byLarry EderThe first four minute mile has always been more than an athletic achievement. While it is that, Sir Roger Bannister and his teammates, the late Chris Brasher and the late Chris Chataway, and their advisor, the late Franz Stampfl, did much more. They inspired a war weary country and enthralled a cynical world.
NEW DOCUMENTARY CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ROGER BANNISTER’S FOUR MINUTE MILE
KIMBIA ATHLETICS AIMS TO CROWDFUND DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF HISTORIC RACE
DATE: 27 March 2014
from Jeremy Mosher / mosher.jeremy@gmail.com / 513-314-8308
FOR
Sixty years have passed since “The Greatest Sporting Achievement of the 20th Century” as named by
Sports Illustrated and Forbes – Sir Roger Bannister running the first mile under four minutes. To
celebrate and commemorate that anniversary, KIMbia Athletics is producing a new feature-length
documentary that explores how remarkable Bannister’s achievement truly was – and the untold story of
how it almost didn’t happen.
The film’s creators hope to tell of this classic story in a thoroughly modern way: via a crowd-funding
campaign on Kickstarter. Funding would support the post-production process for an impressive
collection of interviews including Sir Roger Bannister, himself; his friend and pacesetter, the late Sir Chris
Chataway; two-time Olympic gold medalist and London 2012 head, Lord Sebastian Coe; Bannister’s rival
and the second sub-4:00 miler ever, John Landy; as well as historians, journalists, world-record breakers
— even eyewitnesses from the historic run itself, who share their memories on camera for the first time.
“With these interviews, I think we’re approaching something that could be considered a ‘definitive’
account of Bannister‘s sub-four-minute mile,” said Jeremy Mosher, staff producer at KIMbia Athletics.
“So we’re hoping to do more than simply finish it. We’re hoping community support enables us to
complete this timeless story of achievement to a level where it will be valued by generations to come.”
Bannister’s run is unquestionably legendary. “It’s on par, I think, with things like climbing Mt. Everest or
landing on the moon,” says David Epstein, author of the New York Times best-selling The Sports Gene,
who appears in the documentary. “It’s a question of, Can we even do this? And if we can show ourselves
we can do this, there are all sorts of other things we can do.”
If pledges totaling at least $12,000 are collected via Kickstarter, the production team can tap specialists
for color correction, audio mixing, and visual effects. A successful campaign will see backers receive
unique memorabilia related to the film; rewards include a DVD with bonus content, the film’s poster,
and even replica 1950’s-era track equipment, handmade for use in the film.
The Kickstarter goes live Friday March 28th and runs through Monday April 14th. Updates and
additional information will be provided on the Kickstarter page for Bannister: Everest on the Track along
with www.KIMbia.net and social media outlets Facebook and Twitter.
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ON THE WEB www.BannisterDocumentary.com
www.KIMbia.net
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041345351/379429304
