As a young boy, Manuel Salazar attended a school with a predominantly white student population. Manuel’s kind heart and can-do attitude earned him many friends despite his cultural differences. He worked hard and excelled in his academics. The only son, Manuel was brother to three sisters and they lived together with their mother and step-dad. Manuel often watched his step-dad work in the garage and took an interest in cars and mechanics.

At the end of high school, Manuel took a summer job working for a local rock quarry. That job led to a full time career in the rock quarry. Manuel earned a satisfying income, bought a nice truck, found a little house, and even got married.

Manuel’s “American Dream” was short lived. A few weeks after he and his family moved into a new home, Manuel was electrocuted by 115,000 volts of electricity that arced from a construction crane. He was struck twice before the power failed. Manuel laid alone, lifeless, and burning for eight minutes before emergency crews could safely reach him.

Several weeks later, Manuel awoke from a medically induced coma. His body was burned and scarred. Both his arms and both his legs had to be amputated to save his life.

How Manuel has recovered, what he has achieved, and the things he still intends to accomplish have shocked medical professionals, inspired fellow amputees, and captivated the hearts of each and every person that comes into contact with Manuel. This young man has overcome insurmountable physical, emotional, and spiritual trials and has become an inspiration to not only amputees, but to all humanity.

Who are we?

We are a group that started as one, became two, and then grew to several. Manuel’s story has brought many people from many walks of life together to support this film. Similar to a championship sports team, every good film has star “playmakers.” Here are a few of this film’s star players:

Martin McGuire

Producer/Director

  Martin McGuire learned of his love of the arts from a young age.  In high school he excelled at creative writing, 35mm photography and made his first two short films on 8mm film. 

  After high school Martin worked various odd jobs including food service, stock room work and low level managerial positions.  Martin filled his desire for the arts by singing lead vocals in a few rock-n-roll bands under the nickname Mick Wired, his band mates called him “the throat”.

  Martin turned to sales as his chosen profession. He was constantly in the Top 10% of every sales force he participated. He took sales seriously and learned his craft from the best, reading the books and attending lectures and boot camps given by Tom Hopkins, Art Linklater and Zig Ziglar not to mention his father who was a multi award winning salesman. In 2000 Martin was part of one of the Nation’s hottest sales teams for KB HOME in Colorado. Although making good money, he decided it was now or never to pursue his dreams of a career in filmmaking.  He left his position with the home builder and the rest, as they say, is history.

  Martin started taking classes, attending seminars, lectures and reading books on the subjects of screen writing, videotaping, photography and video editing.  He purchased a couple video cameras, a digital still camera, a tripod and microphone and started looking for ways to participate in the industry.  After a short time he volunteered for four years with Operation Walk Denver as their photographer and videographer. The group took him to Nicaragua, Peru and Panama twice.  In 2004 he made a documentary short film entitled “Walk With Me Today” – the film served as a fund raising tool for the organization and was an Official Selection into the 2005 “Spirit of Humanity” Film festival in New Orleans. Dr. Douglas Dennis, head of Operation Walk Denver, said two things to Martin that he’s never forgotten. One, “Every person I send this video to writes us a check,” and Two, “Marty, you’re as good a filmmaker as I am a surgeon.” Humbled by his words, Martin has always remained grateful for the experience.  Martin went on to make one more film “Need and Deeds” – “a doc short” in 2009 and contribute heavily to a third “The Walk of Dreams – Operation Walk, Panama 2007” before moving on.

  Martin McGuire also squeezed in a 52 minute action sports video entitled “Mile High VSM” vol.1 “Earth As We Know It” in 2005. This skateboarding video was well received in skating and music circles in Colorado.

  Martin has been following Manuel Salazar’s story, his caregivers, doctors, physical and occupational therapists, family, friends and co-workers for about ten years and has decided with the help of the public through crowd funding that now is the time to tell their inspirational stories to the world. “You will be proud you gave to this campaign” says Mr. McGuire.  This film project has the potential to change every life of every audience member that will ever come into contact with it for the better.

Ward Lucas

Journalist

Ward Lucas, has spent 40 years in investigative journalism and has won more than 70 journalism and civic awards for his reporting and writing. He was the first reporter on the DB Cooper hijacking and the Ted Bundy murders. He has interviewed Presidents and nursing home residents, Secretaries of State to street people.

From organized crime to wiretapping, to professional arson, Lucas has seen it all. In his new book, Neighbors At War, he presents startling information about how the modern Homeowners Association Movement is impacting Americans.

Ward has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He began his broadcasting career at the age of 16 hosting radio talk shows in Seattle, Washington. In 1973 he made the move into television broadcasting, first at KIRO-TV in Seattle and then at KUSA-TV in Denver Colorado. His investigative reporting has often stirred national controversy and has earned him numerous Emmy Awards, the George Polk Award, and the Responsibility in Journalism Award by the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP).

In 1993, Ward joined ranks with eight nationally known Professors and journalists in the book, Psychic Sleuths, (Prometheus Press) which exposed and critiqued the use of psychics by police departments across the country.

Chad Lesher

Associate Producer/ Editor

Chad Lesher grew up in a small mountain town west of Denver, Colorado. Since grade school, Chad has been ambitious and hard working. In high school he excelled in literature, composition, and film studies. Chad graduated early with honors and began a bachelor's degree program at the Art Institute of Colorado at the young age of 17.  While studying at the Art Institute, he seized the opportunity to work with several local producers and directors as well as a few former Hollywood film effects artists. He produced several individual projects of notable quality and emerged as a leader among collaborative media projects throughout his time in collage.

Chad Lesher met producer Martin McGuire while interning with Yes Oui Si Productions in Centennial, Colorado. They have since worked together on several projects and cooperated together for Chad's senior portfolio piece, a short visual effects film titled, "The Affected." Chad graduated salutatorian of his class with a Bachelor of Arts in September of 2008. He earned his four-year degree in just three years.

Chad has since started his own media arts business and has worked with small business entrepreneurs, corporate lawyers, artists, and musicians of local and national fame. Chad has unparalleled individual skills in a wide range of multimedia post-production software and equipment. He continues to seek new pathways toward artistic expression and his passion for storytelling grows stronger each year.

Jerome Gilmer

Composer/ Musician

Jerome Gilmer is an eight time Emmy Award winning composer, producer and pianist living in Denver, Colorado.  He has written and produced hundreds of original musical works for film, video and records, for many of the largest (and smallest) businesses in the US and internationally.

Gilmer has lived and worked in Denver since 1976. He funded his move to Denver with money earned working on the Steven Spielberg movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” on which he helped create special musically coordinated lighting effects for the final scenes.  Since settling in Colorado, his music has been heard in markets across the country and internationally. His song, “This Is Colorado,” was for many years a staple in the state’s school music programs. His work for KCNC-TV helped the station forge an image as a leading news channel.

He was musical director for the Inaugural Gala of Denver’s Pepsi Center, featuring the Arapahoe Community Orchestra, jazz recording artists Dotsero, the Eternal Life Singers and an aerial ballet by Debra Brown, choreographer for Cirque du Soliel.  He composed and produced theme packages for the Colorado Rockies and the Denver Nuggets. He produced a theme for the BBC’s “Summer Sunday” series and his theme and underscore for NBC’s award winning “News For Kids” played in over 150 markets throughout the US. As a contributor to the OmniMusic Production Music Library his work has been heard in programs around the world, including the Late Show with David Letterman.

He was a contributing composer on Animal Planet’s “Breed All About It” series. He has scored two of Chrysler Corporation’s “Mission” films and one for Intelsat. He produced news and promotional music from 2002 until 2011 for the 28 station Hearst-Argyle Television Group and has received eight regional Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and a Silver Muse from the Promax association for broadcast professionals.

Why We Need The Money

It’s very difficult to place a number on success. We are asking for $25,000 in funding. We believe that is the minimum amount it will take to properly finish the film at a level that represents Manuel and his amazing comeback story. The more money we raise, the better chance we have to reach the international audience that Manuel deserves.

Much of the work has already been done. For several years since Manuel’s accident, the film’s creator, Martin McGuire, has put in his time and money to bring the project to this point. The production side of the film, for the most part, is complete. What the film really needs is funding for post production and distribution costs. We want what’s best for the film and we would rather not cut corners as we come down the home stretch.

Please share Manuel’s story with your friends and family and help us spread the word about Manuel, this film, and our cause. Don’t forget to follow us on the film’s facebook page and the project’s website. They will be updated periodically with clips from the film, mini-biographies, and news about the project’s progress.

Perks

We have wonderful perks to go along with donations at every level. Here are some of the things you could receive after making your generous donation.