Bimini will be the backdrop for several days of on-the-water filming for Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin, who will join cast and crew for the “The Current,” a film focusing on disabled athletes participating in a variety of water sports.
Franklin and her family are expected to arrive by seaplane on Friday, March 29th for several days of shooting, according to Michael Weber, General Manager of the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, host hotel for the cast and crew.
Franklin, a teenage phenom, who took home five medals (four gold’s) from the London Olympic Games, made a national news splash earlier this month when she entertained visitors at the Denver Aquarium with an underwater scuba dance routine. She was preparing for her upcoming participation in the documentary film in which she will dive with wild dolphins and serve as an ambassador for the Make-a-Hero campaign.
Franklin is also expected to try out the new Bimini Bull Run at-the-dock shark encounter at the Big Game Club as well as join with the fellow cast for an inspirational talk with local residents and island visitors on Saturday, March 30th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Current is being co-directed by Kurt Miller, son of Warren Miller, one of the most respected names in action sports cinematography and Peter Speek. The new film follows last year’s release of The Movement, which focused on disabled individuals learning how to ski. The Current is a film about disabled learning to overcome their disabilities to become real everyday heroes through watersports. The action will include scuba diving, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddle boarding as well as diving with whales and dolphins. To view the movie trailer and recent Denver Aquarium appearance, go to http://www.makeahero.org/film-
Disabled athletes joining Franklin in the Bimini segment shoot will be Anthony Robles, who became a NCAA wrestling champion despite being born with one leg, and Mallory Weggemann, London Paralympics gold medalist. Not part of the Bimini shoot, but also cast for the film are:
* Bethany Hamilton, the inspiration for the movie “Soul Surfer”, the true story of a girl who lost her arm in a shark attack while surfing and returned to the sport through strong faith. She will be filmed diving with whales.
* Disabled military veteran and Coloradan Jesse Murphree and Rick Finkelstein, a Hollywood executive who was paralyzed in a ski accident in Aspen in 2004. This duo will be diving with Jean-Michel Cousteau, who will also serve as the narrator for The Current, in Cozumel.
About The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
The Bimini Big Game Club, a legendary outpost for fishermen and host to numerous major sportfishing tournaments for more than half a century, officially re-opened in 2010 following completion of a $3,500,000 renovation that included all guest rooms and the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill. More recently owners have added the Gulfstream Conference Center and Hemingway’s Rum Bar & Social Lounge, a fully outfitted watersports facility and a floating dock to accommodate seaplane service directly to and from the resort. For information on the Big Game Club Resort and Marina go to www.biggameclubbimini.com
About Make a Hero
Make A Hero is creating a series of high quality inspirational films featuring well-known and accomplished disabled athletes and celebrities that grow awareness and generate financial support for individuals with disabilities. We inspire people with disabilities to “get fully engaged in the game of life”, build their confidence and help them regain their mobility and freedom through participation in sports and recreation.
Make A Hero’s first nonprofit film, The Movement is narrated by Robert Redford and Warren Miller and focused on well known disabled skiers including Mike May and Chris Waddell with music by the Foo Fighters, U2 and an original score by Trevor Rabin. It has generated substantial awareness and inspiration for disabled sports for millions of viewers through its national theatrical tour, television airings, film festivals including Sundance and DVD distribution.
This is an unedited press release.