Danica Patrick has for years turned down documentary requests, but she finally agreed to be the focus of one under the guidance of Hannah Storm, who has always felt the life of the IndyCar-turned-NASCAR driver was very interesting outside of racing. The end result is "Danica," a documentary premiering tonight on Epix, which Storm directed and produced via her Brainstormin’ Productions outfit. Storm had been interested in working with Patrick for years and had plenty of conversations with Excel Sports Management’s Alan Zucker, who reps the driver. When Storm began speaking with Epix of documentary projects, Patrick was at the top of both of their wish lists. Storm also felt the timing may be right because of Patrick’s non-motorsports interests and passions. Storm said of getting Patrick to sign on, “She just trusted me and said, ‘Yes, this is good.’ It was just a really good match from a trust, creative standpoint, and a timing standpoint.” Storm noted Patrick is currently in transition with career, without a contract to race in '18, and said, "Part of the real interest and intrigue with her is that there’s not a beginning, middle and end. It’s sort of a beginning and middle right now.”
ALL IN THE DETAILS: The Epix film touches on Patrick’s businesses, which include a clothing line and a winery, and Storm said, “In a really organic way, I wanted to show what she’s done through sheer hard work and determination.” Storm said Patrick has a clear understanding of what makes her happy and added, “If and when she walks away from racing, it's really, truly going to be on her terms. .. For a lot of athletes, it’s very, very difficult to leave or say goodbye, but she has this really interesting life outside of racing.” Storm has directed five other documentaries and is currently working on an unnamed “SEC Storied” project for ESPN Films. She also directed and produced “Unmatched” for ESPN and said the "30 for 30" series has opened up the whole sports documentary space. Storm: “It’s a real reason that people watch ESPN. I think it’s up there at the very, very top of reasons why people watch." She also called “30 for 30” one of the strongest content brands that exists and said, “Everything else that’s happening in the sports documentary space is derivative of that.”
