This site is dedicated to producing the feature film adaptation of donn fendler s famous book lost on a mountain in maine, which chronicles the true story of his nineday adventure as a young boy lost in the backwoods of maine. In the documentary finding donn fendler, fendler describes nearly passing out from exhaustion on the day he was found more than 35 miles away. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later illustrates what happened over the next year in the eventual lead up to acquiring the rights to donns life story. Getting the rights back is just the beginning and something that donn, ryan, and derek will never forget. Finding kind is at the heart of all our school programming. Oct 12, 2016 donn fendler was big national news back in 1939. The documentary not only tells of donns journey through the maine wilderness, but also covers the long and arduous process we went through in getting donns rights back. Calling actors for lost on a mountain in maine movie. Dec 02, 20 ryan cook is raising funds for lost on a mountain in maine. Fendlers lost ordeal subject of documentary made by. Fendlers lost ordeal subject of documentary made by waterville. Donn fendler, whose boy scout survival story inspired. The documentary follows donns story as told through ryan cook and derek desmond who simultaneously work on getting his story made into a. It was the premiere of our documentary finding donn fendler, at the maine international film festival.
Fendler died over the weekend at the age of 90, but his legacy lives on in a classic childrens book, lost on a mountain in maine. For nine days 12yearold donn fendler struggled through the. The filmmakers are hoping to turn fendler s story into a feature film. Topics that are deeply important to you personally, as well as social justice issues that have the power to change the world. Now, a film documenting fendler s story in his own words and the journey of two filmmakers in getting the rights to his story will be shown in fendler s hometown of newport. Follow donns story through the lens of two filmmakers trying to turn the. The friends of brown memorial library sponsored a visit by donn fendler on july 18, 2012 as part of the summer reading program. While a junior at emerson college in boston, massachusetts, ryan began to look into various stories for his senior thesis film. Documentary filmmaker ryan cook of waterville grew up thinking donn fendler was more fascinating than a. Finding the contact info for that one person can be easy or difficult, depending on if they. Last night the kids and i had the pleasure to meet donn fendler at a casting call for an upcoming movie. Donn fendler, a boy scout who lost his way during a mountain trek in maine in 1939, embarking on a nineday survival story that transfixed the nation and inspired generations with its themes of. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later, which premiered in august at. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later illustrates what happened over the next year in the eventual lead up to acquiring the rights to donn s life story.
Waterville documentary filmmaker ryan cook of waterville grew up thinking donn fendler was more fascinating than a comic book superhero or sports star. Follow donn s story through the lens of two filmmakers trying to turn the. Summertime in the belgrades july 15, 2011 so many movies. Hed lost his jeans and his shoes, was covered in mosquito bites and survived a tumble down an. How to find and choose a documentary subject by slavik boyechko 17 oct. Ryan cook is raising funds for lost on a mountain in maine. Donns twin brother ryan fendler will be joining film producer ryan cook as they present a video presentation talk about donns legacy and the upcoming lost on a mountain in maine movie.
Donn fendler, whose boy scout survival story inspired others. Donn fendler documentary showing in newport outdoors. The true story of a 12yearold boy who survived an 80 mile, 9 day ordeal while lost in the backwoods of maine during july of 1939. In 2011 filmmakers derek desmond and ryan cook produced a documentary, finding donn fendler. Fendlers story lived on in maine, where his book became a childrens classic. Donn fendler was born on august 29, 1926 in new york city, new york, usa as donn charles fendler. Waterville native ryan cook thinks donn fendlers boyhood adventure on katahdin is perfect for a feature film and that. If you are interested in screening the documentary, please click the button below to learn more about our kind campaign assembly program. As a 12yearold boy, donn fendler august 29, 1926october 10, 2016 got lost while hiking maines tallest mountain in 1939. Portland, maine ap donn fendler, who as a boy survived nine days alone on maines tallest mountain in 1939 and later wrote a book about the ordeal, has died at 90. Opening clip from the documentary finding donn fendler by ryan cook and derek desmond.
Watch original archival footage from the film finding donn fendler. We were saddened to learn that donn fendlers beloved wife of 56 years passed away january 26, 2009 following a six week illness. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later maine follows young filmmakers ryan cook and derek desmond as they try to track down fendler and acquire the rights to share his story in a whole new way. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later that related the story of the repurchase of the film rights to donn s life, which had been sold years earlier. His memoir, which was adapted into a graphic novel with cocreators ben bishop and lynn plourde in 2011, became assigned reading in schools in maine. This summer he was interviewed for the video documentary finding donn fendler. Donn fendlers harrowing story of being lost in the maine wilderness when he was just twelve, was made famous by the perennial bestseller, lost on a mountain in maine. Teaser for the 2011 documentary finding donn fendler. His story of survival inspired the nation and his book, lost on a mountain in maine, continues to inspire with its powerful themes of hope, faith, and the will to live. In lost trail, more than 70 years after the event, donn tells the story of survival and rescue from his own perspective. Ree fendler was a wonderful lady and our thoughts are with donn and his family.
Apr 08, 20 clip from the documentary finding donn fendler 2 of 3. Donn fendler, who was lost in wilds of maine as a boy. In 1939, 12yearold donn fendler was lost for 9 days in the woods of maine near. Donn fendler tells his incredible story in this 20minute excerpt from the 2012 documentary finding donn fendler. Finding donn fendler is to be codirected by a young man named ryan cook, who himself is a native of waterville, maine. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later, is directed by waterville native ryan cook and derek desmond, who, with fendler, will be at both screenings, on july 16 at 12. The 12yearold got separated from his family on a hike up maines highest mountain and became the subject of. The documentary, lost on a mountain in maine is based on a book that is well known to many mainers. At its best, its a window into the past and a revelation about a period in time. Clip from the documentary finding donn fendler skip navigation sign in. His story of survival inspired the nation and his book, lost on a mountain in maine, continues to inspire with its powerful. On july 25th, 2014, the seventyfifth anniversary of the. Then filmmakers ryan cook and derek desmond will present both a trailer for and 20 minutes of a featurelength film based on fendlers experiences.
Jan 09, 2019 fendlers story lived on in maine, where his book became a childrens classic. It was july 1939, foggy and raining, and young donn was impatient. Donn charles fendler august 29, 1926 october 9, 2016 was an american author and public. Sep 18, 20 it is followed by excerpts from finding donn fendler, a documentary of the efforts to retell the story through interviews and footage of donn fendler today. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later is the result of all the. It is true story about donn fendler who becomes lost on mount katahdin in 1939 when he was 12 years old.
Lost on a mountain in maine will chronicle the story of the 12 year old fendler himself who, in 1939, went missing for nine days in the midst of a family vacation. Finding donn fendler documentary sample derek desmond. With help, fabled maine story to become featurelength film. Hed lost his jeans and his shoes, was covered in mosquito bites and survived a tumble down an embankment and an encounter with black bears. Jayniles memorial library hosts maine and the outdoors. Clip from the documentary finding donn fendler 2 of 3. He emerged from the woods nine days later after the search for him had made headlines across the country. In november 2011, his story was published as a graphic novel to reach a new generation of readers. A scene of kids hulahooping in the soviet union, for example, can make a film look and feel more authentic and honest, and can touch the emotional core of audiences. He made his way down the mountain and through the woods to the east. It is followed by excerpts from finding donn fendler, a documentary of the efforts to retell the story through interviews and footage of donn fendler today. Lost on a mountain in maine 72 years later that related the story. Then filmmakers ryan cook and derek desmond will present both a trailer for and 20 minutes of a featurelength film based on fendler s experiences. Jan 01, 2011 donn fendler s harrowing story of being lost in the maine wilderness when he was just twelve, was made famous by the perennial bestseller, lost on a mountain in maine.
A dvd copy of the documentary finding donn fendler. He told his story in lost on a mountain in maine, which became. Ryan will be showing a clip from the finding fendler documentary where donn tells his story in his own words, so its a cant miss event. The filmmakers are hoping to turn fendlers story into a feature film. Donn fendlers epic journey began near the summit of mount katahdin, maines tallest mountain.
Thousands of teachers and children in maine and across the nation know donns legendary story lost on a mountain in maine. The 12yearold got separated from his family on a hike up maines highest mountain and became the subject of an increasingly desperate search. How to find and choose a documentary subject by slavik. Jul 15, 2011 fendlers lost ordeal subject of documentary made by waterville native. Lost on a mountain in maine, 72 years later, will be shown at the newport cultural center at 7 p. This was open to the public and those who attended heard donn tell about his nine day ordeal in 1939 when he was lost at the base of mt. May 02, 2017 finding donn fendler documentary sample derek desmond. Fendlers lost ordeal subject of documentary made by waterville native.
In 1939, 12yearold donn fendler was lost for 9 days in the woods of maine near mount katahdin. This site is dedicated to producing the feature film adaptation of donn fendlers famous book lost on a mountain in maine, which chronicles the true story of his nineday adventure as a young boy lost in the backwoods of maine. In 2009, filmmakers lauren paul and molly thompson set out on a 10,000 mile long crosscountry journey of discovery and education, interviewing hundreds of females across america about girlagainstgirl bullying. Donn fendlers story becomes graphic novel living bangor. The event included a screening of the lost on a mountain in maine proof of concept short film, an excerpt from the documentary finding donn fendler, a conversation with donn looking back on his experience, and a book signing. Documentary filmmaker ryan cook of waterville grew up thinking donn fendler was more fascinating than a comic book. Donn fendler film getting closer to becoming a reality midmaine. Donns book now has a national following and were proud of our own donn fendler, the boy who was lost for nine days in the katahdin wilderness. The maine story of finding donn fendler at the grand.
Donn fendler lost on a mountain in maine john thurlow. In this november 19, 2011, photo, donn fendler chats with a young reader at a book signing in bangor, maine. In 1939, 12yearold donn fendler was lost for 9 days in the woods of maine. The documentary follows donn s story as told through ryan cook and derek desmond who simultaneously work on getting his story made into a feature film. Fendler s story lived on in maine, where his book became a childrens classic. Lost trail is a masterfully illustrated graphic novel that tells the story of a.
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