Director’s Cut of Brand Film for Brawny Towels.
Winner: “Best Documentary” Top Shorts February 2018 / “Best Documentary Short” + “Best Editing” Redline International Film Festival 2018 / Official Selection Los Angeles Short Film Festival 2018
At age 60, recovering from knee surgery, Gini Fellows signed up for her first triathlon. She finished first in her age group, launching what was initially an exercise in rehabilitation into an all-consuming passion. With the help of her son and coach, Patrick Fellows, she trained and competed in a dozen triathlons in the decade following. Last year, at age 71, she qualified for the 140.6 mile Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
She and Pat set a plan to tackle the arduous race, known for its heat, wind, waves and humidity. The Goal: For Gini to finish under the seventeen hour time limit.
Five months into training, Gini's husband of forty years, Bill Fellows, was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer. Facing an unthinkable challenge on top of an ever-demanding workout schedule, Gini amended her training plan around Bill's chemotherapy, often running early mornings and riding her bike trainer in the hospital hotel. And then, six weeks before the race, Bill passed away -- but not before telling Gini: "I want you to keep training. I want you to go to Kona."
Faced with Bill's loss, Gini moved in with Pat during the final weeks leading up to the race, completing as much of the planned training as they could while grieving. As promised, she arrived in Kona to fulfill her obligation to herself and to Bill to finish the race. In her own words, she said: "If I can't finish the race, it will because they are dragging me off the course. Quitting is not an option."
Filmed over six months from training to race day, the film explores the unwavering, resilient nature of the human spirit at the fringes of mental and physical exhaustion.
How far is Gini able to push herself? Only she knows.
++++++
THE LAST MILE: GINI FELLOWS' STORY
Presented by Brawny
Directed & Produced by Robbie Wiedie for Cutwater
Executive Creative Director -- Chuck McBride
Associate Creative Director -- Toby Petersen
Associate Creative Director -- Aaron Sanchez
Executive Producer -- Michael Huntley
Producer -- Jordan Lewis
Director of Photography -- Freddy Mince
Assistant Camera -- Josh Harmsworth
Production Assistant -- Jordan P. Anderson
Production Assistant -- Josh Carley
Production Coordinator -- Greer Gonerka
Production Coordinator -- Kaitlin Lewis
Footage Courtesy of Ironman & NBC Sports -- Tony Svennson
Music Composed by Kevin Matley
Sound by Cherron Arens
Special Thanks: Brawny Towels, HOKA One One, ROKA, Specialized, OwnWay Apparel, Mercury Wheels, Altra Running, Blueseventy, Ironman, NBC Sports, State of Hawaii Tourism Board and the Fellows Family.
"Giants Among Us" is a documentary series about people who exhibit enormous strength and resilience in their own lives and the lives of others.
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER / EDITOR
Travis Sweeny is a Barber who supports the special needs community.
Gini Fellows started competing in triathlon at age 60. At 71, she competed in the 140.6 mile World Championships.