Independent

Wish I had time to edit and just watch footage. Today I'm working on bringing in some funding for the film. And as we've learned in the past nothing - especially funding - comes easy. A small part of me is happy about that, keeps every person who owns a video camera from making a 'real' movie.

It used to be about who had connections and money, then talent, then the drive and motivation to get it done. Now cameras are cheap (relatively speaking) and editing isn't quite as hard as it once was. So it comes down to money and motivation. Gripped has never had money so that didn't even factor into the equation. We dream it up and we get it done. But having some money sure would help. I guess if we have the talent part the money will come... one day.

We were accused once of "not keeping it real". That fueled me for years, probably more than money would. If 'real' is making a feature-length film about a sport that entertains people not associated to that sport as well as those who are and entertains through the use of character development, story telling, custom composed and performed music - and funding it ourselves, I think we're doing ok. I think it would be more fun with a paycheck tho.

Guess I'll stop rambling and get back to work. And hope like hell I'm talented.

Did you know Big George was in 5 Olympics? And he is afraid of snakes. I look forward to his interview for the film.

-JB

The Crew

Ken navigating.

Jeremy and Curtis minutes before the emotional crushing of a young girls balloon dog.

Jason managing a smile amidst his stress.

Rest Day

The RV was full of drying laundry so we took the party outside. Jan
joins us for a quick beverage.

There are good reasons

people don't make feature length films on their own. We are stretched
to our absolute capacity now. Trying to get through the footage we
shot, the footage ASO and Versus shot and schedule retrospective
interviews to shoot MORE footage. It's daunting, overwhelming,
frustrating and downright abominable. There are usually entire teams
of people to handle the promotions, computer/tech issues,
communications & scheduling, funding/accounting, travel, legal,
research, writing, editing and and directing. We are 3 guys.

Needless to say we're a bit Gripped.

Living Dangerously

Life in the RV was usually tranquil albeit cramped. On the rare occasion when Jason wasn't in a team or sougnier car during the stage, he would diligently copy footage while the RV traveled. Curtis followed suit.

Usually this happened after filming wrapped for the day, late after dinner. Then we would wake at 7am, drive to start of the day's race and park as close to the action as possible yet far away enough to not get caught in the departing traffic. Jeremy became adept at squeezing that pig into any available space.

By no malice or cruel intention, Curtis livened up one evening by nearly incinerating the RV from the inside out. We often ate dinner with the team but would occassionaly eat in the RV. Post dinner with 4 guys in a small space the air would quickly become, ahem, unpleasant. We had a plan for this and would light a candle in the sink - a seemingly safe place to have it. Curtis, most likely focused entirely on his work, accidentally placed Jason's very new Patagonia rain paints over the sink for just a second and WHOOSH - up they went in a blinding flash of flames. His rain gear was the first casualty of the trip. Unfortunately the camera wasn't rolling. There will be an entire out-take video on the DVD of our RV mis-adventures.

Not always fun

Curtis and Jason head out for a day of filming in the rain - after
getting stuck in traffic, lost, turned around and generally frustrated
to no end. Glamorous. At least Jason scored a 4th floor view speaking
to the locals with broken French. While it looked inevitable there
were no crashes on this corner.

Part of what makes the Tour so exciting is the fans