Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story

Synopsis

Before he was born, Laue's umbilical cord wrapped around his neck in the womb. To save his own life, Laue used his arm to protect his neck. Lack of circulation to the arm caused him to be born with an arm that ended just below the elbow. Kevin’s father died when he was in middle school. A former athlete and youth coach, his father had difficulty accepting Kevin’s disability. The will to carry on for his family and make his father proud drove Kevin to follow his own path of success by playing extraordinary basketball.

Kevin’s mother was left to beg the rival coach to let her 6’9” son have a chance to try out for his basketball team after refusals from all teams in her area. The five-year, father-son relationship began between Coach McKnight and Kevin. McKnight saw something in Kevin and gave him the chance, training, and skills Kevin needed to complete his own goals. The film shows Kevin Laue as a 6’11” high-school student in a small California town, on a trip to meet the President, becoming a starter under multiple coaches, and finally to New York City.

Filming

During the edit of Franklin Martin’s first film, Walking On Dead Fish, Martin coached an AAU team during a tournament in Las Vegas. Martin was coaching a team playing against Laue and McKnight. Martin was immediately amazed by Laue’s talent, then became astounded at the ability and technique that Laue possessed while only have one arm. Martin contacted McKnight and Laue immediately following the game. Upon McKnight's and Martin's first handshake, Martin had begun his second film where he shot for four years, following Kevin’s path to his dreams. The documentary takes place in Pleasanton, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Berkeley, CA; New York City, NY; Fork Union, VA; and Pittsburgh, PA.

Release

The film opened in New York City on October 26, 2012 at the Quad Cinema. Long Shot: A Kevin Laue Story has been picked up by the production and distribution company Cinipix. Cinipix is proposing a fall theatrical release in selected cities.