The Journey

Starring Academy Award Nominee Judd Hirsch (Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans), Carson Minniear (Apple TV+’s “Palmer”) and Amy Smart (DC Comics’ “StarGirl”) “RALLY CAPS” is an independent coming-of-age story for kids written for the screen and directed by Lee Cipolla. Based on true events, and adapted from the book by father-daughter writing team of Stephen J. Cutler and Jodi Michelle Cutler, it focuses on a young boy named Jordy who overcomes a serious injury he experiences during a Little League baseball tryout. Jordy goes to summer camp and he is inspired to come back to the mound when he forms a friendship with a deaf boy named Lucas. Lucas plays catcher and is facing his own crises of just having Cochlear Implant surgery. Together, they form a special bond as friends and pitcher/catcher duo, and lead their team in the camp championship game. 

RALLY CAPS is a humorous, fun-filled baseball and camp story. Ten year old Jordan is injured in an unfortunate and frightening accident while trying out for the Little League Travel team. Recovery is difficult. At summer camp he struggles to conquer his anxiety and fear in order to return to his beloved game of baseball. He forms a friendship with a deaf Italian boy, Luca, who wears a cochlear implant. Luca’s compelling positive “nothing is impossible” attitude, along with the inspiration he draws from his idol, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., gives Jordan the courage to return to baseball with a passion. Find out what happens as “Rally Caps” are raised in the bottom of the final inning in the biggest game of Jordan’s life. Boys and girls alike will enjoy this touching story of persevering through difficult times.

Jodi worked with her son Jordan on listening and spoken language for 8 years before he received his first cochlear implant. Raising voices is an important part of her speaking platform, which involves families living the hearing loss journey, and more recently women overcoming challenging life situations to find and confidently begin using their voices. She performs unforgettable keynotes and interactive workshops that create a safe space for personal growth.

Co-founder of GPODHH (Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing), she also participated in the creation of the Audiological Network of the Italian Federation of Pediatricians (FIMP), aimed at promoting collaboration between doctors and parent associations, with the goal of spreading neonatal hearing screening to all birth centers in Italy.

She is the author of the books "La Terra del Tra: dalla nascita alla diagnosi di sordità" and "Rally Caps," published both in the United States and in Italy in 2007. "Rally Caps" was the first book to address the strong resilience developed by a deaf character with a cochlear implant during his adolescence.

In addition to managing various communication networks with the utmost availability, Jodi is very generous in offering her time and expertise whenever necessary, including participating in national and international events. She acquires and exchanges information tirelessly and in real time, returning it with passionate dedication to empower others to find and use their voices.