Just One Step: The Human Need To Run

Just One Step: The Human Need To Run

New Film explores why we pursue the act of running

Portland, Maine, October 2, 2015 – They are everywhere. Runners. In all places and in all conditions. Why do they do it?

What is it about running? Why is the running industry booming, and people hitting the streets, the track, the trail or the treadmill in increasing numbers every day? Is it just a desire to be fit, to lose a little weight, or ‘get some exercise’? A new documentary by Benjamin Keller entitled “Just One Step” takes issue with that notion.

Approaching the subject through action sequences, science and putting himself through the paces as well Keller begins to unwind the story of how and why we run. The result is the beautiful, funny and thought provoking documentary “Just One Step”, currently in production in a variety of locations across the country.

“Running is one of those things that has always felt foreign to me,” says film maker Benjamin Keller, “it hurts, I am slow, and I pay for it for days afterwards. Yet through my immersion in the running culture, I have found that there is definitely something more to it than just ‘getting exercise’. There is something else to it- something that might be better, and possibly worse than mere exercise. I wanted to find out.”

In exploring the human need to run Keller has tracked down a number of leaders in the world of running.  Among those slated to be in the film are athletes Karl Meltzer, Mark Godale, Sabrina Little, Anna frost, Mike Westphal, and more. The film is also going to feature renowned, and in some cases controversial, scientists like John Ratey and Martin Matsumura

“Just One Step”, through interviews and stories of these people and with stunning cinematography, will take the viewer to places they didn’t expect from a film about something seemingly mundane like running.

“It’s not really a ‘running film’” says Keller “It appeals to runners and non runners alike. The reason being that the film is more about us as humans, how we operate in our daily lives, and move through our world. And our needs, what our brains and bodies need and desire. We are closing in on finishing production currently but are hoping to raise enough funds to get there. We currently have a Kickstarter campaign running and are spreading the word. Folks who join the Just One Step team will help bring this amazing film to the world.”

For more information about “Just One Step”, or contribute to the campaign, visit www.justonestepmovie.com.

                                                            ~more~

Filmmaker Ben Keller founded Dubious Honor Productions in 1993 as a music company and in 1998, expanded the company to embrace visual media.  The company’s focus is showing the real face of its documentary subjects, focusing especially in the Northeast and Maine where Keller has resided for the past 22 years.  “Just One Step” is the sixth documentary film by Dubious Honor Productions with several more in development.      

Motivation

What does it take?  What does it take for one to get moving? I started a documentary project just about a year ago now and it has been slow going.  Sure, things like summer and kids and romance and waves and all sorts of things beckon me at every turn, and those are things I cherish so they are always a welcome addition to my life. But I love storytelling, and I love creating and I love putting the pieces together. So why has it been so hard to just delve into this project and, well, put the pieces together?

Recently my lovely partner and I sat at a lovely lunch in the lovely Portland Public market and talked all about it. Investment and genesis and approaches and additions and all sorts of inspiration flowed in that hour (she is an amazingly inspiring human, to say the least). Yet I was still having trouble just making the leap, just opening up the files and doing the work.

That night I lay in bed and thought about everything.  About how this could be great.  About all the things we talked about at lunch. About how this stage in the process for me is the one I always have the hardest time with. It doesn't quite light me up like other parts, and that, despite all of the lights at the ends of different tunnels and doors waiting to be opened,  was dragging me down.  And why? I guess because at this stage I feel the least creative with the piece.  It's the part that doesn't always flow naturally for me and I struggle.

So how to ignite that spark in this moment? How to get the tinder of the mind hot enough to maybe start a little flame, and how to fan that into fire? What can I do that I find creative and useful and fun and a reminder and an inspiration?  I am sure it's different for every person, and probably for every project I will do should I find myself in a similar space. But right here right now it was obvious.  T-shirts! I would create fun little nothing t shirts every Monday that would be a creative little reminder and inspiration then wear it every morning while I plug away at the piece. It doesn't have to be arty or over the top or spend hours creating.  Just a fun message to myself.

I know it sounds silly but the creative part of making a tee that is a reminder, is a drive and an ignition in itself for me. I have been moving on the project with more vigor than in a long while and am starting to see possibilities here for a larger, better piece than originally envisioned. So for now, I will continue with my t-shirts, and shape and create what is going to be a fantastic doc.

Starting.

One of the most exciting times in a project for us is the beginning.  The beginning, not the genesis, not the concept or idea, (though those are exciting and motivating as well) but the actual digging in and starting.  The work.  The getting out and doing what needs to be done.  The figuring out of the processes and paths that you need to successfully begin a new project.  The placing of the camera in the hand, and the walking out the door.

 That is precisely what happened over the last couple of days.  While there are numerous projects happening at once, there is a new full length project that we have embarked on. But this is a multi-year project.  So we are going after it slowly and steadily.

We headed north to shoot out on the waters surrounding Mount Desert Island. Our first day was glorious and long.  Sunny and filled with wildlife, wind and swell.

It's precisely these days that are so invigorating to us!  The beginning of a new project! Out on the water! Shooting!  Sussing out the complexities of the processes and paths!

We were extremely lucky to have our first day go so well.  Off to a great start.  The next day, not so much.  Socked in with fog, big swell, downpours and a number of other factors that highlighted safety as a concern. We decided to postpone our second day. 

But that didn't drain the enthusiasm for the beginning of this new project. Our first day, of what promises to be many many days over a handful of years, was an incredible kickoff. A perfect first step.

Starting.  Here we go.

Get thee outside!

It's days like the past couple of days that remind me I love to shoot.  Why?  Because I love to shoot outside.  And luckily that is where a majority of my shooting occurs.  I am beyond lucky.  Yes, I like it as much in winter as I do in summer.  Though admittedly my staying power diminishes with every degree below 32.

But the last few days, wow.  I don't think I could have asked for better conditions.  Sunny, warm, little wind, just perfect to be outside and on the water. We were brought on to shoot the Windjammer Angelique in her first trip up the coast from Camden to Belfast for her every other year haul out.


My gosh, it was beautiful.  Incredible deep blue clear skies, early morning spring light, and really, what can compare with the majesty of a 135 foot ketch.  Really.

The boat was brought up to Front Street Shipyard in Belfast and hauled out in a massive sling. Which is nothing short of a miracle of modern technology. Needless to say, the location, the conditions, the beautiful boat and the incredible feat of technology made this one incredible shoot.

The boatyard itself provided an amazing backdrop for these operations.  We flew the drone, looked for interesting and different angles and perspectives and got what we believe to be some pretty impressive and beautiful imagery.

Captain Dennis Gallant called this a 'shave and a haircut', followed by a 'splash and dash' . Angelique was out of the water for less than 24 hours. But in those 24 hours we got enough to put together a sweet little pre-season piece about prepping for the upcoming season.

Both the Angelique and Front Street Shipyard were hugely accommodating and made this shoot very easy.  We are really excited to put together this piece.  Watch for it soon!

Wha?

Where did the summer go?  What happened?  Work, fun, messed up ankle, travel, and poof!  Gone!

So a few quick updates....  The Angel Light film we worked on has been accepted into the Big Aple Film Festival!  Woo!  We will be attending.  Very excited for Kira and Angel Light!  You can watch it here:

http://www.dubioushonor.com/DiveDeepDHweb.php

We also ran up to Ontario to shoot the the big Race that is the highlight of the documentary we are working on about two women, their friendship and running.  Its a pretty amazing story.  I won't tell you what happened at the 100 (!) mile race but it's going to make for a good doc.  We are just finishing up some of the outdoor shots for this before the leaves turn and we sink into the edit.

Last but not least Dubious Honor is in talks to become the main shoot crew on a pretty big deal documentary.  We are very excited at the prospects and fingers crossed it all comes together.  More on this as it progresses.

In our spare time (ha!) we have been attempting to master the art of heli flying and shooting, as well as the art of tilt shift.  So much to learn!  We are using a lot of this for the new tour video we are working on for the Shipyard Brewing Company. Who we love! I will have to post some of the out takes of some of the spectacular crashes we have had....

Slow Summer Daze

Its quiet out there... too quiet...

As summer winds down the last hazy lazy days of summer are rolling in.  Don't want to jinx it but it looks like we are in for a stretch of nice weather to maybe round it all out.

Its been standard summer work fare.  But I can't help but think that this fall is going to be chock-a-block and crazy wall-to wall.  We will see,

As for now, the work on the new tour video for Shipyard continues and its ramping up.  With a whole new set of cool tricks up our sleeves to create a really nice, Maine oriented piece. The work continues on the doc I am filming about the two women ultra-runners as well.  The big race is at the beginning of September so we are rocking on that. I also have secured broadcast distribution for King Charles' Coast.  Now I just need to tag into someone or some organization that can help fund this puppy.  Its huge and important and unfortunately pretty political which is why I am having a hard time finding folks to help out with it.  So if you know anyone who cares about Maine's coast and the access to it, send them my way! I am not above begging...

That's it for now, nose to the end of summer grindstone.  More as it all winds up.  I can't help but feel like on the other side of these last days of Summer its going to be a pretty big and busy fall...

So much!

Holee cats.  It has really been two years since out last post. Crazy.  Life has a way of interfering with things like...blogging.

Lots has happened since that last post, both professionally and personally. But I will stick to the professional here. There have been lots of projects that have come and gone in the last two years, including one really big one (alluded to in my last post) that almost came to fruition if it weren't for a last minute snafu.

But recently I had the tremendous honor to be invited to work with Angel Light Films, a non-profit that makes films written by kids with brain cancer. Pretty heavy stuff but also one of the most amazing and transformative experiences I have ever had in my life. The result was a fun little film by an amazing little girl and her friends. If you have 10 minutes, its worth a watch, especially for the short little interview with Kira at the end. An incredible kid, and an amazing experience. Check out the film if you have a few minutes.

There are a couple of really great things in the works as well, aside from the really fun work we continue to do with New Englands best brewery, Shipyard. We are in production right now on a documentary about two ultra marathoning women, which is proving to be a pretty amazing experience. We also are on the hook for a pretty great project this fall, which I would DP on, but not going to say anything about that until it gets locked. Fun stuff.  And guess what?  King Charles' Coast is back on the table!  We have distribution for it through MPBN, and now we just need to get the funding together. The subject of coastal access is still a hot button topic here in Maine. I am hugely invested in this one, which is why it keeps coming back.  We will make this film! I am also developing a site that will be fun place for New Englanders to come to watch outdoor shorts, and for NE film makers to show theirs. Wellandstoked.com, coming soon.

Lastly (for this post anyway) I have committed to a long term project that is something close to my heart, but again, more on that as time passes.  I am so full of mystery aren't I?

It feels good to be back. I will definitely post more frequently, both about work and random environmental, film and life subjects. 

Big News!

As of July 15th, this Friday, BlueGreen will be available for streaming on Netflix!  This is huge for us at Dubious Honor.  A while back after the film got picked up by the awesome Cinema Libre Studios, we embarked on a campaign to get the film onto Netflix.  Within the last year they have changed a lot of their rules, so as an indie, you sort of have to prove your worth.

So to do that we lobbied friends and fans alike, folks we didn't know and folks we did to Queue the film up.  This way Netflix would realize the demand.  And it worked!  Now you will be able to view BlueGreen on almost any of your devices.  You can get stoked and connect with mother ocean almost anywhere.  We are very, very psyched indeed.

So check it out.  And thank you to all who lobbied and helped out, and are interested in seeing the film.

Post Script: Keep your ear to the ground for super huge news regarding our next project... Its going to be huge and we are wicked excited about it.

Shame, shame, shame.

Sometimes, you have to walk away from stuff because it grates on you.  Other times you have to have a measured response.  And sometimes you need to just let it fly and rant. And that is ok.  It's ok to be angry.  Well, I am angry.  I am angry about a beach in my town, and the fight to keep access there. It's called Higgins beach and it is arguably one of the most popular, or well attended beaches in Maine. I am not going to go into all the history around this fight, suffice it to say I spent (along with a a TON of other people) a lot of time and emotional investment trying to KEEP the precious little access the public has to this beach last winter. The town council voted a certain way.  It was a bad compromise, but there it was.  What are you going to do?  We didn't lose all access, but we lost a lot.  I thought it was over.

Nope!  This morning as I got to the beach I noticed several things.  One, that there was no on street parking, and that there was no parking in the parking lot either, and there was a guy giving tickets! Wait, if the town knew they were going to be down there working on the roads, and they know people recreate there, shouldn't they have made exceptions?

Then I noticed that the road crew working down there was painting the new lines for the parking spaces.  Not only that but they painted  a ten foot (approx.) wide walkway space on the right side thus basically putting the parking spaces in the middle of the road!  Well!  No wonder you can't park on both sides of the road, because there is this whole zone, that no one really ever told anyone about that is now blocked off!  Bullshit.

And of course, the signage all over the community is completely wrong.  'No parking at any time' (then in mice type- except where noted) And one hour parking 'May through September, no parking at any other time'?  Completely wrong!  Completely!  I was there when this terrible compromise was passed and I recall distinctly that the 12 or so spaces from Morning to Vesper streets were to not have any time limit on them.  Now they all say one hour. And off season, you can park there with no time limit.  Did the town lie to us?  It certainly appears so. Or are they manipulating the signage, so those who don't know won't park there?

And speaking of lying, why is the lot being paved when we were told by that town it wasn't going to be?  Why are they ticketing people during the construction phase when no one can access the lot- which was the whole reasoning behind the HBOA's  wanting to remove the on street parking in the first place?  What the hell is going on down there?

And then reports of HBOA members harassing people parking completely legally under the new laws?  Let me be clear, I truly don't believe everyone who lives at Higgins is a bad person.  I do believe that the people who are trying to manipulate the town and shut off our public access should find themselves a nice cozy gated community far from the public arena.

And speaking of manipulating the town! I have said it before and I will say it again.  This isn't about access to the town, they have made it clear they don't care about public access. It's about money.  Who has it, and who doesn't.  The people at Higgins have it (whether they are 'rich' or not doesn't matter-their tax base is higher, as their property values are higher so the town gets more money out of them) and we, the rest of Scarborough, don't.  But let me be very clear here.  These are public roads, paid for and maintained by all of Scarborough. We pay for a lot of the infrastructure down there as well (the Seawall project, the Drainage project, the lot, the trash pick up, the plowing and the policing!). And now we are being told we can't park on OUR roads?  And are getting ticketed by an officer whose sole job is to walk the beach (no not the neighborhood, just the beach) and ticket folks, who is being paid with OUR money?  Again, bullshit. I have to say, far be it from me to ever, ever accuse any person of being crooked.  I WON'T DO IT.  That said, the steadfast, unwavering, non-consideration of other opinions motivations of certain council members around all this have to be questioned. I think primarily of councilor Wood and Councilor Sullivan.  Wood obviously hadn't even ever been to the beach before this whole thing started as he didn't even know where the Inn was located. He doesn't care, and it is obvious from his rant at one of the first meetings that he doesn't.  They have removed this particular video from the web but it was from December 1 of 2010.  I have a copy and you can request one too. Yet somehow, he is so adamant and passionate about safety issues (non existent as testified to by the Scarborough Chief Of Police). Why is that councilor Wood?  Why? 

So tell me Councilors, why is it that folks can park on my (public) road, and I can't park on their (public) road?  Is there a reason?  Safety isn't it, that is clear.

I have played patty cake over the last 8 months about all this, trying my best to be reserved, not to point fingers or make anyone angry 'Oh you don't want to make the councilors angry, that won't help' Keep it civil blah blah blah. But you know what?  It is clear that they don't care.  They are going to do whatever it is they want to do. It is an unbelievable shame that our publicly elected officials don't much care about the public, and the overwhelming opinions they carry. (Though I don't even know if Town Manager Tom Hall is an elected official) I do however want to give big ups to councilors Holbrook, D'Andrea, and Rancourt for fighting for the public's cause. Thank you.

It is truly unbelievable. If you are as angry about this as me, we should figure something out.  A park in, or better yet a slow parade- Get as many cars in there as possible on a saturday and everyone just drive around at 3 miles an hour so they can't ticket or tow you. Take action. Take this issue to the public. NO one, I mean no one I have talked to, save the folks who live at Higgins, support a parking ban.  We need to get parking at Higgins to be the same as any other town beach.  Easy access and free parking on public roads in the off season, and limited, enforced parking in season.  Easy, and lawful, and the right thing to do.

You know, with all the crap going on in the world, this may seem like a little issue.  Even on a local level (think about the horrific vote recently about the school budget).  But when the opinions of the vast majority of the public are ignored for the benefit of the few, even when it comes to parking on a public road, there is something really wrong with our system. Shame.

Well, I promised a rant. There you go. I am sure plenty of folks will poke holes in some of what I state here. But this is how I see it in this moment of anger. If you have factual disagreements, feel free to comment. Even though this was still more reserved that how I feel.  You should ask the guy who was riding in the truck with me.

The project that pulls at you

Sometimes, no matter how difficult a project is, or has become, you feel this deep need to make it happen. Even against the better advice of your inner voice there is something that just draws you to it, pulls you to it.  This is how I feel about King Charles' Coast, or, Whose Beach Is It Anyway?

I have been vested in this project for well over two years now.  Ever since the knowledge of how the coast of Maine, or more precisely the access to the coast of Maine works. I always knew there was a lot of coast here, with all the bays and inlets, the isthmi and the islands. But I never realized that over 94% of the coast was privately owned.

Yeah well, that isn't that big a deal right? A lot of the US coast is privately owned. No biggie.  If you can access the beach you can still surf it or hang out and just chill below the high tide mark, right? Nope! Not in Maine!

This whole crazy world of coastal laws and the battles that focus around it all reveled itself to me and I have to say, I was pretty shocked. Rules written in 1647 remaining in force to this day?  Ownership to the low tide mark, which can be like 200 yards out in some places here?  Whats more when I asked folks about this, people who I really thought would be 'in the know', very few people had any real knowledge, and those that did were hazy at best.

I am hugely vested in the coast of Maine.  My family is, my friends are, this community is. Maine is a coastal state and there is a pride in the maritime sensibility here. This is part of why I am pursuing this project. And I am looking to the masses to help get it done. Those of you who care about coastal access, in Maine and across the US coasts, who enjoy the ocean, I am hoping you will take a look at the project on Kickstarter, and help get this important documentary made, either by contributing, or helping to spread the word.

Here is how Kickstarter works: you support a project by contributing a given amount of money. BUT! If the project doesn't reach the goal amount in the time allotted, you are never charged the money. So  you say, ok, I can put $20 towards that, but if the funding amount isn't reached in the time limit, they never take the $20 off your credit card. It's a pretty cool thing really. Then if the goal is reached, for your $20 you get some sort of reward, like copy of the film, or a poster or whatever the $20 reward is.

Take a look at the project- follow the URL and check out the video, the description and all the cool rewards. I Really do believe this doc will resonate with all the coastal users in Maine, and beyond.  Thanks for taking the time to check it out.  

Here is the link: http://kck.st/hcdZob

You just never know....

The last thing I think of when I make a film or a piece or a work or a segment is what the long term effects are going to be of it.  Or where it will sit in the annals of my personal history of that of the region or in other peoples minds.  I make films because I love to do it.  It's that simple.  Some will be great, and others not. But it's about the enjoyment of crafting something really dear to me that spurs me on.

So when a film is out doing it's thing, like BlueGreen is currently, and people reach out to you because of some sort of connection you have made with them through the piece you created, it is a pretty amazing feeling. It was this feeling I had when I got an email from Mark Marovich, the originator of a fantastic website called The Greener Blue. 

Mark contacted me because he wanted to talk about the film and the site getting together.  There was a message we both shared, and the film and the site shared:  the desire to try to make the sport and lifestyle we both love more earth friendly, more sustainable. At first I was really flattered, but then I realized what a cool thing this was.  That through the film I created I had randomly come to the attention of another group who were of a similar mindset in the world.  Thus making the circle that much wider.

And making the sustainable surf, ocean lifestyle circle that much wider is a huge deal indeed.  I feel pretty lucky, and very humbled that I get to be part of it, and that without any planned intentions my film has facilitated part of that, if only in a small way.

Check out the this amazing site: www.thegreenerblue.com and the blog post on BlueGreen. It's a confluence of green ideas, art and action. As ocean lovers, we owe it to ourselves and the world to expand the circle just a little bit. Intentionally or otherwise.

Into The Wild (ish)

So I was just sitting here at my desk after Christmas, working on some thing or another when my friend Matt calls.  Nothing out of the ordinary but about half way through the conversation he invites me on a trek with a couple of other old friends. A 36 mile hike/camp on snowshoes through the Adirondacks on the NPT trail.

Well, I had missed our every-other-year-post-christmas-hike-up-Mount-Adams because of family duties for the holidays. So I immediately said yes without even thinking about it and then went right back to working.  Over the next few days it slowly started to sink in. During some of the typically coldest days of the year in the northeast, I and three others were about to hike into a bit of trail from which there is no exit, only forward or back, breaking trail and sleeping in the open air lean-to's provided by the park service.  A feat I am woefully unprepared for physically, mentally and probably most importantly, gear wise. What was I thinking?

It took a bit, but I know exactly what I was thinking.  I am tired. I am tired of the constant battle of the last few years.  I am done with the trying to hide, to dodge a bullet, to sit here and brace for whatever comes next.  I am tired of the 09's and the 10's. It's time to move on it's time to shake things up.  To put myself into places and situations I am not entirely comfortable with. To get back into the creative groove, to feel better, to try to make things happen, to put myself back out there, and to ask the question: what would happen if?

2011, whether it turns out well or poorly, will be a year for me where I get active again.  Business wise, creatively, personally. The first decade of the new millennium is over, we can move on now. So I am making the choice to do so. It's not always going to be easy, or necessarily fun, but it will be enlivening for sure. And that is what I need, and probably a lot of other folks too.

A lot of it for me will be getting up and getting active.  Even pulling away from the desk for an hour during the day to get outside, regardless of the conditions.  Just to breathe and remember there is a whole huge world out there. It brings all kinds of perspective into all sorts of corners. For this hike I will be pushing myself physically and mentally. To prepare I have started running, and doing things every day to try to get my heart rate up. It's great, and it begs the question, why haven't I been doing this even without a goal in sight?  This hike will be 12 miles a day on snowshoes through unbroken snowpack with a 40 pound pack on my back. It will be merely in the teens during the day and at least the single digit negatives during the night. What will come of it?  Who knows.  Maybe just an experience. But that in itself, is really really great.

'Sides, better to do it now before the world ends next year (he wrote with a knowing wink).

'Tis the season! To give ocean consciousness!

The holidays are here, no matter how hard I have tried to be distracted with other things. Even though the battle for access rages on in my home town, and the intertidal lands of my state are up for review, the holidays have come.

As every year, I feel sort of blase about the whole thing until our annual co-hosted holiday party. This even seems to always kick things into high gear for me. This year was no exception either! 100 people and tons of kids running crazy all over the house, Food, drink, merriment, and the true spirit of the holidays- time with loved ones family and friends all. Meeting new friends, reconnecting with old. Community. My community.

It is soon after this party that I realize, oh criminy! I haven't bought gift 1 yet! Yike!

It's a somewhat panicky moment for sure. But it always works itself out. I like giving gifts. I like taking the time to think about a person, and what they truly love, what I think they would appreciate, and what I think could really be excellent for them. But sometimes the panic overtakes this desire and I just freek out and buy.

Which is no good. You may have these holiday moments as well. So in an effort to help you curb such distress (in a somewhat self promoting way) I want to suggest to you a great gift for all lovers of the ocean, of surfing and of connection to nature. Grab a copy of BlueGreen from Cinema Libre. There is still tons of time.

It's got extra features, and a soundtrack included with the award winning documentary. Pick up a few copies for all the ocean enthusiasts in your life- grab one for yourself too. This documentary is a must see for everyone looking for their connection.

http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html

Have a BlueGreen holiday!

Enraged

Processes can sometimes be hard.  Especially when the people that set up the rules that everyone else has to work by don't adhere to the rules themselves.

Here in my beautiful state of Maine we are undergoing huge coastal access issues. I mean it's not just here, North Carolina, Florida and Texas are all under similar duress.  But for some reason it is really coming to a head here in the northeast.  There are several cases pending in court which will determine whether or not coastal land owners continue to own to the low tide mark (one of 2 states- can you guess the other?) or the high tide mark.  More on this in another post...

But here, in my little burg we have been waging another war.  There is a beautiful little beach, not far from downtown Portland where the surf comes up in storms and when it's placid the townsfolk walk their dogs, hang with their families and generally get a moment to feel like they actually ive ina place that tries to incorporate the wonders of the coast into our every day lives.  It is a big, big reason why many people live here.

But recently a small group of landowners near the beach have been seeking to remove all on street parking. And they are making headway. We are trying, fighting the hard battle but it seems we are losing ground. In the belief that blogs should be short and readable I won't go into the terrible details, but if you are interested I can point you in the right direction (see below). But watch this quick little vid I put together to talk about the  issue.

But what I wanted to get to here is that last night we had an opportunity to talk before the town council about the issue.  One ex councilor brought up that the changes needed to be kicked back to an ordinance committee, because that is the procedure. Eventually what happened was that one of the councilors started berating the crowd and bullying the other councilors into not pushing it back and started bringing up all these points that the crowd was not allowed to mention because they were not on the agenda. He sat in his bully pulpit with another councilor and offered challenges to the crowd that due to procedure were not allowed to be answered.

Frustrating is not even close to what most were feeling. The whole issue is crazy.  The system is broken. The town is supporting a handful of their constituents against the rest of the public who clearly don't support the changes. They aren't listening.  It is really disheartening to believe you live in a democratic society where your voice will be heard, where you elect officials thinking they will do the best for the town and it's people, to be confronted by this.

I realize that I am still so enraged by this that this post probably will not make any sense. So for tose of you who are interested in yet another battle where the monied landowners are trying to deprive the taxpayers of their right to access public coastline you can check out what is going on here:

http://www.facebook.com/SaveHiggins  or another good resource is http://www.surfrider.org/nne

As a video tape of the meeting is public record I will be posting this crazy outburst by the councilors. I think that this is ridiculous, and people need to know what goes on behind the closed doors of small town politics.

Season Of Horror!

Halloween season is here, and with it comes the flood of horror films.  New and old, slasher and suspense, Zombie and ghost one and all. I love it.  There is not a genre out there that is pushing the limits of the imagination quite like horror.

I am not a huge fan of the gore world, films like the Saw series, basically a 120 minute gross out. No, my favorites are the ones that get you to lean forward in your seat, to look around the corner or through the back window where the hero or heroine never seems to look...in time. They run the gamut as well, from the genre defining Halloween to outer space thrillers like the amazing Alien (how movies should be made!), to some of the paradigm breakers like 28 Days Later or 30 Days of Night. No I am not a horror aficianado so I am sure true lovers of the world of slashing knives and masticated brains will be harumphing and muttering 'he doesn't know what he is talking about'.

And it's true. I don't!  I only know what I like. Most of the movies I like have an intriguing story and all the trappings of classic horror- suspense, intrigue and blood! But emphasis on story.  That is what draws you in, brings you to the edge of your seat and then....gotcha! A good story can take you places you never thought you would be. In just a few more days, the onslaught of scary flicks will abate and we'll be back to more standard films.  But the desire for intriguing story will persist....

Check out the story in my film BlueGreen.  You can order it here:

http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html

Check out the trailer here:

http://www.bluegreenconnection.com/trailer.html

And really importantly, if you haven't already, we are on a huge campaign to get netflix to carry the film, so it would be great if you could add it to your queue! Do so here:

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+

And on a side note, with a week left to go before elections, I feel compelled to just write one little note.  No, it's not an endorsement for any given candidate.  But more a plea to get everyone to take a moment and breathe.  There is a groundswell of anger out there. But in this groundswell it seems that people are having this knee-jerk reaction and backing people that are truly unfit to be the elected representatives, the leaders of our country.  People who truly have no knowledge, who lie, who disrespect the very institutions we are electing them to, and will serve to only bring us all down. If elected, these people will not help us, will not help our nation, our states and cities. We will rue the day we put these morons (for lack of a better word) in power. Please.  I am begging you.  Take a step back.  Breathe. Not matter how angry you are at the way things are now. No matter how badly you want change. Look at what these people are saying, and look at what needs to happen.  I think you will find a huge disconnect.  Please make this election an election for sanity. If not, we could make this horror season a truly scary one that will have repercussions long after this Halloween is gone.

Finding The Balance

A good movie to me is one that draws you into it's story, makes you think a bit about what you just saw, and how that might translate into your daily life.  Not that every movie has to be a heavy, thought provoking treatise, but for me it definitely separates a 'good' movie from a 'fun' movie.

So as I sit here formulating ideas and approaches for my next major doc, I am overcome by the first and initial thought- where is the balance?  I definitely want to entertain, but entertainment without message seems to me a little void. At least in the area which I choose to make my films.

How does one find an equal balance?  Where is the line that keeps a film from browbeating you with a message, but also keeps it from slipping into a vapid music video type blur of imagery and music? I want to draw the viewer in, and then wrap them in the story, the message, without alienating them, yet still entertaining them.

It's a tricky balancing act for sure. I am not sure I will ever figure it out. As with all things in life, balance is key.  Certainly there are excellent films that are all imagery, or all message. For me though, the balance between the two is essential. I will let you know how it comes along!

For now, check out the balance in my last film BlueGreen.  You can order it here:

http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html

Check out the trailer here:

http://www.bluegreenconnection.com/trailer.html

And really importantly, if you haven't already, we are on a huge campaign to get netclix to carry the film, so it would be great if you could add it to your queue! Do so here:

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+

The Biz...help a brother out?

BlueGreen, my third serious effort as a film maker is being released world wide on September 28th, by earthNOW!, an eco-oriented label imprint from Cinema Libre. I already gave that news up a few weeks ago here, but you can now pre-order the film at http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html

It's a really, really exciting thing, and quite frankly, a little bit overwhelming. No one in this business ever wants to admit their naivete about how the biz end of it all works, but I am here to say, it can be confusing and sometimes unnerving.  Even though this is my third serious effort, it is the first time that I have had to deal with hurdles I never even considered, contracts, and my reputation as a film maker. There were a few mis-steps and a crazy learning curve.

Like this little one for instance. Netflix is a huge way for a film to get seen, reviewed and brought to others attention. But!  They won't pick up a film it seems, unless there is interest from the Netflix community.  What this means is, that to get Netflix to pick up BlueGreen, I need a little help from you all.  Put BlueGreen in your Netflix queue.  The more folks who want to see the film, the more chance there is that they will pick it up.  You can do it here:

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/BlueGreen/70125109?strackid=5f123914b6c...d0caf_0_srl&strkid=1980134918_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&trkid=222336+

You may ask yourself... do I even want to see this film?  Well check it out here:

http://www.bluegreenconnection.com

Amazing surf, beautiful locations and an illustration of how we are all connected to the big BlueGreen? Well, of course you want to see it.

So thanks in advance for putting BlueGreen in your Netflix queue, and helping me out while I am navigating some of these business hurdles.

Trying, without trying...

I am probably the worlds lamest self professed environmental activist.

Sure I give a lot of lip service, belong to the organizations that fit my lifestyle, attend the odd beach cleanup, pick up the occasional piece of trash off the beach- maybe. But I haven't been able to truly dig my heels in (unless there is an issue that directly effects me and my stretch of water).  Oh I have lots of excuses, too many to bore you with here, but excuses are just that.

This came to my attention when I did a few shows with BlueGreen in Washington State.  The excellent folks from the Surfrider chapters that helped out with the organizations of the shows out there teamed the screenings up with a couple of anti-plastics activists (Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen) who work for the 5 Gyres group.  If you don't know about these folks they are doing some amazing and hugely important research.

They had just returned from a trip aboard the Algalita (another group doing incredibly important ocean research) and started the evening off with a presentation about how plastics are choking the life out of our oceans. The presentation was so powerful and disturbing I could not sit through the whole thing, and watched one half one night and the other half the next.

What was truly impressive to me, and perhaps even made me a bit envious, was that here were two folks that had chosen to pursue this life, a life of ocean activism, of anti-plastics campaigning, because it was the right thing to do.  These two people (yes they are part of a larger team as well) have added their voices to the cry of outrage, and the effort to stem the tide. It is an hugely amazing and admirable thing. Why can't I?

Oh, I have work.  School.  The kids. I am tired.  I went to the Surfrider meeting last month.  The list goes on.  I know I am not the only one either. But there are things, small things, things that help, without hardly any effort at all. They are everywhere.  For instance, stop buying Happy Meals for your kids with the stupid little plastic toys that can't be recycled and end up in the trash hours later. Don't use a straw when you order a drink. Bring a bag to the grocery store. Yes!  Pick up that bottle on the beach! 

But for me, one of the hugest, easiest things I could do was saving up all the money from the hundreds of plastic bottles my family returned on a monthly basis- soda, bubbly water, bottled water- and bought one of these babies. Sure it's a little more work, but the carbonation is fantastic (it carbonates exactly like they do at the factory) and plastic bottle consumption has nearly disappeared in our house. Have you read the statistics on America's plastic bottle usage?  (Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year, Nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill or the ocean, Less than 1 percent of all plastics are recycled. Therefore, almost all plastics are incinerated or end up in a landfill or the ocean)  Terrifying. I am glad that with very little effort here I am no longer part of the problem. That was pretty easy. It seems I have made a tiny difference without even really trying. Why can't you?

As a side/related note, Cinema Libre has announced that pre-orders for BlueGreen are now active! You can grab them here: http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html. Ocean pollution by plastics and other non organic materials is a big part of the message of the film.  Help spread the word about the release and grab a copy for yourself....

Huge News!

It's been a long road, but I am pleased, no- totally psyched! To announce that BlueGreen, my latest documentary about the human connection to the ocean (through a surf-centric lens) has been picked up for world-wide distribution! The release is September 28.

That's right! Cinema Libre Studios', earthNow! imprint has picked up BlueGreen for DVD, VOD, broadcast and select screenings world-wide!  I can not even express how exciting this is for me and the film. (check out the cover to the right, and the trailer at http://www.bluegreenconnection.com)

As far as extras go, (every DVD needs 'em!) this DVD has extended interviews with Keith Malloy, Jim Moriarty of the Surfrider Foundation, and of course the eloquent Rabbi Nachum Shifren- the surfing Rabbi. It will also feature a 6 minute mini feature of surfing in a little trafficked corner of the US- The Northeast.  Additionally it will have the soundtrack as DVD-ROM content, and features French and Spanish subtitles!  It's loaded!

AND! The excellent folks at Cinemal Libre Studios have teamed up with the group that helped promote the documentary 'The Cove' to help promote BlueGreen. Which is pretty much unbelievably huge in itself.

I am incredibly excited on so many different levels.  It's a huge deal for me as a film maker, and I think it's a huge deal for the message of the film. Which (very broadly) is that we are all connected, whether we acknowledge it or not, to the ocean.  And if we continue to abuse it, we are done for. There is more to the film but that is part of the core.

I know I leaked this news to some  folks, but generally I tried to keep this under my hat until the release date was set. Not that it's ready to roll on September 28, I hope you will look for it. It's a great film that I am very proud of. Whether you like surf, you love the ocean, or just colorful personalities, it connects on a lot of different levels.

I will have more news in the coming months about what is happening with the film, in terms of screenings, festivals, where you can find it and more. The website and the Facebook page (and even twitter!) will be carrying more as well. Stay tuned, and thanks so much to all of you who have supported me through this process.  You know who you are!

Environmentalism In The Oddest Places

I like watching movies. I don't mind watching some movies over and over again. Good ones, bad ones, it takes a truly horrific movie for me to walk away. Sometimes I will leave the tv on in the background while I do particularly rote work where I don't have to think too much.  The channel of choice, of course, is AMC.  Why?  Because they show old, tired movies all day long, interrupted only by the obnoxious ads for whatever scooter device, or free diabetes testing kits the majority of their daytime demo needs (read: way over 65). It's where, as my Dad says, old movies go to die.

It takes a very bad film for me to change it off of AMC during the day.  For a multitude of reasons, when a Steven Seagal movie comes on, I won't change it.  There is a perfect mix of bad dialog, ridiculous action, b-list stars, and of course Steven's ugly mug playing the romantic action lead.  Normally it's easy to tune out, with the occasional explosion or burst of gunfire causing me to glance over from my work. 

But the other day, 'On Deadly Ground' was on. Typical Seagal fare for sure, he plays the good guy, working for the bad guys, then goes over to the good guys side, with lots of martial arts in between, and of course, somehow, inexplicably, he gets the girl. But while I was watching it, or basically ignoring it actually, something caught my attention- it was well written dialog! I turned my full attention to the tv.

At the end of 'On Deadly Ground' Seagal delivers a scathing report on Big Oil, and corporate greed fueled environmental destruction.  To hear a well written, researched, and delivered condemnation of those who seek to destroy our world for their own personal gain at the end of one of his movies was shocking to say the least, and really out of character I think.

And in 1994?  Almost unheard of except in Environmental circles. I am not really sure if anyone actually ever saw this film, beyond AMC, but this message rings true, ever so much more today.  With the BP spill still wreaking havoc in the gulf, and the Michigan and China spills on it's heels, this message has more power now I think, than it did tagged onto Seagals 1994 effort.

If you have 4 minutes, I think you should take a look.  It's worth it. Take what he is saying and multiply it by 10 for today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNEKKva7HY