This past week has been very exciting in the pre-production for why do we do it. I believe I have managed to cast all, but two parts in the film and the cast is one that I couldn't of dreamt of! It is pure A-List and I couldn't be happier with the plethora of talent that will be taking part. So to being you up to date, here is a who's who of the confirmed cast so far!
Loretta Livingstone - Poet/Narrator
Loretta wrote her first poem at school aged
ten. The subject was a haunted house and such was the vividness of Loretta's poetry, she managed to
scare herself to death at bedtime for weeks!
Deciding not to go into further education, to the dismay of her teachers, she went into work and never found herself out of a job until she was diagnosed with M.E. some years later.
The poetry took a back seat for a few years, but revived itself further down the line.
The book "Hopes,
Dreams & Medals" was inspired when Loretta watched the world championships
in 2011. So impressed was she by Team GB that she wondered if it was possible for her to write
about athletes, and events. The first poem written for the book was "The
Girls of Team GB", but because of copyright infringements it was renamed
"The Girls of Team UK" for the book. That particular poem was inspired by
the passion seen in the likes of Hannah England and Louise Hazel as they
strove to become the best they could be. She produced a book which captures the emotions from the different perspectives of the competing
athletes, parents, retired athletes, and spectators, and the atmosphere
of both summer and winter games.
Loretta's husband also regularly works out, and has competed in Tough Guy twice, so she understands a little about how and why people push themselves to
achieve things which sometimes seem crazy.
As well as "Hopes, Dreams & Medals", Loretta has written two other books which are not about athletics, but this one is something a bit special.
Loretta's poetry is the life of this film and the spine holding it all together. Her amazing words will get the goosebumps going, so I hope I can do them the justice they deserve!
Graeme Crowston - Triathlete
Growing up, 31 year old Graeme used to swim, play rugby and play golf, a
few times for his county. He went on to University in Loughborough, where he really learnt about competitive sport and he began Kickboxing, gaining his black belt and competing around the country up until around 2009.
After marrying 4 years ago, he decided to take a break from kickboxing, but without his sport he started putting on
weight.
In late 2009 he had a moment f clarity and decided to try a new
sport to get back into fitness.
Triathlon had always appealed t Graeme and having a
swimming background, he
guessed he kind of had a head start on other beginners and he set himself the goal of completing the Ironman triathlon (2.4 mile
swim, 112 bike, marathon run). After getting a level of fitness back, he entered the UK 2011
edition of Ironman, completing it in a highly respectful 11 hours 36 mins!
Since then Graeme's fitness levels have been high and last season noticed he was towards the top end of races rather
than just taking part. This drove him to train harder and in a more focused manner and he will be competing in Ironman Sweden in August with the aim of completing it in under 10 hours! He is also hoping to get selected for a sponsored team for next season so his results this year are even more important.
Training for ironman has taught Graeme a lot about how
nutrition, training effect the body in preparation for his competitions and also what the body is actually capable of, both physically and mentally, as well as meeting some pretty interesting people.
He currently swims for Team Luton and belongs to Hemel
Cycling club and Corley’s cycle club training with Luton cycling club.
In summary, he just loves sport and loves
talking about it. Four years ago the
thought of getting up at 5am for a swim session or doing 5 hour bike
rides was ridiculous, but triathlon has turned his life
upside down and completely changed Graeme's outlook on life. He often asks himself "why do I do it?" and this is why he is perfect for this project.
Ottilie Quince - Cyclist
Ottilie Quince had a life saving kidney transplant from her mum in 2007 after a life threatening condition. She used to
be a 3rd national level footballer in women's football and now cycles
for the Great Britain Transplant Cycling team.
Her amazing success means she is currently the double
British, European and World transplant Cyclist in both the 20 mile road race AND 5km time
trial disciplines.
Next month will see her competing in the world championships
in Durban, South Africa and has been track racing in the national
series at Herne hill and Welwyn the last couple of weeks.
To have such an inspirational and hugely successful athlete on the team is a huge honour and a privilege!
To find out more about donating organs visit
http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk
To show her your support and help her on her way in Durban visit
http://www.justgiving.com/Ottilie-Quince
and donate so she can retain her titles.
Also follow Ottilie on twitter @OttilieQ
Chris Swallow -Soft Tissue Therapist
Chris Swallow is the lead practitioner at CSSMART, a mobile soft tissue therapy clinic operating around Lincolnshire.
He
has extensive knowledge and experience in public and private sectors
working with a broad range of clientele from non-sports people to
international athletes and national governing bodies.
His applied experience includes working with British teams as part of
training camps, professional football, korfball, rugby teams, sports
medical companies, a range of event work and is also regional director
for East Midlands as part of the Sports Massage Association (SMA).
He
believes on educating and informing clients to improve their body
awareness and physiological knowledge to reduce the chances of future
re-injury, and through interaction is able to agree an appropriate plan
of action for treatment depending on aims and objectives.
Chris is currently completing his MSc in Sports Science as a part of
developing his skill set and is theorising research into “The
professionalization of Soft Tissue Therapy and Sports Therapy:
perceptions and analysis of the current UK approach.” It is only the
second study to be completed on this theme and he is hopeful it will be
published in the near future. He is also keen to complete further
academic research on a number of topics which have become prevalent
through applied and theory based practice.
Having Chris aboard with his huge bank of knowledge, not only in his field, but in sport itself, is brilliant for the film!
Follow Chris on twitter @Cs_SMART
Jasmin Taylor - Skier
Jasmin is a 19 year old Telemark ski racer
competing on the FIS World Cup tour full-time. During the winter she lives in Chamonix, France in the shadow of the great Mont Blanc mountain. She is on
the GB Telemark ski team and have been since 2011 with great results including becoming
British Champion, overall French Cup Champion and a World Junior
Championship Bronze Medal. She spends the summer's at home in Ipswich, Suffolk training and keeping fit by running, roller-ski/skating, skiing on artificial slopes, cycling, climbing and training
in the gym, as well as being a personal trainer!
Jasmin's zest for sport and for life make her perfect for this project and although her role in the film may not be a big one, she will certainly be an important asset to the team!
Follow Jasmin on twitter @jasmintaylor
#LetsGetTelemarkOlympic
To find out more visit www.taylorjasmin.com
Andy Pilborough-Skinner - Martial Artist
Master Andy Pilborough-Skinner is a 6th degree Master Black Belt in Kickboxing and Freestyle Karate and has been training and competing for over 15 years.
He formed Templar Martial Arts (TMA) 7 years ago and became a full time coach
and instructor, currently teaching 19 classes a week. TMA has students
aged between 5 and 63 years old and are one of the largest and respected
clubs in the country, it is affiliated to the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) and works in schools and for community organisations in addition to TMA classes in gyms and martial arts venues.
The
club has fighters regularly competing in both full contact and light
continuous competitions and they currently have 9 fighters in the WKA England
squad who will be competing in the World Championships in Tuscany in
October. Last year their 4 representatives brought home 1 Gold and 3
Silver medals. Andy is also a recognised International Coach with the
organisation.
Within TMA is Bailie Aliriza and Andy Rudol. At only 13 and 70kg Bailie Aliriza is British Champion and brilliant! She is a member of the England team and winner of silver medals at the last two
world championships.
Andy Rudol - Martial Artist
Andy Rudol focuses on jiu-jitsu and kickboxing and has 22 years of experience, currently holding
a first degree black belt in jiu-jitsu, and a fourth degree black belt in kickboxing. Andy coaches students to a high level, with teaching and passing on his knowledge being his greatest passion.
He is still competing in kickboxing and, in 2012, won gold medals at competitions including the ISKA British Championships and WUMA English Open, and a bronze in the WTKA European Open Championships.
Andy has recently returned from Holland, where he represented England at the ISKA Amateur
World Kickboxing Championships. He spent the best part of a year preparing for the competition, which is one of the most important in the kickboxing world. He was unfortunately injured in the semi-final so was unable to compete in the final, but still he came away with a silver medal in his category.
Andy wants to win the gold medal at the World Championships next time, and he would also like to compete in the US Open in Florida, but his main aim is always to be the best that I can be,
and give 100% in every training session and competition – this is the advice that he gives all of the youngsters he teaches.
This group of dedicated and highly talented individuals are just what I wanted when I set out to do this film, so to have the Templar Martial Arts team on this project is a brilliant success!
Nemesis Allstars - Cheerleaders
Nemesis Allstars, formally Tees and Wear Valley Cougars (TVC) were
formed in 2004. The name change came in 2008 when head coach Sarah Burke
took over. Sarah lead us to many competition victories from 2008 to the
present day, the most notable being in November 2009 at IDTA's Northern
Championships where we placed first, in one of cheerleading's hardest
categories, senior unlimited co-ed level 4. The squad has had a huge
shake up this year with some of its most well known and longest serving
members leaving for university and they are currently rebuilding with a
whole host of new talent. Some of the original members remain including
Sophie-Jean Richardson, who joined the squad aged five and is one of our
most accomplished soloists for cheer and hip hop. Other squads won't
know what to expect with the new look Nemesis after such amazing
routines from the girls in the past.
I can't wait to work with this hugely energetic group of gymnasts to hopefully raise the profile of this somewhat forgotten sport.
Ellie Stevens - Runner
Ellie Stevens is a top ranked middle distance athlete from Derby.
She was briefly ranked in the top five women in the country over 1500 metres indoors and was regularly pushing towards the top 10 overall before her problems began.
In the summer of 2006 the day of the national championships and expected to produce a medal she was struck down with mumps.
Recovering from that she suffered from post viral fatigue which hampered her training for the rest of 2006, determined to get back to form she recovered and was placed second in her indoor national championships in February 2007, believing this was a freak illness Ellie continued on her journey and committed training regime for the forthcoming outdoor track season, unfortunately “normal training” was becoming increasingly more difficult for her to carry out and again a very similar condition returned, diagnosed as mumps but again putting her out of the 2007 season.
She was then hampered by firstly a stress fracture of the foot, after again working her way back to fitness, then by the skin disease impetigo, she was then finally diagnosed after a long fighting journey with the chronic fatigue illness M.E in 2008, causing her to write off that season and then the following 2009 season.
It is a remarkable catalogue of misfortune hampering an important 5 years of her progress, but Stevens says it has left her more determined than ever to reach her potential as an International Athlete.
The 2012 London Olympics was always going to be too soon, although Ellie
did compete and win races for both England and UK at the start of the year.
Her sights are firmly set on the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and then the Olympics in Rio 2016 and representing Team GB.
She is currently training Part time for the middle distance track disciplines as the remainder of her time she has to hold down a part time job. Her main focus is the 1500m but competes in all middle distance disciplines both Indoor and Outdoor events all over the Country and the world.
She has recently left her native club in derby and signed to Birchfield Harriers one of the UKs top athletics clubs. She has also been linked and is working closely with one of the Top UK Athletics coaches. Progressions are coming on well as they are working together on both her all round fitness and also the more specific aspects of her training that she hasn’t worked on before, these in turn will give her the best chance at making the GB teams for the coming championships.
Her team are currently seeking financial and product aids to help her develop and continue her training so that she can ultimately step up to FULL TIME for a possible Rio Olympics 2016 Team GB place.
To have Ellie as part of my team is brilliant. She has had to overcome so much to put herself in a position to be going for Rio 2016. Her determination opitimises what is great no only in sport, but also the human spirit.
I'm sure you will agree that the cast is a preverbial A-List and I cannot wait to begin working with them all! Once the other parties have confirmed their part in the film, I will add their bio's on here too!
Their are two roles left to fill, that is one for a long jumper and one for someone being tattooed. I have volunteers for the tattoo person, but I am looking or something very specific, so if you know anyone who would fit those roles or you yourself think you could, then please contact me at whydowedoit@danielherrick.com and send me a bio of yourself and a small picture. I am also looking for small parts for fill in of ANY sport, both competing and spectationg, so please please get in touch if you are interested!
Then of course there is the book! I now have my blank book to take around to get your stories and I will be interviewing LOADS of people for excerpts.
In summary there is lots to be getting on with, so I will sign off here and get cracking.
Dan
For Christmas the previous year I was given a Casio Exilim camera which had video capability. I did some short little videos on it, but mainly took pictures. In 2006 my parents moved to Berlin for a year and me and my elder brother visited them on occasion so during the summer of '06, we went over for a two week summer holiday and I decided to use the video on my camera and see what I could shoot. With inspiration from music videos, documentaries and sporting videos I decided to make a sort of video diary of my two weeks and then once I returned to the UK I edited into a little film. Here is the result - Berlin Holiday Movie 
