Into Her Own Hands Determination, Bravery, Redemption A KM+BM original series ACCESS: OVERVIEW: Many of our chosen stories have never been told at length on camera before, and none in the depth we are proposing. With our experience and connections within the world of combat sports, we feel we are uniquely equipped and qualified to tell the sport’s most fascinating stories using the very best voices possible. Series SYNOPSIS: Executive Producer: Dave Harmon Into Her Own Hands is a limited series which tells the stories of four inspirational women Dave Harmon has been an acclaimed, award-winning producer of documentaries for 20+ years. His who have stood out for their bravery, beliefs, and resolve. All have fought in the violent, accomplishments at HBO include a George Foster Peabody Award, and 11 of his fourteen career Emmys® male dominated worlds of MMA and boxing, yet have taken control of their lives. These have come within the documentary category. Harmon was also senior producer for the Emmy®-winning accomplished women have transformed themselves and their careers in fascinating documentary-style reality series’ 24/7. In addition, he was senior producer for the Emmy®-winning ways, from abruptly quitting the occupation which made them famous, to publicly daring documentary series Hard Knocks: Training With… to announce their sexual identities, to demonstrating at trans rights protests and Supreme Court decisions. Executive Producer: Corey Erdman Erdman is the lead columnist for CBS Sports’ boxing hub “Boxing Scene,” and a regular contributor to VICE. As a commentator, he has worked for ESPN, NBC, CBS, SpikeTV, DAZN and SNY. Erdman wrote and co-directed “Omega Man: A Wrestling Love Story,” which explored LGBTQ+ issues in pro wrestling, and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. His podcast “The Breakdown” on Showtime Sports received a Webby award for its coverage of the McGregor/Mayweather fight. PAIGE VANZANT Raised in Oregon, Paige appeared to have a typical American upbringing. Her parents owned a dance studio, and the athletically-minded Paige took to all variety of dancing styles. She was also an outdoors lover, enjoying hunting and fishing with her father... But in high school, Paige was sexually assaulted Episodes: - gang raped by multiple male classmates at a party. She was then bullied by the kids at her school, who accused her of being a slut. Paige’s apparently serene life was upended. EPISODE 1: Paige’s family moved from Oregon to Nevada where everything began to change for the better. Paige changed her surname to VanZant, and found a gym where she learned to defend herself. As Paige’s abilities grew in the MMA world, she became more and more popular with fans. In 2016 she was selected Upbringing for Dancing With the Stars competition and finished in second place. One year later, Paige won the Sexual Assault celebrity cooking competition “Chopped” on the Food Network. VanZant has since married Austin Moving, changing name Vanderford, and the two have a popular TikTok dance channel together. Going to first gym In 2018, Paige released her bestselling autobiography “Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life” in which she opened up about her harrowing teen years, and how she has dealt with and overcome the trauma. EPISODE 2: Excellence at fighting Stardom Dancing with Stars, other publicity Wants more money, leaves for new career EPISODE 3: Writes autobiography Takes control of life, finances Meets husband Austin Creates new business ventures Fights bareknuckles for first time CLARESSA SHIELDS Episodes: The daughter of an underground streetfighter father, and a mother who battled drug and alcohol addiction, Claressa Shields was left to defend herself in the hardscrabble environment of Flint, Michigan from a young age. At the age of five, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend, and was too scared to communicate it to her family. EPISODE 1: Growing up in Flint, Michigan with limited access to clean water and surrounded by grinding poverty, Claressa’s plans early in life were quite limited: have lots of kids. But after her father Bo was released from prison where he’d spent the Changes career midstream, joins MMA league for more money first nine years of his daughter’s life, he told her about his fights in hotel parking garages and back alleys, about the time Follow Shields preparing for first MMA fight he knocked out a bricklayer and made $35,000 under the table. Claressa now saw her way out of Flint. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, experiencing grinding poverty Claressa found empowerment in boxing, and would go on to have a remarkable amateur career, losing just one time, Sexually assaulted at the age of five. Is afraid to speak and holds it in a feeling she vowed to never feel again—and still hasn’t. After winning her unprecedented two Olympic gold medals, Underground streetfighter father goes to prison, is released almost a decade later Shields turned professional, changing the landscape of women’s boxing. Shields became the fastest boxer ever to Father introduces Claressa to boxing and takes her to the boxing gym for the first time become undisputed champion, and ushered in an era of exposure never before enjoyed by women’s boxers. But it wasn’t enough. With opportunities and fair paydays diminishing, Claressa looks to conquer a new world of fighting: EPISODE 2: Mixed Martial Arts. In this episode, we will get behind the scenes with one of women’s sports’ most important and inspirational figures as Shields arrives at locale for first MMA fight she enters the cage for the first time, and hear the real story that even Hollywood couldn’t dream up. Claressa begins her amateur boxing career Wins Olympic gold medal at the age of 17 Returns home to Flint, and is still struggling to come out of her shell. The impact of her childhood persists. Wins a gold medal for a second time. EPISODE 3: Walking to ring for first MMA fight Turns pro and makes debut on HBO A boom period in women’s boxing begins, directly attributed to her Begins to come out of her shell and find her voice, but immediately finds sexist and racist detractors online and in media FALLON FOX Fox grew up in Toledo, Ohio in a fundamentalist Christian household. She lived as a heterosexual man, fathering a daughter with her then-girlfriend. Later she enlisted in the US Navy at age 19 to help support her family. After the Navy, Episodes: she became a long-haul truck driver, and during this time “realized who she was and who she wanted to be.” After coming out to her parents, they suggested she go to a Christian conversion camp. Instead, Fox saved her money and had gender-reassignment surgery in Thailand in 2006. EPISODE 1: After moving to Chicago, Fallon found her way to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dojo. She took to the sport quickly, and soon was fighting MMA bouts, as a woman. In 2013, Fallon Fox became the first fighter to publicly come out as transgender. Struggling with gender identity It was a landmark moment in athletics. Unfortunately Fox also became a target of vitriol. Many within the sport were Parents send Fallon to Christian conversion camp outspoken against Fox’s participation. Despite the opposition, Cyd Ziegler, founder of Outsports, has referred to Fox Enlists in Navy to support child as “the bravest athlete in history.” Travels to Thailand for gender reassignment While she did not initially intend to be the face of the movement, Fox has been taking to the streets in protest in 2020, and has returned to social media to fire back at transphobic campaigns. Though Fox has said she never intended to be a pioneer, her actions were and are vital for the trans community. EPISODE 2: Discovers Jiu-Jitsu Finds her true identity and new life in Chicago Faces hateful attacks and backlash in media EPISODE 3: Finds support from public and fellow fighters Retirement from MMA Becomes leading voice in trans community CHRISTY MARTIN In the 1990s, Christy Martin was one of the most recognizable boxers on the planet, right alongside Mike Tyson. Outside of the ring, she was known as “The Coal Miner’s Daughter,” an aw-shucks middle America sweetheart who seemed loyal Episodes: to her trainer and husband Jim Martin. But the reality was, her entire personal life was hiding the truth. From the time Christy was about 12 years old, she says she knew she was attracted to women. But Martin was trapped in an abusive marriage to Jim, one that took away her love of the sport and forced her to project a sexuality that was not her truth. EPISODE 1: In 2010, it all came to a frightening end. Christy connected with a high school lover, Sherry Dusk, and re-sparked a romantic connection. She had been hiding her sexuality from Jim. Through her lesbian relationship, Christy worked Growing up in rural West Virginia, the son of a coal miner up the courage to file for divorce. When Christy met with Dusk at a hotel in Daytona Beach, Jim followed and watched Struggles with her sexuality from the age of 12 through a window. When Christy returned home, Jim was waiting with a hunting knife, which he stabbed and slashed Enters her first toughwoman contest at the age of 22 her with before shooting her with a 9mm handgun. Miraculously, Christy managed to get up and make it to the road, where she hailed an oncoming vehicle and made it to safety. Meets her future husband--and attempted murderer--Jim Martin In this episode, we will hear the harrowing details of Martin’s survival of attempted murder, her grappling with her sexuality, and help crystallize her status as one of sports’ true pioneers and inspirational figures.