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
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megan codyDirector
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Lauren VitielloDirector
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Lauren VitielloProducer
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Vera Neuenswander SchmitzKey Cast
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Matt SchmitzKey Cast
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Kelsie AhbeKey Cast
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Joe NeuenswanderKey Cast
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Joyce NeuenswanderKey Cast
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Laurel SchmitzKey Cast
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Steve SchmitzKey Cast
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Dave VolzKey Cast
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Megan CodyEditor
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Randy PfundExecutive Procuder
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Megan CodyCinematographers
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Lauren VitielloCinematographers
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Matt SchmitzCinematographers
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Project Type:Documentary
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Genres:Sports Documentary
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Runtime:38 minutes 27 seconds
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Completion Date:February 28, 2017
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Production Budget:7,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED, Sony a7s ii, Canon 5D Mk ii
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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/
“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.