In the Director’s words:

Don’t tell me I can’t!” is a labor of love.. being a former DI mom, I had experienced DI to the fullest! My son Kedar was a DI kid for 4 years competing all the way and winning at Globals with his elementary school team from Nohl Canyon in Anaheim Hills, CA. Seeing the outcome of how DI changed perceptions, habits and gave a confidence like no other program available to school kids, I decided to start my slate of DI based projects with a documentary.

We began filming on HD cameras at Regionals in San Juan Capistrano on February 28th, 2010. Starting with 9 teams at Regionals,  7 going to State and 5 making it to Globals. It was quite challenging to follow 5 teams ages 10 to 18 all over the Knoxville Convention center, the UT campus while keeping up with their performance and events schedules with 3 crews, who themselves were like kids, struck with wonder at the adventure that presented itself before their lens.

Globals ran for 5 days during Memorial Day weekend. The campus and the city was packed with kids, families and volunteers from literally around the Planet. 30 kids in the midst of 16,000 people…. it was a shoot to remember!

With health issues, broken sets and structures, torn costumes, missing team members, the teams taught us, that through it all, the title of the film, “Don’t tell me I Can’t” was befitting their spirit and enthusiasm.. the film celebrates creativity, kids, and everything that is just… good, in this world.

As we go about with the last pieces of the post production for the film, it is a happy and sad farewell to a shared journey.. the pride in bringing a piece of this competition to the World and a tear for the culmination of an amazing production.

Cheers! Here’s to the DI kids around the world, volunteers, appraisers, staff and families who make this happen year after year.

Love ya all!

Dana