PORTLAND, Maine — If you grew up in Maine or went to school here, chances are you’ve heard of or even read "Lost on a Mountain in Maine."
The story follows 12-year-old Donn Fendler who, in 1939, got separated from his family and friends during their hike and found himself lost and alone in the woods of Katahdin. It’s a story of perseverance and it’s all true.
In 2010, Cook found himself sitting on Fendler’s porch at his home in Newport talking about bringing his story to audiences on the big screen.
"He said, 'Listen, I’d love for you guys to make it, but it hasn’t happened, and I don’t have much hope anymore,'" Cook said. "And I told him, 'Donn, I’m not the guy that goes away.'"
It would take another 14 years for the movie to be completed. Cook said in all it took them 20 days to shoot the film which was divided between New York and Maine. Most of the movie is shot in upstate New York but the shots of Katahdin and some of the most crucial scenes on the mountain were shot in Baxter State Park.
Donn passed away in 2016, but Cook said if he were here, he would want to share it with the people in his home state.
"Donn Fendler loved the people of Maine more than anything else and I think to see people rally around this story and this new phase with this movie, I think would make him very happy,” Cook said.
"Lost on a Mountain in Maine" is now playing in theaters around Maine. Check in with your local theater for showtimes. Watch the full 207 segment above to learn more about the making of the film.