“Where the Rope Ends”is a Tale of Survival and Transformation

Imagine falling 100 feet above the ground after a rappelling accident! “Where the Rope Ends,” tells the remarkable journey of Nichole Doane, a trauma nurse whose life took an unexpected turn during a canyoneering adventure. Falling 100 feet after a rappelling error, Nichole’s experience became the focal point of a transformation that not only spared her life but illuminated her path to recovery.

Directed and produced by Baylee Sinner, “Where the Rope Ends” weaves together resilience, transformation, and the challenges of recovery. As the story unfolds, we are taken on a journey through the lens of Nichole’s fall and her subsequent struggle to overcome the physical and emotional aftermath.

In an exclusive interview, Baylee Sinner sheds light on the origins of the story. Nichole’s incredible journey came to Baylee’s attention while she was working. Witnessing Nichole’s determination sparked an instant connection, leading to a commitment to create this documentary.

“I met her while I was working at an advertising agency and doing a 6-month yoga teacher training program on the side” said Sinner. “At the time she was in a wheelchair and I had heard about her story through others. Watching her do yoga in a wheelchair was fascinating and I was instantly drawn to her and wanted to know more.”

One of the highlights of the production, according to Sinner, was the collaborative process of refining the story. The magic happened when the entire team, including Nichole and the editor, found the right direction that resonated with everyone involved. It was a moment of confidence and excitement after navigating through numerous ideas.

However, the path to completion was not without its challenges. Sinner emphasizes the most difficult part of production – the editing phase. As a milestone and timeline-focused individual, she faced the unexpected reality of the prolonged editing process, especially with the intricacies of a documentary. Overcoming frustrations and setbacks, the team persevered through years of virtual edit days and retreats to sculpt the final narrative.

“I come from a copywriting background so originally Nichole and I worked on a lot of the paper edits, which ended up being a really frustrating and not very creatively liberating process for our editor. Once I was able to give them more freedom the film really started to take shape, but it took an incredibly long time with lots of virtual edit days, retreats, etc. There was one retreat where we walked away at the end of the weekend feeling like we had taken 20 steps back and didn’t know where to go, and that was a really frustrating feeling.”

Reflecting on lessons learned, Sinner acknowledges that there are things she would have done differently. She advises future filmmakers to conduct thorough pre-interviews, opt for fewer high-caliber shoots, and establish a solid foundation with contracts and formalities from the outset.

“I would have chosen one location, one outfit, for the interview shoots. I would have established an LLC and done things by the books as far as contracts go from the very beginning, rather than start it as a very informal passion project than try and backtrack years down the road.”

For aspiring individuals entering the production space, Sinner offers valuable advice. Identifying weaknesses and finding complementary collaborators is key, and planning for the film’s release and post-production journey is as crucial as the initial creative process.

To stay updated on their future projects, Baylee Sinner invites audiences to follow her on Instagram @bayleesinner and explore more of her work, primarily in advertising, on her website www.bayleesinner.com. The story of “Where the Rope Ends” is not just a documentary; it’s a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the transformative power of storytelling. Catch the film in theaters this February at the Utah International Film Festival.

The filmmaking team behind “Where the Rope Ends” includes Baylee Sinner( Director and Producer), Nichole Doane (Producer), David M. Davis (Producer), Troy Adam Gordon (Editor), Sound design by Evan Anderson, Color by Chad Courtney, Music Composer is Nick Shadel, and the Director of photography was Jordan McGrath, Kyle Roof, and more!