It's been a hellva day.
Yesterday, my car died. I think, for good. We'll see. I'm trying not to stress about the car or money or all the things that are sitting in judgement in the back of my brain.
Last night, Double Secret Probation (that's our Quizzo team) played in our last game before heading out tomorrow. We won!...by a narrow, narrow margin. It was a great night to end on before the trek. Geo and K both brought cameras last night...and folks at the bar were buzzing both about our (insane) plan to attend the Finals and the doc.
This morning my extremely generous neighbor loaned me her car and all my errands - including dropping off my dog at my dad's. I'm hoping she won't be too much of a handful for him. We also had RV orientation and picked up the behemoth that we'll be trekking in. I'm packing now...waiting to hand the car keys back to my friend and then hopefully getting some sleep so when I get up at 3am to shower and take the trash out (I'm waaaay too beat to do it now), I'll be able to either drive or help navigate our way east.
Not sure that I'll be able to post much on the road, but I'll try!
Here's to an open road and safe passage to the coast!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
T-Minus 4
The countdown has begun
We're four days away from climbing into the RV and heading towards AC. It all seems so confoundingly insane to me - but every person I tell this story to - the trip, the finals, the doc - gets so excited by the idea (and trust me, I'm underselling this crazy scheme) - that I'm thinking we must be onto something. The rampant enthusiasm quite honestly baffles me - but solidifies my idea that this doc needs to happen.
In terms of hitting the road, I'm fairly unprepared at this stage - I need to spend tonight getting my ducks in a row. Between making sure I don't leave any unattended fires at the office, making sure my dad is ready to watch my dog (in 9 yrs, I've never had to ask him to watch my dog as she's kind of a handful) and, most importantly, prepping my doc needs (releases, interview questions, shot list, tech needs, etc.), plus all the normal trip prep (pack, bills, where to park the car, etc.)
It's all a bit of a whirlwind in my head.
Wednesday - at Quizzo. Our last game before we head out!
Thursday - our 3 designated RV drivers have orientation/training...then we pick up the RV!
Friday - Hit the road!
Saturday - Film in AC, attend finals, shoot more! (mayhaps play a few games of chance!)
Sunday - Head home.
Monday - Recouperate
Rain or Shine
We're meeting up at 4am on Friday with the intent to be on the road by 4:30am. Hopefully, avoiding the majority of the Chicagoland/Gary rush hour. This means, we should arrive in AC sometime around 7pm or so. Not sure how long stops to gas up with take (or how often they'll occur.) So it could be later than that....due to the weather.
Right now, the forecast for Friday is Scattered Thunderstorms (in Chicago) from Fri-Sun - which means we'll be leaving and coming back thru some pretty crappy weather. It looks like much of our route to Jersey will be stormy/rainy on Friday. Makes me a little nervous as 1/3 of the RV driving team. But, as long as we take our time and pay attention to the road, we should be good. The good news is that Saturday in AC (when we'll need to get the most footage) is going to be party cloudy and in the mid-70's.
I'm prepared that we won't be able to film during the actual Quizzo Finals, as it's at a casino and they are kinda anti-video cameras in those places. But, we should (fingers crossed) be able to bring in some still cameras, which is why I'm basing part of the look of the film as still shots...who knows if we'll be able to get audio....?
A lot of our local footage will be shot after we get back, but I'm getting itchy and excited to start the ball rolling with the filming!
*For the record, I'm not sure if we'll take the Skyway, as it doesn't seem worth it to pay $12-15 (RV price) to cross the bridge when it won't save us that much in time or gas at that hour in the am. I just threw it up since that glowing neon is one of my favorite signs of home from many road trips of yesteryear.
We're four days away from climbing into the RV and heading towards AC. It all seems so confoundingly insane to me - but every person I tell this story to - the trip, the finals, the doc - gets so excited by the idea (and trust me, I'm underselling this crazy scheme) - that I'm thinking we must be onto something. The rampant enthusiasm quite honestly baffles me - but solidifies my idea that this doc needs to happen.
In terms of hitting the road, I'm fairly unprepared at this stage - I need to spend tonight getting my ducks in a row. Between making sure I don't leave any unattended fires at the office, making sure my dad is ready to watch my dog (in 9 yrs, I've never had to ask him to watch my dog as she's kind of a handful) and, most importantly, prepping my doc needs (releases, interview questions, shot list, tech needs, etc.), plus all the normal trip prep (pack, bills, where to park the car, etc.)
It's all a bit of a whirlwind in my head.
Wednesday - at Quizzo. Our last game before we head out!
Thursday - our 3 designated RV drivers have orientation/training...then we pick up the RV!
Friday - Hit the road!
Saturday - Film in AC, attend finals, shoot more! (mayhaps play a few games of chance!)
Sunday - Head home.
Monday - Recouperate
Rain or Shine
We're meeting up at 4am on Friday with the intent to be on the road by 4:30am. Hopefully, avoiding the majority of the Chicagoland/Gary rush hour. This means, we should arrive in AC sometime around 7pm or so. Not sure how long stops to gas up with take (or how often they'll occur.) So it could be later than that....due to the weather.
Right now, the forecast for Friday is Scattered Thunderstorms (in Chicago) from Fri-Sun - which means we'll be leaving and coming back thru some pretty crappy weather. It looks like much of our route to Jersey will be stormy/rainy on Friday. Makes me a little nervous as 1/3 of the RV driving team. But, as long as we take our time and pay attention to the road, we should be good. The good news is that Saturday in AC (when we'll need to get the most footage) is going to be party cloudy and in the mid-70's.
I'm prepared that we won't be able to film during the actual Quizzo Finals, as it's at a casino and they are kinda anti-video cameras in those places. But, we should (fingers crossed) be able to bring in some still cameras, which is why I'm basing part of the look of the film as still shots...who knows if we'll be able to get audio....?
A lot of our local footage will be shot after we get back, but I'm getting itchy and excited to start the ball rolling with the filming!
*For the record, I'm not sure if we'll take the Skyway, as it doesn't seem worth it to pay $12-15 (RV price) to cross the bridge when it won't save us that much in time or gas at that hour in the am. I just threw it up since that glowing neon is one of my favorite signs of home from many road trips of yesteryear.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ground Zero
What is Wry Potato?
Wry Potato is the production company I've created to produce a short (yet to be titled) documentary about a trip some friends of mine are taking from Chicago to Atlantic City.
In a rented RV.
For 48 hours (not to mention the 14 hour trek...each way.)
To compete in the National Trivia Association's Quizzo Finals.
This whole scenario - meeting up to play Quizzo, what lead to the trip, the trip itself - is all based on a friendly lark of sorts. In a way, it's rather incomprehensible that this trip is even happening.
Which is the reason that convinced me this needed to be documented.
And why not document the documentary in a space that keeps me quasi-accountable?
Why the hell am I wasting my precious life reading this and/or care?
Well, I suppose you either:
1) Know me personally
2) Know someone who I've sweetly cajoled into helping me with this project
3) Know someone who knows me and followed their link/reference.
4) Have an odd fixation on potatoes and/or the word "wry"
5) Are a curious and/or lucky sort and stumbled upon this blog.
Do you have any experience making documentaries/films?
Yes and no. I went to film school (like 20 years ago) and then dropped out about 6 months shy of my degree. I haven't seriously picked up a camera since that time. In the past 20 years, I have become a luddite in the digital age. Which increased my distance.
The two people I am most creatively inspired by are Errol Morris and Studs Terkel. Mainly because they have spent lifetimes giving voices to everyday folk - be they a scientist or a street sweeper. I believe there is power in a person's story. There is the power for people to connect, to learn, to illuminate. The more I know about your story, the more I can relate to you and vice-versa. And the truth is, everyone has a story. Some are humorous and others heartbreaking, but it's the craft of telling it that draws folks in.
If you asked me what I personally think would solve many the problems in the world - war, poverty, hate, homelessness. I really do think it lies in honestly listening to people. If you connect to someone on a personal basis, they are no longer a number or a statistic. When you know their voice, their cadence, their humor, their anger, their disappointments and challenges, you really can connect and the opportunity arises to make a change.
Although, this project isn't that grandiose. This is more a challenge to myself to pick a camera back up and be creative. I just want to make a fun little movie about whatever it is that is making this trip tick in my brain. Ultimately, my goal is to submit it to a few film festivals. My partner in crime, Geo, is already talking about what our next project should be...but the first goal is to get this shot, cut, in the can and out into the ether.
Wish us luck.
Wry Potato is the production company I've created to produce a short (yet to be titled) documentary about a trip some friends of mine are taking from Chicago to Atlantic City.
In a rented RV.
For 48 hours (not to mention the 14 hour trek...each way.)
To compete in the National Trivia Association's Quizzo Finals.
This whole scenario - meeting up to play Quizzo, what lead to the trip, the trip itself - is all based on a friendly lark of sorts. In a way, it's rather incomprehensible that this trip is even happening.
Which is the reason that convinced me this needed to be documented.
And why not document the documentary in a space that keeps me quasi-accountable?
Why the hell am I wasting my precious life reading this and/or care?
Well, I suppose you either:
1) Know me personally
2) Know someone who I've sweetly cajoled into helping me with this project
3) Know someone who knows me and followed their link/reference.
4) Have an odd fixation on potatoes and/or the word "wry"
5) Are a curious and/or lucky sort and stumbled upon this blog.
Do you have any experience making documentaries/films?
Yes and no. I went to film school (like 20 years ago) and then dropped out about 6 months shy of my degree. I haven't seriously picked up a camera since that time. In the past 20 years, I have become a luddite in the digital age. Which increased my distance.
The two people I am most creatively inspired by are Errol Morris and Studs Terkel. Mainly because they have spent lifetimes giving voices to everyday folk - be they a scientist or a street sweeper. I believe there is power in a person's story. There is the power for people to connect, to learn, to illuminate. The more I know about your story, the more I can relate to you and vice-versa. And the truth is, everyone has a story. Some are humorous and others heartbreaking, but it's the craft of telling it that draws folks in.
If you asked me what I personally think would solve many the problems in the world - war, poverty, hate, homelessness. I really do think it lies in honestly listening to people. If you connect to someone on a personal basis, they are no longer a number or a statistic. When you know their voice, their cadence, their humor, their anger, their disappointments and challenges, you really can connect and the opportunity arises to make a change.
Although, this project isn't that grandiose. This is more a challenge to myself to pick a camera back up and be creative. I just want to make a fun little movie about whatever it is that is making this trip tick in my brain. Ultimately, my goal is to submit it to a few film festivals. My partner in crime, Geo, is already talking about what our next project should be...but the first goal is to get this shot, cut, in the can and out into the ether.
Wish us luck.
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