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Vera's Vault: The Olympic Pursuit

Inspired by the 1996 USA Olympic Magnificent Seven, Vera Neuenswander Schmitz was determined to be an Olympian one day. Following the 2012 Olympic Trials and 16 years of competing and training, everything came to a pause after finding out she had a torn labrum in her hip and needed surgery.

The last 4 years day in and day out, from a barn in Indiana, she recovered and trained her body and mind. Giving it everything she had on the last day possible, she qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials giving her one last shot at making the team.

"Sometimes victory looks different than you think it's gonna look. And that's okay... This isn't even about pole vault, it just happens to be pole vault. It's about fighting for something that you believe in [and] believe you can do. Having a dream, going full throttle at it, allowing yourself to be stripped down and built back up stronger."
-Vera Neueswander Schmitz

  • megan cody
    Director
  • Lauren Vitiello
    Director
  • Lauren Vitiello
    Producer
  • Vera Neuenswander Schmitz
    Key Cast
  • Matt Schmitz
    Key Cast
  • Kelsie Ahbe
    Key Cast
  • Joe Neuenswander
    Key Cast
  • Joyce Neuenswander
    Key Cast
  • Laurel Schmitz
    Key Cast
  • Steve Schmitz
    Key Cast
  • Dave Volz
    Key Cast
  • Megan Cody
    Editor
  • Randy Pfund
    Executive Procuder
  • Megan Cody
    Cinematographers
  • Lauren Vitiello
    Cinematographers
  • Matt Schmitz
    Cinematographers
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Sports Documentary
  • Runtime:
    38 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Sony a7s ii, Canon 5D Mk ii
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - megan cody, Lauren Vitiello

Megan Cody - Director / Cinematographer / Editor

Megan Cody has been a full-time DP, editor, and director in Chicago, IL for the last 6 years. Prior to freelance, she was working for a production company doing the same exact jobs. She wears many hats and also owns a hat business called Any Day Hat.

Instagram:
@megan_irl
@anydayhat

Website:
www.hadessacreative.com

Lauren Vitiello - Producer / Director / Co-cinematographer

Lauren Vitiello is a full-time creative producer, photographer, and DP in Chicago, IL. She has been in the creative industry for almost 10 years.

Lauren is also a creative contributor to various non-profit organizations, such as the HALO Foundation, a global organization focused on providing housing, healing and education to homeless and at-risk children.

Instagram:
@laurenvitiello

Website:
http://laurenvitiello.com/

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Vera’s Vault” will be Lauren & Megan's first film to date. The project was dreamed up, pitched and presented in 2012. It was filmed from 2014 - 2017, and completed in 2017.