There's always urgency when trying to raise funds to begin production on a film, but in the case of the movie "Who is Lou Gehrig?", time is crucial.
The star of the 12 minute short is Jeff Fogel and he's battling Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
"Because Jeff’s condition is deteriorating and he is cast to play himself, we have a constantly decreasing window of time to get this film made," says filmmaker Gil Green. Also, Green has enlisted the assistance of Miami's Borscht Film Festival in supporting the film and it is scheduled to premier in the festival in December.
The idea for the film started when Fogel, a youth sport basketball coach, was ask by the ALS Recovery Fund to help them raise awareness about the disease. When he was diagnosed, he had contacted his friend, Gil, to tell him the devastating news. He again thought of Gil when ALS asked for help.
Green and Fogel met as teenagers coaching youth basketball at Michael-Ann Russell JCC in North Miami Beach. Green went on to become a video director who has created videos for the Miami Heat and hip hop stars like Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West.
A filmed public service announcement? Nope. Gil wanted to go bigger. He decided to make a 12-minute short film.
"This isn’t a sappy 'tear-jerker' tale to make you feel sorry for someone living with a handicap. This film is more about Jeff's unique perspective," says Gil.
"Watching this, you'll understand the challenges of ALS but it will be inspiring."
"Who Is Lou Gehrig" blurs the line of reality and imagination. According to the filmmaker, Jeff mentally achieves simple tasks such as eating a plate of food or driving to the supermarket by imagining them as being incredible Olympic style challenges. "When he's coaching his youth team, he imagines himself coaching the Miami Heat."
Gil's childhood friend Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem is also involved with the film.
"Udonis's father and my father played basketball together back in the day, and we have been friends for many years. Once Udonis got behind the film, it was like a rolling ball," says Gil.
For Jeff, he's hoping the film helps raise awareness while being a glimpse into the daily life of someone living with ALS. "To be honest, when I was diagnosed (about three years ago), I didn't know anything about it. You see a lot of stories about breast cancer and HIV, but not much about ALS. Doing this film just fits with everything I believe in. I'm still coaching every day. I could stay home and stay in bed and curl up, but that's not my personality. "
Gil had initially presented the documentary idea to the ALS Recovery Fund and the budget was more than they could spend, but the filmmakers says they were behind it and gave what they could to support it.
"On a whim, I sent it to the Borscht Film Festival because I know they showcase films by Miami filmmakers," says Green. He says they got behind the film 100 percent and were the ones with the experience to help launch the Kickstarter campaign for the making of the film.
As of today, "Who Is Lou Gehrig" has raised $62,980 (over their $60,000 goal) and has 217 backers. The film can begin production, but Gil wants to keep the fundraising going.
"We still need help with post production as well. Any amounts that go over the cost of the film go right back to the ALS Recovery Fund and Jeff's medical expenses," says Gil.
Jeff has one goal in mind: "I want this film to win an Oscar. That's how I want it to end."
See more about their Kickstarter campaign, click here.
