Batkid Begins

What started as a simple wish for a five-year-old leukemia survivor and became an international phenomenon is chronicled in director Dana Nachman's heartwarming "Batkid Begins."

Miles Scott's parents first noticed a lump on his jaw when he was 18 months old. Throughout his subsequent treatment in Portland, Miles gravitated toward superheroes and their gear, wearing Batman pajamas and watching the old Adam West series.

His nurse mom and fourth generation farmer dad found that Miles qualified for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, so they submitted his aspirations to the Greater Bay Area Chapter -- the closest to their Tulelake, California, home -- to make his dream come true.

The date to make Miles into Batkid was chosen as November 15, 2013, after his chemotherapy would have ended and his dad's harvest was in. Already tenacious Make-A-Wish Director Patricia Wilson started planning with a stuntman/actor to play Batman. His friend Mike, a Lucasfilm engineer, was tapped to play nemesis Penguin and wrote about the project on Facebook.

Then the project blew up virally. A social media firm and Twitter employees volunteered to handle the campaign, which drew coverage from the San Francisco Chronicle and press from around the globe. A local circus center volunteered to teach Miles some moves so he could act the part on the actual day. The SF Opera costume shop volunteered to alter and make costumes for all the participants -- including other villains and a damsel in distress -- enjoying "working when emotion takes over."

The actual day of choreographed crime fighting ended at AT&T Park, where Mayor Ed Lee presented Miles with the key to the city. All additional expenses -- extra police officers and street closures to accommodate the thousands that thronged each stop, including many who flew in from around the world -- were covered by a philanthropic couple. "This event inspired more charity," one noted.

The DVD doesn't contain any special features, but the story itself is special enough. What started small reached the planet, including social media messages from President and Mrs. Obama, showing that, "In helping Miles live his dream, we saved ourselves."

"Batkid Begins"
DVD
$14.99
http://batkidbegins.com