KICKIN' IT
the CADEN COX STORY
PURPOSE
"Kickin' It" is the film adaptation of the true life story of Caden Cox, the young man who overcame widespread obstacles and stigmas to become the first person with Down Syndrome to play and score in a college football game.
Pantheon Entertainment has formed a partnership with The Film Collaborative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to help make the vision of telling Caden's story a reality. All donations through their site, toward the production of our project, are fully tax deductible. By clicking on the "Donate" button below, you will be taken to The Film Collaborative website, where their whole program is described.
OVERVIEW
The story of Caden Cox is about determination and hope, aiming to inspire people of all kinds, who face difficulties in their lives, so they can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and can succeed in achieving their dreams.
THE TRUE STORY
Caden Cox made history as the first individual with Down’s Syndrome to score a point in a college football game, but his journey resulting in barrier-breaking possibilities started at home.
Before Caden was born in the summer of ‘99, his mother, Mari Cox, did extensive research on his disability so she and her husband Kevin could best prepare for a child with different needs than their first born son, Zane. A social worker prepared the Cox family for all the “never’s” that would affect Caden because of his disability. But Mari had no intention of applying that mentality to her son’s life.
It was in the Cox family martial arts studio that Caden took his first solid steps into the man he would be - where he learned the core values of taekwondo that not only defined his family but his own attitude toward life:
courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self- control, and indomitable spirit. These tenets guided the family through rough waters as Zane moved away from the shared family interest in martial arts to a new love for football. Following in the footsteps of beloved older brother, Caden’s passion for football grew as did his skill in the sport. At the same time, Mari had been leading both the family business and the PTA. This guaranteed that Caden was kept in classes with ‘regular’ kids and wasn't held back by the altered expectations of an I.E.P.
With her focus on the success and well-being of Caden and the kids in the program, her marriage was left on the back burner.
The two split in ‘09. They continued to run their family business and stay amicable for appearance’s sake, but the divorce was tough on Mari. After two years of putting on a brave face, Mari took the best decision for the three to move back to Ohio to be closer to family. A year later Kevin closed the family business and moved to Virginia to support his ill mother. But Mari, Zane and Caden’s move came with more problems. Despite the hope for “hometown security”, Mari ended up fighting with the Fremont Ross school system on their inconsiderate and lackluster programming for students with disabilities.
Even while Caden kept breaking barriers by joining the dive team and the marching band, he was often at the mercy of a system that was invested in hiding away students with disabilities rather than uplifting them. In the years they lived in Ohio, Mari was also diagnosed with breast cancer, and Zane made trips from college specifically to support her in treatment. Between the complete upheaval of her “normal” home life and a devastating diagnosis, Mari realized that maybe giving up some control and trusting in others to support her and her family was in her best interest.
VIDEO
TEAM
Andrew Sugerman
Producer
Andrew Barry Sugerman has been involved in the production of a diverse range of motion pictures as a producer over the past thirty years. His own production, "Conviction," was released in October 2010 by Fox Searchlight and received many awards and critical praise. He was recently a producer on the feature film, "Foster Boy,", released in 2020, that tells the compelling true story of an attorney taking on the issue of child abuse in the foster care system. Some of his other notable films include "Shopgirl", "The Whole Ten Yards" and "Premonition".
Jay Paul Deratany
Writer & Producer
Mr. Deratany is a successful lawyer, playwright and screenwriter. He is the founder of Deratany & Kosner in Chicago and focuses his practice on human rights issues. His writing career includes the feature film "Foster Boy" as well as the play "Haram! Iran!".
Jennifer Wyatt
Executive Producer
Jennifer Wyatt is a self-taught entrepreneur & retired after selling her master franchises. Jennifer began her love of film after a friend had asked her to audition for a TV pilot. Jennifer began to explore the television and film industry. After having several roles and working on many short films, she discovered a passion for photography and film. Jennifer realized that she was more interested in working behind-the-scenes and in production.
Melissa Bickerton
Executive Producer
Melissa Bickerton is an Australian actress/singer/producer. She has appeared on hit shows like “Lost," “Criminal Minds” and “Shameless”. Most recently she appeared in Netflix’s “True Story” with Kevin Hart, HBO’s “Winning Time,” and Apple TV’s “High Desert”. Melissa produces Breakthrough Reading Series, which supports Female and Diverse writers. She produced and starred in the Award winning short film "Post Sentence' and she recently produced the romantic comedy “Switch Up".
