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T.C. Christensen, director of a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life, shoots footage during a football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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(left) Kennedy Hansen, 16 years old, laughs as her coach Jill Schofield puts makeup on her at her home in West Haven on Friday, February 14, 2014.Kennedy suffers from a degenerative Batten disease and is a member of the Fremont High School cheerleading squad.(KERA WIllIAMS/ Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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T.C. Christensen and his crew film footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life at a football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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A film crew shoots footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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A film crew shoots footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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A film crew shoots footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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A film crew shoots footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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A film crew shoots footage for a movie about Kennedy Hansen's life Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Fremont High School.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

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Coach Jill Schofield and Kennedy Hansen embracing while Kennedy is being congratulated on the big win! (Courtesy Photo)

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Kennedy Hansen enjoys an event Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville in July 17.

REYNALDO LEAL/Standard-Examiner

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PLAIN CITY — On Friday night, Fremont High School became a movie set as crews worked on a film chronicling the life of a West Haven girl who died of Juvenile Batten Disease.

The filmmakers attended the school’s football game to gather footage of cheerleaders who were teammates of Kennedy Hansen, a 16-year-old who died in May 2014. The movie — tentatively titled “Kennedy” — will share the story of how the teen inspired the community before her death.

Hansen was diagnosed June 5, 2013, with the nervous system disorder, which causes vision loss, speech difficulties, seizures, and intellectual and motor disabilities.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

The film is being made by writer, director and producer T.C. Christensen, who’s from Centerville. The movie will delve into Hansen’s love for others and her inspired actions, as well as her family’s efforts to honor her legacy.

The movie features both actors and Hansen’s loved ones recreating scenes from her life.

“This is a great story of faith,” Christensen said. “It’s contemporary and maybe more relatable to people on that basis,” Christensen said. “I know it has elements that make it a terrific story.”

• RELATED: Terminally ill Fremont cheerleader an inspiration for teammates

Christensen is known for making films with deep, faith-filled messages. He is the producer of “The Cokeville Miracle,” “17 Miracles” and “Ephraim’s Rescue,” all of which were filmed in Utah and starred local actors.

Jason Hansen, Kennedy’s father, said the movie’s filming has been an amazing experience filled with special, emotional moments.

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

Filmmakers have spent about four weeks in the Hansen’s home, he said.

“It doesn’t get anymore real than filming in our home,” Hansen said. “They’ve done a good enough job that we are crying on the set.”

Hansen said the movie’s makers told him it’s rare for a crew to be as moved by a story as they’ve been by this one. “At one moment, we looked around and the entire crew and the entire cast was crying,” Hansen said.

• RELATED: Father’s loss, Kennedy’s Hugs provide opportunity to inspire other dads

Co-producer Ron Tanner, who’s from Cottonwood Heights, said the story is touching because of two of its main themes: faith and hope.

“All of us have problems,” Tanner said. “Our problems are not always solved the way we want them solved. We can still have a happy and important life, even with problems.”

MATT HERP/Standard-Examiner

He said Kennedy accomplished this by living the best life possible, even though she couldn’t be healed.

“I have had the privilege of interviewing 25 people that knew Kennedy,” he said. “Boy, they were sure touched by her story. It had a lasting impression on them.”

About a week of filming remains on the project, Tanner said.

Jason Hansen complimented Christensen and Tanner on their efforts to share the story accurately.

To get the story straight, movie makers relied on family journals, Facebook posts, face-to-face contact with the family and more, Hansen said. He said the story is about 95 percent accurate — the only thing that’s different is the timeline, which was sped up to fit the length of a movie.

Hansen said the actress playing Kennedy, Tatum Chiniquy, has a special place in the family members’ hearts.

“We hear her voice, and we just want to hug her,” he said. 

• RELATED: Inspirational Fremont cheerleader succumbs to rare disease 

Chiniquy said she’s felt Kennedy’s spirit through the filming process, helping her portray the teen in the right way.

The choices Kennedy made throughout her life are inspiring. For example, she said, Fremont’s cheerleaders were once asked to talk about the challenges they were facing. One by one, they shared stories about the obstacles in their lives.

But when it was Kennedy’s turn to speak, she said she didn’t have any challenges. 

“This girl really was something else,” Chiniquy said. “Playing the part of Kennedy is the biggest honor in my life.”

Heather Beers, the actress playing Heather Hansen — Kennedy’s mother — said she’s equally honored.

“The Hansens are such a united family,” she said. “They formed such a connectedness as they watched Kennedy decline. It is such a story of faith and hope facing a difficult time.”

While the story is a sad one, Hansen said it’s also full of inspiring messages.

“I hope it will help families,” he said. “It’s about coping, love, pushing ahead and faith in a higher power.”

He said the story doesn’t end with Kennedy’s death. “It shows that our experiences can become something beautiful,” he said. “It’s been a great adventure.”

Those who want to keep updated on the progress of the movie can do so on the website kennedymovie.com. The site features pictures of the cast during filming of the production and information about Kennedy.

Besides the movie, which will be released in theaters across the country in May, the Hansens also have finished a book about Kennedy — titled ”Kennedy’s Hugs” — that will be available in bookstores and online in October. It’s available on Amazon for pre-orders now. 

You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook.