Morris, who provided the initial funding and served as producer of the film, came down from L.A. a few days before the contest with Michael Nickles, another filmmaker who would lend a hand. They recruited another Longview native, Julia Wall, to serve as associate producer. Also on board as a producer was J.K. Livin', the production company of Longview native Matthew McConaughey, who happened to be a friend of Bindler's from way back. There is not a single instance in which any contestant appears put off or self-conscious by the presence of cameras or crew. Of course, many of them are often performing, but as the documentary proves, performance is half the battle in winning this contest anyway.
People there are very open, very giving, very friendly.
And then, coming from there myself, being able to speak the language, and having that vibe and energy of being a local, really helped. As the film progresses, and we watch the contest continue on past Hour 26, past Hour 49, past Hour 65, there emerges an even more remarkable integrity in the connection between the filmmakers and contestants. It's in every single frame - as if the camera is sagging and lurching in unison with the contestants, sharing their giddiness and exhaustion, their hopes, their desperation. Slowly, it becomes apparent that there are actually two contests of endurance being recorded by this film. So all of us were pretty much there the duration of the contest.