Breaking the Ice

Breaking the Ice

Left Brain ProductionsDirected by Stacy Gitlin

The Pitch- Jordan Michaels grew up very close with her father.

- It was just Jordan and her father John when her mother died at age 8.

- Hockey was a way for them to connect. Living in Minneapolis in the dead of winter gave them plenty of opportunities to play.

The Pitch- Jordan grew up to be an Olympic athlete, mother of 3,

coached her hometown of Unionville to 3 state titles.

- In 2012, John Michaels was appointed head coach of the Men’s US Olympic Hockey team, striving for gold in 2014. John makes Jordan an assistant.

- The committee reluctantly agrees since he is the best and knows how to win.

The Pitch- Jordan wins over the group after about a year, thousands of hours on the

ice and one really sad attempt at a disco bowling night.

- John dies in 2014 half way through the Olympics, Jordan retreats back to Unionville.

- The team votes Jordan head coach and convinces her to return with a great attempt at a disco bowling night.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Stacy Gitlin• Executive Producer: Jake Willner • Producers: Brother/Sister team of Hannah and

Charlie Kass.• Technical Director: April Umek• Director of Cinematography: Madaline Foust• Choreography: Carol Boutin

Cast and Crew

• Starring Kaitlin Jones as Jordan Michaels• Edward Reader is John Michaels• Jacob Ryan plays Team Captain Justin Farmer• Kyle Lynch is Assistant Coach Riley O’Koon• Phyllis Gitlin as Sandra Michaels• Introducing Jessica Lynn as Paige Johnson

(team trainer and Farmer’s love interest)

Production Schedule

• Shot in Minneapolis to support the US economy.• Local residents to be used as extras.• Pre-production starts February 19th, 2012. • 1 month for town set-up.• 3 months of taping.• 1.5 years of post-production.• 2 months of grassroots marketing leading to

premier.

Grassroots• 20 sessions of hockey clinics with Olympians

sponsored by ‘Breaking the Ice’. Ages 12-18, boys and girls. – 10 sessions won through lottery.– 10 sessions won with an essay content about what the

Olympic spirit means.• Proceeds from merchandise and concessions to US

Hockey.• Marketing campaign in skating rinks, pro shops,

sporting goods stores around the country.

Marketing

• Movie releases February 19th, 2014. The weekend before Olympic opening ceremonies.

• 2 movie premieres: – One in Minnesota. Drive-in style.– Second red carpet in New York City at Chelsea

Piers. Skating party to follow.• Film festivals: Tribeca/ESPN Sports FF,

Sundance, SXSW.• Tribeca/ESPN Film Festival Review Show.

What is DST?(Digital sensory transference)

• 3-D without glasses.• Surround sound without ever seeing a speaker.• Machines set up to pump in smells

corresponding with scenes.• Heaters and fans to simulate sunlight and cold

winds.• The goal is to stimulate the senses as if you

were in the movie.

Company Partnerships

• Disney/ESPN– Produced movies like: Mighty Ducks, Cool

Runnings, Remember the Titans.

• USA Hockey– Juniors, National teams, clinics and Olympics.

Why This Will Work

• The Olympic spirit is powerful marketing.

• Everyone loves sports movies.

• DST technology is an exciting time.