As the Paralympic teams get ready to head down to Rio for the 2016 games, and USA1 Sonar is the team to beat after winning the World Championships in the Netherlands, the team at Racing to Rio is headed to our own finish line.
With multi-Emmy Award winning cinematographer Bill Mills behind the camera, we have amazing interviews with the USA1 Sonar team and footage of USA1 practicing with CAN1. We also have great interviews and footage with Warrior Sailing, Maureen McKinnon & Ryan Porteous (SKUD-18), the phenomenal Betsy Allison and so much more.
Now all we have left is to film a few more interviews and to purchase footage from several adaptive sailing events, then we are ready to send this to the editor to make movie magic. After that it’s titles, color correction, and music. Then we are off to festivals and distribution to share this great sport with the world.
However, we need your help to push Racing to Rio through the finish. We must raise a final $75,000 to complete this amazing movie – this is where you come in as a critical part of our winning team!
Please donate right now…don’t wait another minute – Help us over the finish line!
Racing to Rio is being produced by The Barbaro-Gould Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, so your donation to support this film is tax deductible as allowed.
Although it’s been a while, their food still lingers on our taste buds. The Barbaro-Gould Foundation would like to express its sincerest gratitude to Dean Herskowitz and everyone at Meze 119 for their catering support! The St. Petersburg community’s support means a lot to the crew of Racing To Rio, and thanks to Meze 119, we feel it even more. Their assistance shows us how united the Tampa Bay community is.
Racing To Rio seeks to not only tell the story of Clearwater hero, Brad Kendell, but also of the supportive communities standing behind him.
In addition to telling that story, the film also sets out to encompass humanity, sports, and art through its narrative. We were excited to know Meze 119 feels the same .
Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Meze 119 (727-498-8627 ) is a vegetarian bistro with an emphasis on authentic middle eastern food. It also happens to be a Best of the Bay winner. The Barbaro-Gould Foundation thanks Meze 119 for the delicious meal they provided!
Happy 2016 from the Barbaro-Gould Foundation! Like the sport of sailing, the crew is alive, well, and busier than ever. We’ve been feverishly working on a trailer for the first half of Racing To Rio.
Footage from 2015 is looking good and we can’t wait to see the results of filming in 2016. Racing To Rio has been a dynamic project from the very start, but we look forward to seeing it to the end.
We are excited to move forward with the project! And once again, thank you to all our supporters!
Jen winning Best Director award at First Glance Film Festival in PhiladelphiaNo mountain is too high to keep Jennifer from getting the shot.Jen has an eye for the camera.Jen has a passion for peopleJen catching the beauty of nature.Jen is a certified skipper
Today the curtain rises for the most integral member of our production crew: Jennifer Barbaro, Director and Producer of Racing To Rio. A documentary filmmaker with an MFA in Communications and Film from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, photographer, and mixed media artist, Jennifer is a recipient of the Samuel Z. Arkoff Award, a 2015 Indie Gathering Featured Documentary Film Award winner and a recent nominee for best local filmmaker in Creative Loafing’s Best of Tampa Bay contest.
Ever active, Jennifer is the founder of The Visual Planet, a photography, mixed media, and production company, and the CEO of production and marketing company, HBNB Productions, Inc. She is a lifelong lover of the arts and is also responsible for Exposed Elements, a Tampa art collaborative that began in 2012. Exposed Elements is another project from The Barbaro-Gould Foundation—it provides local artists with opportunities to display their art and makes use of free exhibits to revitalize the community.
For the past two decades, Jennifer has acted on her passion for art and culture by traveling the world extensively in a search of cultural exchange. Her travels have taken her to Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and Europe, and have helped her to forge connections with artists worldwide. A believer of transformational leadership, Jennifer strives to bring a mix of creativity, cultural exchange, and conversation into her films.
Started by Jennifer and her husband, Todd Gould, The Barbaro-Gould Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity that facilitates thee global cultural exchange of art, music literature and film. Racing To Rio, the inspiring story of Paralympic sailor Brad Kendell and his team’s journey to the 2016 Sailing Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, is the foundation’s current focus and its director’s number one initiative for the upcoming year.
Through your tax deductible donation, we can share the amazing story of Adaptive Sailing with the world. Please support Jennifer’s passion for Racing to Rio bydonating today.
Filming in the “old” days with digital video tape.Jennifer takes a moment for a view from the top of the world
A special post Veteran’s Day tribute to Warrior Sailing
Warriors vying for the start line in their Sonars
In addition to Brad Kendell’s Never Say Never Pirate Camp, Racing To Rio also features Paralympic gold medalist Jen French’s Warrior Sailing Program. The crew of Racing To Rio is ecstatic to film Jen and Warrior Sailing today, including interviews with the program director, Ben Poucher, and program advisor, Ralf Steitz.
Vietnam Vets sharing a moment under the sun.
Based in St. Petersburg and founded in 2013, the Warrior Sailing Program introduces disabled U.S veterans and active military to the sport of sailing. Participants go through a three-day training session that focuses on boating skills, as well as social skills. Jen says the program’s goal “is to share the spirit of sailing with our military warriors and teach them skills on the water and for a better quality of life.” The Barbaro-Gould Foundation is excited to provide more exposure for this worthy cause.
Ben Poucher giving the Warrior Sailing coaches their morning instructions.
Program director, Ben Poucher, has a passion for nautical racing, having himself been part of the Skipper Icarus Racing (class 40) team for the 2011 and 2013 Atlantic World Cup. Most of his time is devoted to working with racing sailboat programs and the U.S Paralympic Sailing Team.
Ralf Steitz sharing his knowledge and joviality.
Program advisor, Ralf Steitz, is a veteran himself and the president of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Sailing Foundation, which helped Jen create Warrior Sailing with US Sailing. He has over 40 years of sailing experience, having taken part in many national and international competitions. A recipient of the Owen C. Torrey award for outstanding service and the Timothea LARR Award for lifelong contribution towards the advancement of sailor education, training and safety. Ralf eagerly passes on his sailing knowledge to the participants of Warrior Sailing.
Rich White from CCSC lending his hand as a coach.Sonars jockeying for position around the buoys.Gene Hinkel doing what he does best.
The Racing To Rio crew is happy to interview these men and women, documenting the spirit of Warrior Sailing.
Packing up the Sonar’s after a great day of sailing.
Sailing is an age-old sport and a pillar of human progress. People have been sailing since the beginning of time, both for necessity and for leisure. Advancements in travel and trade not only led to the honing of seafaring skills, but also to the development of great civilizations. Today, sailing is just as important as it always has been, and has even branched out into a sport by itself.
Sailboat racing started out as yacht racing in the 17th and 18th centuries, and has since then, extended to a variety of sub-categories, including Paralympic Sailing. Sailing became popular among disabled sailors in the 1980s and by 1988, the newly formed International Handicap Sailing Community (IHSC) started organizing competitions for the disabled. After sailing appeared as an exhibition sport in the 1990 World Games for the Disabled, the IHSC was recognized by the International Sailing Foundation and renamed the International Foundation for Disabled Sailors (IFDS). Paralympic Sailing then appeared in 1996 as a demonstration sport and by 2000, sailing became an official Paralympic sport. Twelve countries participated in the 1996 demonstration and seventeen countries participated in the official 2000 Sailing Paralympics.
Paralympic sailing is now famous on the world stage and maintains a reputation for being one of the few Paralympic sports that encompasses nearly all ranges of disabilities. It levels the playing field for all disabled sailors and even allows them to race with able-bodied sailors. Paralympic sailing is a sport embraced by sailors all over the world because of this. Racing To Rio seeks to depict this beloved aspect of Paralympic sailing one final time as it films Sonar Team USA 1 and the challenges and victories of its members as they reach for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
In a decision that upset sailors world-wide, the International Paralympic Committee elected to officially remove sailing from the 2020 Paralympics. This decision may cement the Rio 2016 Paralympics as the final Paralympic sailing games in history. Team USA1 recognizes that 2016 may be its final opportunity to compete in the sailing Paralympics and win a gold medal for the U.S. The question of “what comes next?” looms over the minds of every Paralympic sailor as they prepare for what could be the most competitive Paralympic sailing game of their lives.
Racing To Rio will raise awareness for the importance of Paralympic sailing on both the local and international stage. It is the crew’s goal to show the world what an impact Paralympic Sailing has had on the lives of its participants and supporters, as well as those around them. If that goal is reached, then maybe, just maybe, the story of Paralympic Sailing will not end in 2016.
Racing To Rio needs your support! Donate now at racing2rio.com.
Donations can also be mailed to:
The Barbaro-Gould Foundation, Inc.
1211 Hamlet Avenue, Studio D
Clearwater, Florida 33756
Corporate sponsorships are also available—for more information, please contact Jennifer Barbaro or Todd Gould at 727-487-2148 or email to .
The Barbaro-Gould Foundation owes a big thanks to the Papa John’s Pizza in Dunedin for their fantastic service. The crew of Racing To Rio appreciates the kindness and support provided by Papa John’s. And thank you to the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce for making the connection.
Chris and his team is always ready to make a pizza just for you. Call them at 727-733-7200!
We hope to unite the Tampa Bay community as we film the story of Clearwater hero, Brad Kendell, and his journey to the 2016 Rio Paralympics with his team. The crew thanks Papa John’s in Dunedin for their support of the film’s cause and their generous catering.
No film is complete without a gaffer. Joining the crew of Racing To Rio is Gregory “Grab” Szenas: grip, electric and certified scuba diver. A freelance gaffer and lighting director, Grab has 28 years of experience in the field. He’s worked for both location and studio shoots, using all formats ranging from underwater to high speed.
Although Grab primarily works in Florida and is closely affiliated with Sunwolf Lighting and Grip in the Tampa Bay area, he also lends his talents out globally. In addition to having been a gaffer for HBO and A&E documentaries, his credits also include music videos, commercials, short films, and documentaries.
We are delighted to have Grab on board with the project. With his help, we will make Brad’s story as visually inspiring as it is emotionally in Racing To Rio.
Watch out for more updates as we continue to introduce you to the members of our crew as we collaborate together and journey with some incredible world-class athletes to race to Rio in 2016.
Please help to support Paralympic sailing and this production by making a donation to the project today!
All hands on deck, literally! #Filming on boats and at docks at the beautiful #Clearwater Community #Sailing Center!
Opportunity to be a part of a professional #Hollywood film #crew, learn a lot, help a great not-for-profit cause, meet great filmmakers & get your name on a film credit!
All locations in Sand Key, FL except 11/5-8 in ST Pete, FL on water in boat & at docks for #WarriorSailing
Email or call 727-487-2148
10/20-10/21 -in office Production prep
10/22-10/25 Shooting Pirate Camp with challenged youth (approx 8a-5p fri-sun), with Thursday night being a short meet and greet party shoot.
10/28 will be office production day
10/29 to 11/1 is USA 1 Sonar Paralympic training with #BradKendell, his #Paralympic team, and world class Olympic coaches – usually starts between 8 & 10 am and ends by latest 4p – time on boat and sailing center
11/4 in office production day
11/5-11/8 Warrior Sailing with #JenFrench (st Pete yacht club & boat)
Copy of film when complete, meals as appropriate, and film credit as official titled crew will be provided
Racing to Rio is far more than the journey of a few elite athletes striving for world records, gold medals and personal bests. Racing to Rio is the story of transformation from individuals overcoming personal challenges to become world-class sailors and heroes who inspire others to face their challenges and live life to the fullest through the sport of sailing. Racing to Rio is literally about Brad Kendell's journey to the Paralympics in Rio 2016, but also serves on a larger scale as a metaphor for all people who face challenges and how they can take on life to win their own "races" by being the best they can be.
Now all we have left is to film a few more interviews and to purchase footage from several adaptive sailing events, then we are ready to send this to the editor to make movie magic. After that it’s titles, color correction, and music. Then we are off to festivals and distribution to share this great sport with the world.
