After being available exclusively in movie theatres, the Missy Franklin and Kara Lynn Joyce (now Kara Lynn Williamson) swim film “Touch the Wall” can now be seen by clubs and teams on DVD/Blu-ray through a Group License.
The filmmakers are offering swim teams Summertime Poolside Screenings wherever teams/clubs can gather.
“It’s so much more fun to see the film with others,” says producer and co-director Christo Brock, “We know a lot of people will see this film at home or on an iPad, but we really want the film to be seen with friends and teammates in a group setting.”
In the six months that it’s been out, Touch the Wall has become the film that defines the sport of competitive swimming. Featuring the luminous Missy Franklin and multiple Olympic medalist Kara Lynn Williamson (Joyce), the film tells the story of the friendship between then-teenager Missy Franklin (before she won Olympic Gold) and the older veteran Kara Lynn Williamson as they trained their way to the London Olympics. The film packs compelling characters in Franklin and Williamson, swimming-related themes, and an engaging story that never stalls.
See the Trailer Here.
The film has been embraced by swimmers of all ages, but particularly by age group swimmers.
“We get emails every day thanking us for making the film,” says co-director Grant Barbeito. “It’s unbelievable to see how people have reacted to this film. As independent filmmakers, it’s why we make films – to move people.”
“You can tell people get involved in the story – there’s gasping at low points, and clapping at high points. And more than a couple of tears,” says Brock, as he smiles wryly.
After premiering at the Denver Film Festival last November in front of a sold out house of 2800 people, the film’s gained a wide and adoring audience. The filmmakers have used a new model for film distribution – scheduled, crowd-sourced screenings – to get the movie seen by more than 50,000 swimmers and fans. Most of those screenings have happened in local movie theatres, and they’ve been organized by motivated hosts.
“It’s been awesome to bring the film directly to the people who want to see the film, without going through the studios, or a lot of red tape,” says Christo Brock, “Swim clubs and teams have been able to schedule screenings of the film around their practices and swim meets. And sometimes, instead of practice.” Screenings scheduled at movie theatres through their distributor Tugg will continue as long as there’s a demand for it – there are 21 scheduled for June – but the filmmakers are transitioning their focus to Summer get-togethers at pools and auditoriums.
underwater photographs by Stephen Frink as courtesy for TouchTheWall.com, shot at Founder’s Park swimming pool, Islamorada, Florida Keys.
Originally, the filmmakers were planning on releasing the DVD in the Spring, but given the success of the screenings and at the urging of USA Swimming, they delayed the release of the Home Video until later in the Summer.
“We saw what was happening with our screenings – people were bringing their whole clubs to a movie theatre, and it was turning into a team-building event. We wanted that to continue,” says Brock. The release of the Group License is meant so that clubs and teams can have showings of their own at pools and camps.
The Group License can be purchased from the Touch the Wall Store here.
The Home Video version – due out later this Summer – can be pre-ordered from their store, as well.
Christo Poolside, always there with Grant, always capturing footage for the film Touch the Wall.