The story of 15 female ski jumpers fighting for inclusion in the 2010 Games has transcended the mountain and made its way to Hollywood, where a documentary about the women is being made.
Fighting Gravity begun filming this winter as it followed the women to their first World Cup in the Czech Republic.
Academy Award-nominated Actress Virginia Madsen, who starred in Sideways, and her company Title IX Productions have signed on to the project, which is being produced by Nicholas Shumaker and his partner, director Alex Mar.
“We became really addicted to the story quite quickly,” said Mar, who will be in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday to chronicle the first day of the jumpers’ discrimination suit against VANOC.
“(If the) women get to compete in Vancouver in 2010 … this film has a very rousing, inspirational ending,” Mar said. “If things don’t go well, then we’ll follow them through the appeals process.”
Karly Meola, who is co-producing the film, said ski jumping is Madsen’s favourite Olympic sport and she was eager to sign on to the project.
She said Title IX often works on films about gender equality and hopes Fighting Gravity will help give the jumpers more exposure.
“We hope to get across the idea that not only can women be equal, but (even when) fighting this mega beast, your voice can be heard and you can … set a precedent,” Meola said.
“No matter what happens, these girls (will) have made history and we wanted to help them do that,” she said.
