LDI April Newsletter - PROOF

MOVIE PREMIER
April 2016
MAY 14
LDI NEWSLETTER
A TRI special VIP
screening is headed
to Luray.
The screening of the
upcoming motion
picture “TRI” ―
which was filmed in
part at Lake
Arrowhead last
August during the
10th installment of
the Luray Triathlon ―
will be held on May
14 at Luray High
School.
LDI and Racine
MultiSports are
sponsoring the film
premier at
7 p.m. in the LHS
auditorium. Tickets
are $5 for adults and
free for students, and
may be purchased at
the door.
By J.F. McMillan
Staff Writer
LURAY, Aug. 15 ― The Luray Triathlon took
center stage during last weekend's busy
outdoor experiences, as multiple events and
ideal summer conditions took precedent over
indoor pursuits. And then a crew of 50 came
to shoot a film.
While most sporting-related films begin at
the documentary level, entertainment has
evolved.
Luray and its annual August triathlon was
chosen as the backdrop for a feature length
film. As the female lead prepares for the
Nation's Triathlon in Washington, D.C. ― she
is also a cancer survivor.
Casting Director and Executive Producer
for Red Zeppelin Films out of the Washington
Metropolitan area, Kimberly Skyrme, had the
added fortune of participating in last year's
Luray Sprint Triathlon. She describes the
production as a narrative film told in a
dramatic format.
“TRI” the film is the directorial debut for Jai
Jamison.
As a sports themed movie, casting went
through a rigorous process of finding talent.
Triathlon skills were a bonus, as the event
consists of swimming, biking and running
covering more than 30 miles for the
International or Olympic distance.
As part of the audition, actors were given a swim
test to prove realism. Former triathlete and producer
Ted Adams had key points coming from Hollywood
to Luray ― look and feel authentic.
Leading lady and weekend competitor Kelly
Spitko, a young Holly Hunter with steely eyes and a
tight jaw ― looks serious throughout. The crew says
the subject matter is ernest, yet the film takes on
more of a comedic overtone.
The film overcomes obstacles, introducing a
“cancer thread” yet with entertainment value as
sports and humor are intertwined. With a budget of
under $1 million, the production crew voiced how
the Luray community welcomed them, “to help us
create this energy.”
In her first event back to competitive triathlons,
the lead character brings her brother to the event.
He encourages his sister, in remission from cancer.
“She was quite the formidable triathlete,” said the
brother, played by Pennsylvania martial artist and
actor Chris Dyer. “We had a sibling rivalry ― today I
am here in support.”
At the actual finish line on Saturday, first female
racer for the Olympic distance Calah Sclabach, 28,
said that the announcer's mother died of ovarian
cancer. The movie seems to have struck a cord or
thread with many over the weekend.
Adams, the film's producer from Springfield, has
a passion for triathlons and was a U.S. Team
National Coach. He said that the triathlon
community is very close. Adams believes that the
triathlon as a backdrop will resonate with a lot of
people.
“Mixing fiction with reality, we did not interfere
with people actually racing,” Adams says. “We
received a lot of support from competitor groups and
Hampton University for cancer awareness.”
Adams, who has been to Luray before to support
his T3 Honu team, and says that Luray was chosen
because it “represents racing” in Virginia. The
mountains above Lake Arrowhead, he says, serve
as the perfect backdrop.
“You can do anything you want to do,” Adams
said. “To have never done this, getting to the finish
line is a big deal. People will identify with one of
many characters to hit a cross-section of people.”
The film has sights on showing at the Sundance
Film Festival in Park City Utah in January 2017 as
the “film festival darling,” with its universal themes,
said Red Zepellin Associate Producer Vincent De
Paul.
The crew spent most of Saturday filming the
swimming and running, concentrating Sunday on
biking. A drone captured the action overhead. The
crew enjoyed the River's Bend Ranch in Stanley.
As for local race support, conducted for the first
time by Racine Multisports, volunteer coordinator
Heather Sours voices support for those who freely
contributed their time and energy.
“We had the largest volunteer turnout this year.
We had over 200 volunteers that filled 300 volunteer
positions,” says Sours. “We could not put on an
event this size without the help of these volunteers!”
Race Coordinator Ken Racine said that over
1,200 registered athletes combined, slightly more
than last year, with 524 starting the International and
434 started the Sprint. A total of $5,000 in prize
money was awarded to the top athletes.
“We raised over $10,000 for the United Way!”
Racine said.
It's a wrap.
The “TRI” trailer is
available on YouTube
by searching “TRI
official movie trailer,”
or “Red Zeppelin
Productions.” The
film is also featured
on the website
TriForCure.com, or
on Facebook at
Facebook.com/
TRIforcure/.
This year’s triathlon
will be held on
Saturday, Aug. 20,
and Sunday, Aug. 21,
at Lake Arrowhead. A
new swimming event
is also planned at the
lake on June 18.