It’s Happening
We’re in the final stretch.
Only 3 big races left to get UCI points before the July 12th selection date - time is starting to fly. Ken gets back from Europe tomorrow and I leave the next day for Canada. We’ve got Kenny lined up to shoot Calgary a week later (wish I could go to that but the credit-well is about dry) and I’ll head back to Austria in July for the Marathon Worlds, where we’ve got a motorcycle rented to shoot from. I’ll have to talk the Americans into leading the race to help get the shots I need (I wish). I’ll just have to hang on and not drop the camera! Ken even found a contact to potentially rent a helicopter! Something I’ve been dying to do since almost scoring one in Ecuador. The Special Forces troops that were assigned to ‘Protect’ the U.S. riders gave me the name and number of a pilot. Thought I had it set but at the last minute they doubled the price. Very 3rd world.
I think all the riders have seen the trailer and have voiced a lot of support for us continuing the project which makes all the difference in the world. Ken and I were both running low on morale. It’s easy to wonder just what we’re trying to do with this project and it seems all have a better understanding now and (I hope) an interest in letting us into their personal lives a little more. We still need spontanious, unscripted moments of honesty - whether it be happiness from a good race performance or sheer frustration of, say - trying to make a call and having the phones cut you off (hellllo Belgium!). I think that’s been the hardest thing of all - asking to be included, with a camera, into their personal lives. It’s not something that ANYONE is used to and regardless of our attempts to walk softly - it creates stress for already stressed-out athletes. Which makes stress for us and - well, it’s a vicious cycle. But I think that cycle has broken down and we’ve been around everyone enough to have them know we’re trying to show their struggle in the most positive way possible.
Ken and I both want so badly to do something great with this. To evoke respect from the viewer for these athletes’ quest - is our goal. After all I’ve seen them go through, God knows they deserve it.
