnagFilms grew out of Leonsis' experience as a producer of such award-winning documentary films as Nanking and Kicking It. Nanking premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Documentary Editing Award and has won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award. Kicking It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and aired on ESPN. A third documentary produced by Leonsis, A Fighting Chance, will air on ESPN in fall 2010. In addition to being the Internet's leading site for watching and sharing nonfiction films, SnagFilms owns indieWIRE, the leading news, information and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers, the industry and moviegoers alike.
While working on documentaries and establishing SnagFilms, Leonsis coined and championed the term "filmanthropy." It is his unique way of combining film and philanthropy, raising the awareness of important issues with the goal of promoting change by increasing volunteerism and activating charitable giving. Leonsis is a committed philanthropist and is actively involved with numerous charities, including Best Buddies, D.C. Central Kitchen, See Forever Foundation, Street Soccer USA, Venture Philanthropy Partners, YouthAIDS and others through the work of the Leonsis Foundation.
Leonsis blogs daily at TedsTake.com. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., and later, Lowell, Mass., he now lives in McLean, Va., with his wife and two children.
Rick Allen is the Chief Executive Officer of SnagFilms, which he helped to found with Ted Leonsis. A Fighting Chance is their second production effort together. In 2008, the two produced Kicking It, which screened at Sundance, Tribeca and other film festivals and was aired globally by ESPN.
Allen previously was President and CEO of Sporting News, the country's oldest sports media company. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of the for-profit arm of the National Geographic Society, responsible for television and film; interactive products, websites and e-commerce; maps; travel; retail; catalog; and consumer products. Under his leadership, the National Geographic Channel was launched and became one of the fastest growing cable channels in recent history. Before coming to National Geographic, Rick was a senior executive at Discovery Communications, parent of the Discovery Channel.
Rick and his wife have three sons, all of whom have been passionate participants in his film projects.
Mike Dorsey is an accomplished singer/songwriter from Gainesville, Fl. With influences of bluegrass and folk, Mike Dorsey's songs have a magical quality of authenticity almost impossible to find elsewhere. His music is raw, earthy, and deeply personal. Mike is now located in Santa Cruze. To listen to more of his music please visit him and his band, The Impossible Shoelace, here.
