Finding Traction

Welcome to our crowd funding campaign.  Help make Finding Traction happen!

Finding Traction is a documentary that profiles ultra runner Nikki Kimball’s quest to become the fastest person in history to run Vermont’s 273-mile Long Trail.  Nikki ran day and night for over 4 days through the beautiful and brutal Green Mountains, and our film crew was right there with her to capture the pain, glory and hardship she experienced on the trail.  This one-hour film will put Nikki’s expedition on the big screen and give viewers an incredible look into the journey of an elite athlete and the little-known world of ultra running.  

Nikki is one of the most inspiring women we know.  Her endless courage, tenacity and drive to go after her goals is fascinating and awe-inspiring.  After learning of the role Nikki plays in empowering women and girls to participate in professional sports, her passion for involving youth in athletics, and her quest to promote physical activity as a way to combat America's obesity epidemic, we decided this was a film we had to make.  

Nikki's run is complete, and we are almost done shooting. We just need YOUR help to get the film wrapped up. Nikki has always been a role model in her sport and now we have the chance to bring her passion to the screen to motivate people around the globe to explore their own limits and find traction in their own lives.  

Your donation will go directly towards the making of this film so we can inspire people across the country with Nikki's story. 

Thank you for making this amazing project possible.

Our Team

We have a great team working on this film.  Finding Traction is a co-production between Bozeman-based Fours Five Productions, ColorBURN Productions and KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS. This partnership was formed specifically for this production and unites the talents of Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Jaime Jacobsen, Charles Dye, Rick Smith, Danny Schmidt, Devon Riter and Marguerite Keating.  Together we've brought together a talented group of filmmakers, educators and athletes to make Finding Traction a reality. 

Please visit our website for complete filmmaker bios.

Where are we now?

After a year and a half of filming we are nearing the end of production.  This winter we will start post-production, where we edit the film!  We have gotten this far with several small foundation grants, support from our production partner KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS, and donations from generous supporters such as Petzl, CamelBak, ikan and The Montana Office of Tourism.

Now, to finish the film, we need to raise a large amount of money - over $100,000 - and that’s why we’re approaching the Indiegogo community for support.  We are asking for $30,000 to help us pay for initial post-production costs while we continue to apply for grants and foundation funding, and bring additional sponsors on board.  With your help we hope to finish the film in Spring 2013.

How will the money be used?

We need to hire and pay a great editor, a transcriber, a composer, a graphic artist, an animator, a sound editor, and a colorist during the post-production process. We also need to support our producing team in their work to promote and market Finding Traction and secure distribution so it is available for viewing on public television and in film festivals across the country.

Lastly, we want to send Finding Traction on a national community screening tour so we can inspire people across the country through this film.  If we exceed our Indiegogo fundraising goal, the extra funding will help us organize additional screenings in key states such as NY, CA, CO and UT, and send Nikki on tour with the film so you have the chance to meet her in person!  

How You Can Help

1.  Contribute - look over our perks and contribute at a level that works for you.

2.  Donate frequent flier miles - help our production team and Nikki bring Finding Traction to a city near you for a community screening upon the film’s completion.

3.  Pass on the campaign information so others have the opportunity to help us spread the word. 

• Please use the "Share this Campaign" tool at the top of this page.
• Re-post our Indiegogo link on your Facebook and Twitter pages: http://indiegogo.com/FindingTractionFilm

4.  Follow us!  Small steps add up, and you can make a difference too!

• "Like" the film on Facebook for exclusive updates 
• Follow the film on Twitter
• Take a peek at the Official Finding Traction Website

Project Updates

We'll keep you in the loop right here on Indiegogo.  

If you'd like any more information about the project, please send an email to Jaime at jaime.jelenchick@gmail.com 

Extra Details

Is this donation tax-deductible?  
When you donate via Indiegogo, your donation is not tax-deductible.  

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to support the making of Finding Traction, we have tax-exempt status via KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS at Montana State University, our non-profit partner.

Donations should be directed to:
KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS
RE: Finding Traction
Attn: Aaron Pruitt, Director of Content
183 VCB, Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717

You will receive an official letter of thanks from KUSM-TV (Montana State University) that recognizes the gift received, and can be used to provide proof of the donation to the Internal Revenue Service.   

Can we exceed our Indiegogo goal?   
Absolutely!  If we make more than our $30,000 goal, we will be one step closer to our goal of finishing the film by Spring 2013.  We will also be able to begin the massive outreach campaign Finding Traction deserves, and organize additional screenings of the film in a city near you. 

Prizes?    
Once we receive Indiegogo funding, we will be sending out follow up emails, and will ask you to confirm mailing addresses, t-shirt sizes, etc.  And you can even give your prize to a friend if you wish.

Thank you so much for your support of our campaign and for making this amazing film possible.  

The trail is long, but with your help we can make it!

Jaime Jacobsen, Finding Traction Producer/Director