Ed Gutierrez – Director of RMN Events – has launched a partnership with producer Craig Scott to film a documentary about the world of amateur wrestling.
Many may know Scott as one of the survivors of the Columbine shooting tragedy. His sister, Rachel Joy Scott, was the first to be killed and has received national recognition for her challenge of kindness, compassion and faith.
Similarly, Craig Scott – who was an amateur wrestler while he attended Columbine – he has been featured on shows such as Oprah, Today Show, Good Morning America with Katie Couric, CNN, and many others for his nationwide crusade to deliver his own message of hope that stems from his personal touch with death. A highly sought after speaker by high schools and other organizations, Scott is also an up and coming filmmaker who has worked on a number of major motion pictures and television shows. As a board director of the American Screenwriters Association and having people behind him like Kent Philip – CEO of Turner Broadcasting, Katie Couric, and Chuck Norris, Scott has a promising career in the film industry in which his ultimate goal is to be a person of influence and positively affect those he works with and those that view his work.
With this featured film production, the staff will also have the assistance of Scott Ransom, who has stacked up twenty-five years of experience working with television shows such as 60-Minutes, HBO, ABC News, CBS News, Discovery Channel to name just a few. He has assisted with other box office hits such as Batman, All the Right Moves, with Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Power Rangers and Steven Seagals on Deadly Ground. This is a small background overview of expertise that Ransom brings to the set.
Gutierrez shared his dream to produce a knockout documentary with Scott, instantly, Scott knew that he wanted to share Ed's dream, and help to make it a reality.
To date, no documentary of amateur wrestling exists of this nature. The proposed project will highlight two Colorado wrestlers due to the fact that RMN is based in Denver, CO where both Gutierrez and Scott reside. Indeed, RMN Events produces the largest amateur wrestling series in the United States, and will set the stage for the first-time-ever cinematic production of amateur wrestling featuring the sport's challenges and rewards.
Specifically, the documentary will portray young athletes who dedicate their lives to the sport from an early age, and will showcase the Lane family and athletes – from elementary school, middle school and high school to college and into the Olympics. It will also portray the positive and negative pressures that a young wrestler would face in becoming a world champion.
Coverage of the film begins with the RMN wrestling season. After the final product has been made, it will be pitched to a number of major networks including HBO, TNT, Fox and others that have shown recent interest in these types of storylines.
Chris Greenberg, owner of Southwest Health, is excited about the opportunity to help kids while also contributing to Gutierrez's inspired projects, says Chris; "Ed is a go-getter. If he puts his mind to something, it's going to happen. This "cutting edge", innovative project is going to be incredible for the sport of wrestling."
"I know that sometimes in making a documentary, the story is more found than scripted. It's very possible we'll learn new things about ourselves and about the sport of wrestling in doing this documentary." - Craig Scott
"This film may showcase some deserving kids from our backyard in Colorado. To watch such a documentary on HBO someday would be extremely exciting for the sport, as well as the athletes and families who are chosen to participate in its creation." - Ed Gutierrez
"Most people in mainstream America just don't understand the dedication and commitment it takes to be a wrestler, not to mention the additional work it takes to be successful a wrestler. The documentary "The Making of an Amateur Champion" should be a great opportunity for the world to see how truly special our sport is and how exceptional the people are that compete. This has great promotional potential." - W.I.N. Magazine Publisher Bryan Van Kley
"I applaud the efforts of Ed Gutierrez and Craig Scott to make a documentary that will showcase the history of amateur wrestling. As mankind's oldest sport, wrestling's history coincides with that of civilization itself. No sport can match wrestling's illustrious heritage and it is important that those who love wrestling take an active role in promoting it." - Mike Chapman, Executive Director of the International Wrestling Institute & Museum
"As the Coach for the United States Olympic Team, this opportunity that Ed Gutierrez has presented to the sport of wrestling is long overdue. The coverage we receive at the Olympics is minimal exposure for our sport at best; this effort will be an eye opener for those who are not aware of the time end effort it takes to become an amateur wrestling champion." - Steve Fraser, United States Olympic Coach, USA Wrestling
"How wonderful someone is finally going to promote the oldest and greatest sport in the World. I think it's time that people get a chance to see how tough it is to be a wrestler and a wrestling family. Most have no idea the sacrifices wrestlers go through. This will help people witness a real life experience and an opportunity to understand why we love this sport so much. I commend Ed for taking on this admirable project." -Tom Cortez, Head Wrestling Coach - Brighton High School