Curveball Feature Film
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Family, Sport
What happens when the world sees blindness as a tragedy—until a blind boy becomes a baseball hero and his mom rewrites history? Curveball is the film changing the story—and the future.
Curveball Feature Film
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Family, Sport
1 Campaigns | Pennsylvania, United States
24 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,805
Goal: $15,500 for pre-production
What happens when the world sees blindness as a tragedy—until a blind boy becomes a baseball hero and his mom rewrites history? Curveball is the film changing the story—and the future.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Curveball the Movie – A Story of Triumph and Inclusion
If Erin Brockovich and Rocky had a baby, it would be THIS FILM.
Welcome to the World of Curveball.
CURVEBALL is a feature film that challenges everything you think you know about blindness—and reveals what’s possible when a mother refuses to let the world count her son out. Inspired by true events, it tells the story of a blind boy who became the underdog hero of his Little League team, and the mom who changed medical history and American law to make sure he had the chance.
This story matters to all of us—because when we fail to share stories of resilience, truth, and disability as strength, we all lose. In fact, the outdated narrative of blindness costs the U.S. over $31.7 billion a year in lost potential, opportunity, and innovation. Curveball is currently in pre-production, and we need your help to bring it to life.
This campaign will help fund the tools that make this film fully inclusive—like audio description and accessible production equipment—and help us create educational presentations and classroom resources to ensure this story makes impact far beyond the screen.
Curveball is already a finalist for a major screenwriting award in Hollywood.
Scroll down to read more about the project and check out the incentives listed on the right—we’ve created meaningful rewards to thank you for being part of this journey. Click the links above to meet our TEAM, learn more about how your support fuels impact on our WISHLIST, and follow our UPDATES as we move toward production.
Now’s the time to swing.
Let’s do this—together.
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Message from the Film Creator, Kristin Smedley
Curveball is a feature film based on my family’s true story. When doctors told me my son was blind, they also told me what he’d never do—including play baseball.
But he didn’t just play—he led his team from the bottom of the standings to a championship. Off the field, I fought just as hard—advocating in courtrooms, pushing through medical gatekeepers, even helping change U.S. law to make sure my son and millions like him wouldn’t be counted out again.
Curveball is the story of a boy’s unexpected triumph—and a mother’s unstoppable love.
.png)
It's About All of Us.
Life throws curveballs at all of us. Some we see coming, others take us by surprise. What we do in those moments defines us. This isn’t just a story about a boy breaking barriers—it’s a story about all of us. It's about taking a swing at life's curveballs instead of being shoved to the sidelines.
.png)
The Wrong Story Is Costing Us - Big Time.
This isn’t just about one boy or one mom. The wrong narrative about blindness costs people their dignity, their dreams, and—by one estimate—over $31.7 billion dollars every year in lost potential, support, and opportunity. We’re not just losing money. We’re losing futures.
.png)
Let's Go.
We’re inviting you to help bring this film to life.
Together, we can make Curveball a home run for
inclusion, truth, and possibility.
Swing for the Fences!
Back the campaign.
Share the story.
Be part of changing what the world believes is possible.
.png)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Audio Description Production
Costs $5,000
Makes the film fully accessible to blind audiences through professional, theater-quality audio description.
Festival Outreach & Education
Costs $4,000
Takes Curveball’s message to schools, festivals, and advocates—amplifying inclusion through storytelling.
Open Captions & Visual Accessibility
Costs $3,500
Ensures deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences can experience the film equally across all platforms.
Behind the Scenes Featurette
Costs $3,000
Showcases how Curveball was built with disability leadership—highlighting inclusion in action.
Share this update!
About This Team
Why Our Team Matters
Curveball isn’t just a story about inclusion—it’s being built by the very people it represents. Our team combines award-winning filmmakers, blind talent, music legends, disability advocates, and the lived experience that powers every scene.
This isn’t just representation—it’s leadership. From script to soundtrack, every element of Curveball is shaped by those who know what it means to take a swing at life’s toughest pitches—and knock it out of the park.
.jpg)
Meet the Team
Kristin Smedley – Creator / Executive Producer
Kristin is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and fierce advocate who’s spent two decades challenging how the world sees blindness—starting with her own sons. She created Curveball to shift the narrative, not just on screen, but everywhere stories about disability are told.
Ken Barbet – Director / Producer (ShadowBox Films)
Ken is an accomplished director and producer with multiple IMDb credits and a passion for storytelling that makes an impact. With ShadowBox Films, he brings seasoned vision and heart to lead Curveball from real-life inspiration to screen-ready cinematic truth.
Christian Guardino – Soundtrack Producer & Performer
A finalist on American Idol and Golden Buzzer recipient on America’s Got Talent, Christian brings not only extraordinary musical talent—but lived experience of blindness—to his role. He’s crafting an original soundtrack that captures the emotional power of this story from the inside out.
Erik Weihenmayer – Cast (Playing Himself)
A best-selling author, speaker, and the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest, Erik is more than a cameo—he is the embodiment of what’s possible. His real-life presence in Curveball reinforces its core message of resilience and perspective.
Michael Smedley – Creative Director
The story that inspired Curveball began with Michael. Now a consultant and creative lead, he ensures the film stays grounded in real-life experience, from character development to emotional truth. He’s lived it—and he’s helping shape how it’s told.
Mitchell Smedley – Consultant / Cast
Mitchell has supported his brother and mother on this journey since the beginning, and now brings his experience to the film both behind the scenes and on camera—making a cameo as the championship game’s sports broadcaster (our inside surprise!).
Rolfe Kanefsky – Screenwriter
With dozens of screen credits, Rolfe was able to take Kristin’s real-life story and transform it into a compelling, award-nominated screenplay. His script for Curveball is already earning attention—including a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Authentic Global Film Awards.
Advisory Team – Inclusion & Authenticity Leaders
Sam Seavey – Accessibility & Blind Culture Advisor
Creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, Sam brings tech insight, blind culture knowledge, and deep community connection to ensure Curveball reflects the real lived experience of navigating the world without sight.
Meredith Soudulet – Disability Inclusion & Advocacy Advisor
Founder of ProFound, Meredith advises on workplace inclusion and disability leadership. Her guidance supports the project's mission of being inclusive not just in story—but in process.
Charlie Collins – CoFounder, Thriving Blind Academy
Charlie is a speaker, coach, and co-founder of Thriving Blind Academy. His expertise in mindset, resilience, and self-leadership is embedded throughout the film’s emotional core.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Curveball the Movie – A Story of Triumph and Inclusion
If Erin Brockovich and Rocky had a baby, it would be THIS FILM.
Welcome to the World of Curveball.
CURVEBALL is a feature film that challenges everything you think you know about blindness—and reveals what’s possible when a mother refuses to let the world count her son out. Inspired by true events, it tells the story of a blind boy who became the underdog hero of his Little League team, and the mom who changed medical history and American law to make sure he had the chance.
This story matters to all of us—because when we fail to share stories of resilience, truth, and disability as strength, we all lose. In fact, the outdated narrative of blindness costs the U.S. over $31.7 billion a year in lost potential, opportunity, and innovation. Curveball is currently in pre-production, and we need your help to bring it to life.
This campaign will help fund the tools that make this film fully inclusive—like audio description and accessible production equipment—and help us create educational presentations and classroom resources to ensure this story makes impact far beyond the screen.
Curveball is already a finalist for a major screenwriting award in Hollywood.
Scroll down to read more about the project and check out the incentives listed on the right—we’ve created meaningful rewards to thank you for being part of this journey. Click the links above to meet our TEAM, learn more about how your support fuels impact on our WISHLIST, and follow our UPDATES as we move toward production.
Now’s the time to swing.
Let’s do this—together.
Message from the Film Creator, Kristin Smedley
Curveball is a feature film based on my family’s true story. When doctors told me my son was blind, they also told me what he’d never do—including play baseball.
But he didn’t just play—he led his team from the bottom of the standings to a championship. Off the field, I fought just as hard—advocating in courtrooms, pushing through medical gatekeepers, even helping change U.S. law to make sure my son and millions like him wouldn’t be counted out again.
Curveball is the story of a boy’s unexpected triumph—and a mother’s unstoppable love.
It's About All of Us.
Life throws curveballs at all of us. Some we see coming, others take us by surprise. What we do in those moments defines us. This isn’t just a story about a boy breaking barriers—it’s a story about all of us. It's about taking a swing at life's curveballs instead of being shoved to the sidelines.
The Wrong Story Is Costing Us - Big Time.
This isn’t just about one boy or one mom. The wrong narrative about blindness costs people their dignity, their dreams, and—by one estimate—over $31.7 billion dollars every year in lost potential, support, and opportunity. We’re not just losing money. We’re losing futures.
Let's Go.
We’re inviting you to help bring this film to life.
Together, we can make Curveball a home run for
inclusion, truth, and possibility.
Swing for the Fences!
Back the campaign.
Share the story.
Be part of changing what the world believes is possible.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Audio Description Production
Costs $5,000
Makes the film fully accessible to blind audiences through professional, theater-quality audio description.
Festival Outreach & Education
Costs $4,000
Takes Curveball’s message to schools, festivals, and advocates—amplifying inclusion through storytelling.
Open Captions & Visual Accessibility
Costs $3,500
Ensures deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences can experience the film equally across all platforms.
Behind the Scenes Featurette
Costs $3,000
Showcases how Curveball was built with disability leadership—highlighting inclusion in action.
Share this update!
About This Team
Why Our Team Matters
Curveball isn’t just a story about inclusion—it’s being built by the very people it represents. Our team combines award-winning filmmakers, blind talent, music legends, disability advocates, and the lived experience that powers every scene.
This isn’t just representation—it’s leadership. From script to soundtrack, every element of Curveball is shaped by those who know what it means to take a swing at life’s toughest pitches—and knock it out of the park.
Meet the Team
Kristin Smedley – Creator / Executive Producer
Kristin is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and fierce advocate who’s spent two decades challenging how the world sees blindness—starting with her own sons. She created Curveball to shift the narrative, not just on screen, but everywhere stories about disability are told.
Ken Barbet – Director / Producer (ShadowBox Films)
Ken is an accomplished director and producer with multiple IMDb credits and a passion for storytelling that makes an impact. With ShadowBox Films, he brings seasoned vision and heart to lead Curveball from real-life inspiration to screen-ready cinematic truth.
Christian Guardino – Soundtrack Producer & Performer
A finalist on American Idol and Golden Buzzer recipient on America’s Got Talent, Christian brings not only extraordinary musical talent—but lived experience of blindness—to his role. He’s crafting an original soundtrack that captures the emotional power of this story from the inside out.
Erik Weihenmayer – Cast (Playing Himself)
A best-selling author, speaker, and the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest, Erik is more than a cameo—he is the embodiment of what’s possible. His real-life presence in Curveball reinforces its core message of resilience and perspective.
Michael Smedley – Creative Director
The story that inspired Curveball began with Michael. Now a consultant and creative lead, he ensures the film stays grounded in real-life experience, from character development to emotional truth. He’s lived it—and he’s helping shape how it’s told.
Mitchell Smedley – Consultant / Cast
Mitchell has supported his brother and mother on this journey since the beginning, and now brings his experience to the film both behind the scenes and on camera—making a cameo as the championship game’s sports broadcaster (our inside surprise!).
Rolfe Kanefsky – Screenwriter
With dozens of screen credits, Rolfe was able to take Kristin’s real-life story and transform it into a compelling, award-nominated screenplay. His script for Curveball is already earning attention—including a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Authentic Global Film Awards.
Advisory Team – Inclusion & Authenticity Leaders
Sam Seavey – Accessibility & Blind Culture Advisor
Creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, Sam brings tech insight, blind culture knowledge, and deep community connection to ensure Curveball reflects the real lived experience of navigating the world without sight.
Meredith Soudulet – Disability Inclusion & Advocacy Advisor
Founder of ProFound, Meredith advises on workplace inclusion and disability leadership. Her guidance supports the project's mission of being inclusive not just in story—but in process.
Charlie Collins – CoFounder, Thriving Blind Academy
Charlie is a speaker, coach, and co-founder of Thriving Blind Academy. His expertise in mindset, resilience, and self-leadership is embedded throughout the film’s emotional core.