An Open Letter from the Producer of Life in Synchro

 

by Nicole Davies

Working on this synchro documentary has been meaningful to me in so many ways. I have learned a lot, met a lot of new people, and fallen in love with this sport all over again. When I was a kid and you asked me “What’s your dream job?” I would have said “I want to be a producer on set of a movie about synchro.” And here I am. Dreams really do come true.

This project has reminded me why synchro is so special, and I hope that message will resonate with everyone who sees it. All of our filming is done, and we are in the last phases of post-production. Having just launched our IndieGoGo campaign today to raise funds to get us through the finish line, I am already overwhelmed with the response and support we’ve received, so I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on my experience and give thanks to all the amazing people who have made this journey possible.

First and foremost, I want everyone to know how in awe I am of Angela’s talent and vision for the film and the work she has put into it every single day. She really is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to filmmaking and she always gives 110% effort to make sure every shot and every scene is perfect. Her cinematography and editing skills are incredible, but what’s been truly special about this project is her ability to get to know people on a personal level. Through working with teams and skaters and coaches, she’s really been able to draw out and capture the true essence of synchronized skating in a way that I haven’t seen before.

I am grateful to Angela for connecting me and the synchro community to some really important historical figures. Having Dr. Porter’s family at U.S. Figure Skating’s ceremony to honor him, and being there to capture it on film, was amazing. The success of that trip, and many other trips to film for this documentary wouldn’t have been possible without Sarah Nelson. Sarah has been on board right from the beginning and her talent and excitement for the project have really helped push us forward with momentum. Huge thanks to Sarah for believing in this project, and always making me laugh along the way!

I am thankful for my former team, the Crystallettes, for being open to letting us film them. To Holly, Shannon, Emily (and Cayty and Suzy!), and Doreen for access, interviews, and photos. To my Michigan family, Katie, Brian and Caroline, for your love and support. When I watch the Crystallettes storyline of the film it reminds how fortunate I am to have been part of such a successful, accomplished organization. Sometimes it doesn’t seem real that I competed at that level and made it to the World Championships. I am so glad we captured the athleticism and determination required to compete in this sport at that level in this film, and I am proud to have been a small part of that legacy. Once, always.

I am also thankful for my current team, DC EDGE, especially Jenny Bacon, for being part of the birth of this film by letting Angela film our Nationals Send-Off exhibition two years ago. Thank you for letting us film and interview you, and supporting us along the way. Thank you to my private students and anyone I’ve coached for inspiring me to give back to the synchro community. I hope you love this sport as much as I do. I am so grateful to all of you, skaters and parents, especially those of you who have gone above and beyond to ask about the film, come to our screening, and support us with generous donations.

Having watched so much footage and so many interviews, I feel like I know all the characters in this film. To John and Heidi and all the DownEasters, thank you for the joy you bring. Watching you skate and compete makes me so incredibly happy. I am guilty of getting wrapped up in the competitive aspect of the sport too often and your storyline of the film is a great reminder that winning nationals or qualifying for worlds isn’t what’s important. It’s about the teamwork and the relationships we all build. Thank you for reaching out to us at the beginning of this project and sharing your love for the sport. You have made me love it even more than I knew I could.

To Edie and Peggy, your friendship and dedication to the sport is inspiring. It’s so clear you have had an enormous impact on multiple generations of skaters, and your impact continues! To the Hockettes, Fraserettes Alumni, and Fraser Eclipse, I just don’t know where any of us would be without you! Thanks for blazing the trail to make all of this possible.

To everyone we filmed, and I mean everyone, thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for your knowledge and your perspective. Thank you for letting us into your world. For one reason or another I connected and related to your stories on a personal level, and that was truly incredible to see.

Not everyone we filmed or interviewed is going to make it into the final cut of this film. I am sorry to those of you who won’t see yourselves on screen, but I hope you will understand the artistic choices we made for the film. There are so many incredible stories, and we couldn’t tell them all at once. I hope you will feel that we were still able to honor your story through the other story lines in the film.

One of the most incredible experiences in this process so far was our rough cut screening in Takoma Park. I was nervous to show the film in a room full of (mostly) non-skating people. As people saw more and more of the film, the laughs kept coming, the “awwws” were audible, and I relaxed. I could tell that people were enjoying it even before they gave verbal feedback at the end. My favorite quote from the night was a man in the audience who said “I entered a world I didn’t know existed, and I never wanted to leave.” I hope that’s how every viewer of this film feels.

Special shout out to my roommates for trekking to the screening and capturing audience feedback on twitter. Your enthusiasm and excitement for this project are so appreciated, you guys are the best! And to Cass, for your kind words of support at the screening and helping out with our new trailer. I always looked up to you when I was a little juv and you were on intermediate, so it means a lot to have your support.

Of course, I wouldn’t be here today if my parents hadn’t gotten me involved in skating and encouraged me throughout my entire synchro journey. So, thank you to my mom and dad for building a rink on a tarp in our backyard when I was two, and bringing me to the Colonials tryouts after watching the junior team perform at Ice Crystals when I was eight. Thank you for supporting me in synchro from when I was nine until 29! Thank you to Jonathan and Chris for putting up with me always prioritizing skating. You are my rocks. Thank you for always being there for me. And to all my former teammates, and parents of teammates, your support means more than you know, thank you.

Like many of you, synchro is my passion. I don’t know who I would be without it in my life. I wouldn’t have met so many amazing people and lived so many amazing experiences. Here’s to making this just the beginning of something wonderful! I can’t wait to meet even more amazing people through future screenings of the documentary!

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