GO FIGURE: THE RANDY GARDNER STORY

Los Angeles, California | Film Feature

Documentary, LGBTQ

Sharidan W-Sotelo

1 Campaigns | California, United States

Green Light

This campaign raised $22,245 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

90 supporters | followers

Enter the amount you would like to pledge

$

What happens after an Olympic quest has ended? This film is a journey of identity for Randy Gardner, World Champion pairs figure skater, who with his partner of over 50 years, Tai Babilonia, achieved stardom while masking his own inner truths. Through the power of memoir and theatre, he bares all.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

GO FIGURE is a documentary about Randy Gardner, an LGBTQ public figure who came of age during the Cold War. One of the performances filmed by female director, Sharidan, was a benefit for the West Hollywood AIDS Memorial Monument. An adopted child's quest for truth behind his birth is also covered.

The Story

GO FIGURE: THE RANDY GARDNER STORY is fiscally sponsored by The Film Collaborative, a 501(c)3 organization. ALL donations are tax deductible.

Memoir is a powerful tool to unlocking our true story without artifice.


It is a brave undertaking for anyone to perform their life's essence in front of an audience.

photo by Amy Krut
Cracking the veneer of a public life open as a solo pursuit is especially complex for an Olympic Icon, 

photo by Amy Krut

 

who has been intrinsically linked with another soul for all of his athletic and artistic life.

photo by Amy Krut

GO FIGURE: THE RANDY GARDNER STORY

is not just His Story.

The exploration of one's roots is a universal pursuit. The knowledge of one's origin informs their present and provides them the tools to cope with their future.

 

This documentary is not just another Figure Skating Movie.

Randy Gardner, together with his pairs partner Tai Babilonia reached heights that no U.S. pairs team at the time had.  Fresh off of their 1979 World Championship Gold Medal, they were in contention for beating the USSR on the 1980 Olympic Ice in Lake Placid.  But injury kept them from being the "Miracle on Ice."

Skating movie tropes are stereotypically sparkly and shallow, as if the ice freezes away the raw power of cinematic storytelling.

 

The film's director, Sharidan, is also the creator of BREAKING ICE, a figure skating interpretation of the iconic television series, BREAKING BAD.

Watch BREAKING ICE on AMC TV site

She is dedicated to breaking the norms of figure skating on film and bringing the art form to a larger audience.

 

Randy has overcome enormous personal and private difficulties to now be an advocate for the LGBTQ community.  

 

At the time of his amateur and touring figure skating career, he had to hide the fact that he was gay from the mainstream. His parents went to extreme measures to steer him into a heteronormative path.

He became a 'detective' in search for his birth mother and as deftly as he choreographs skating routines --  he found her and the horrific truth surrounding his birth.

Tai and Randy were America's Sweethearts...

Forever Two as One.

                                         

This film is a testament to the power of a friendship that is evergreen after more than 50 years.

Come join us on and off the ice...

On our way to finishing...

GO FIGURE: THE RANDY GARDNER STORY.

 

Here is a taste of what the film is going to be...

Watch the teaser:

 

DONATING to GO FIGURE:

GO FIGURE is fiscally sponsored by The Film Collaborative (TFC). 

 

In accordance with IRS regulations, TFC issues tax receipts for all donations of $250 and over. Seed&Spark and credit card processing fees are deducted before TFC receives the funds.

TFC issues tax receipts on the amount they receive. 

If you receive an incentive with a tangible value, that amount will also be deducted from the gross amount on the receipt you receive.

 

For More Info about GO FIGURE on The Film Collaborative Site

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

Color Timing

Costs $10,000

Blending Archival and Our footage is necessary to our path to the film festival circuit.

Sound Mix

Costs $10,000

Documentary sound is always tricky as it is not filmed in controlled situations.Help make it sing!

About This Team

GO FIGURE is a fiercely Independent production.

We've assembled a team of film professionals who are rooted in the highly creative world of figure skating.  

 

It takes a village, or rather, Forces of Nature to take Randy Gardner's One Man Show from Stage to Screen.

 

The Film Collaborative

We our proud to have The Film Collaborative as our Fiscal Sponsor.

 

 

Sharidan

Nominated for an American Cinema Editors EDDIE AWARD for BREAKING BAD, “Better Call Saul” commercial, the “Vamanos Pest Montage,” and the Train episode and the series finale, “Felina.” She wrote, directed, and edited the viral figure skating version of BREAKING BAD, BREAKING ICE, featured in the Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter, and Time Magazine and a front page article in the Wall Street

Journal. Her own short film, the allegory of Robin Williams’ Lewy Body Dementia, NO NOTE - accepted into Cannes Film Festival.

 

Randy Gardner

U.S. National and World Pair Figure Skating Champion, two-time Olympian, director and choreographer. After decades on the world and Olympic stage with Tai Babilonia as “America’s Sweethearts,” Gardner goes solo with this raw, riveting expose of his life. Mr. Gardner says of GO FIGURE, “...is an emotional journey and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.” “Sharing my story and helping the next generation find their way is truly one of the most authentic things one can do.”

 

Lily Gwyer-Miller

Lily has built a diverse 15 year career in the film industry overseeing

the post on many Fox features such as SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, LET’S BE COPS, AGENT 47, THE SITTER, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, and WHY HIM. She is currently in development on a major VR project and other film projects. She is co-founder of the Theater on Ice skating team, Ice Repertory Theatre and an accomplished dancer and skater in her own right.

 

Julia Rogers

Julia Rogers grew up a competitive dancer for 14 years, studying all styles of dance. Her and her brother Matthew appeared on Good Morning America in 2005 for the greatest dancers in America challenge. Julia has a passion for the entertainment industry and is currently building her career at Warner Bros as a coordinator of retail business development in consumer products. Julia has always looked up to her Guncle Randy and is so excited to support him in his documentary.

 

Jordan Cowan

A force on the ice and behind the camera, or rather, On the Ice while Behind the Camera, Jordan launched the social media figure skating phenomenon On Ice Perspectives.  His filmic style incorporates his abilities as an accomplished ice dancer and a member of Ice Theatre of New York with his cinematography skills to take the viewer on a intimate visual journey with the top figure skaters of our time.

 

Dr. Linda Haack, Ph.D.

Dr. Linda Haack is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Sport Performance specialist working with both amateur and professional athletes for the last 28 years. Her private practice is located in West Los Angeles (Malibu) California but she has worked with athletes and coaches both Nationally and Internationally. As a former figure skater herself (USFSA Senior competitor in singles and Junior competitor in pairs), Dr. Haack trained under World and Olympic coach John Nicks. She has known Randy Gardner for 50 years, as they grew up together skating at Culver City ice rink.  A very dear and important life long relationship, they’ve shared many many laughs and tears together.

Current Team

Supporters

Followers

Incentives