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Pat Leahy
Often I get asked about the impact that blindness has upon my life. The questions run the gamut: How do you and your guide dog, Galahad, work together? What is the relationship like? What was the cause of your vision loss? When did it happen? In a visual sport like bodybuilding, do you have to do anything differently because of your visual impairment? How do you approach day-to-day activities at work, home and elsewhere?
As a social guy, I love engaging with people, answering their questions and discussing all topics -- including my own challenges. However, I thought that this documentary could not only answer questions to a broader audience and those who may be a little hesitant to personally inquire, but also serve as an inspiration.
Life presents all of us with challenges, but I strongly believe there is always a way to overcome them. My hope is that this documentary will motivate you to overcome any obstacles and to pursue your passions and dreams.
Being blind has certainly presented me with trials, but it does not define me. Professionally, my career encompasses service under Members of Congress, a Cabinet Secretary, and currently the U.S. federal government. Academically, I graduated with honors from Millersville University in 1997, with majors in Political Science and History. During my free time, I enjoy helping our nation’s wounded warriors, amateur bodybuilding, swimming, reading, and being an avid baseball fan.
Click here to read more about Galahad.
More about Galahad’s guide dog school
Contact Pat: info@blindlifter.com
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Janar Stewart
Janar Stewart tackles her first lead directing role in the documentary, “Blind Lifter,” after years as a freelance photographer and staff photojournalist for The South Bend Tribune. With a background in photo-journalism, Janar got involved in the documentary film community because she saw that documentary filmmakers could share accurate and in-depth stories which were often lacking in mainstream journalism. She is thrilled to be involved in a thriving DC documentary community and is active with organizations such as Docs in Progress and Arlington Independent Media.
In “Blind Lifter,” she also juggles assistant producer and editor hats. Through her efforts at Docs in Progress, she met Pat Leahy in 2012 and was captivated by the potential for the “Blind Lifter” documentary project. During her free time, Janar donates to fellow filmmakers whenever possible. If facing the choice, she’d rather be Daenerys Targaryen, of Game of Thrones, than Barbarella.
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Devin Gallagher
Devin Gallagher is an award winning documentarian. His last film, Married in Spandex, has screened in over 25 film festivals, both domestically and abroad, and has won multiple awards. Gallagher is a staff producer/instructor at Arlington Independent Media (AIM) where he teaches hands-on production classes to journalists, multimedia professionals, and emerging filmmakers. Also, at AIM, Gallagher develops original concepts for in-house programming that engages local television audiences, provides creative and technical assistance to independent member producers, and has produces independent projects. He was awarded a grant from Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association and Gallagher raised over $10,000 for his last film, Married in Spandex.
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Glenn Elliott
Glenn Elliott is a practicing attorney and long-time film enthusiast. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 and from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001. He spent five years working on Capitol Hill from 1994 to 1999 as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Robert C. Byrd. From 2001 through 2008, Glenn worked as an Associate attorney at Baker Botts LLP in Washington, DC. In 2009, he moved his legal practice to his hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia, where he teamed up with the local law firm Toriseva Law. Throughout this period, Glenn has maintained a steady interest in the art of documentaries and has embarked on various amateur film efforts. And through his legal practice, he has become very familiar with the legal and logistical aspects of documentary film production. When approached by his long-time friend Pat Leahy in 2010 about collaborating in the production of a documentary focused on Pat’s life and bodybuilding pursuits, Glenn saw a perfect opportunity to bring his experience to a story that had the potential to engage and inspire a broad audience. |
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Renee Cobb
Renee Cobb is a lawyer and IT consultant by day. She has pursued her love of photography extensively, having offered wedding, engagement and portrait photography in the DC Metro area and beyond. She took advantage of her Canon 5d Mark II to try her hand at video and filmed Pat’s first bodybuilding competition, along with several day in the life scenes. Today she concentrates on stock photography and her first love, travel photography. |
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