Last Chapter
Likely to be my last entry on this journey, I’ll start by thanking you for reading. It’s been a life-altering experience producing this movie and I’ll forever look back at these entries to remember the good, the bad and the amazing places. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about it all.
As I begin this last chapter, I pause to look out the window of yet another hotel room. But this time I see not another cycling-centric town on our screening tour, nor (thank GOD) the greed-consumption-sloth-ridden Las Vegas from 3 weeks ago, but the snow-capped Canadian Rockies. Since the first time I picked up a video camera some 8 years ago I have dreamed of this town. It has always been my dream to make something worthy of entry into the Banff Mountain Film Festival. As far as I know, it’s the benchmark of all outdoor film festivals. It’s also the only one that has a world-wide tour visiting almost 40 countries, growing stronger and traveling further every year.
When we first received word from Marti Wilson that we were on the “short list” of finalists I literally prayed we’d make that last step. If we made it into Banff, it would make all the absolutely disappointing events along the way somehow loose grip in my conscience. It would put so many things to rest. It would justify all the work. Not to mention vindicate the sheer frustration of things like not being selected into the “Bicycle Film Festival” or the “Taos Mountain Film Fest” - contests that we thought for sure we’d be in but were told our film was too long to fit into their programming (seems odd to judge quality by length alone). So when official word came that we were “IN” it was one of those moments in my life where I stopped unloading groceries from my truck, pumped my hands in the air like I just finished first in a NORBA (but alas, I was just standing alone in the middle of a dimly lit street).
In typical fashion, any “Gripped Films” event is always shadowed by being seriously gripped. Usually it has something to do with massive computer or technical issues just before a screening. There were sooo many times I’d be re-editing the film to the last minute then rushing to get a tape made to play. There was ALWAYS something going wrong. Sound issues. Cord issues. Screen issues. Flights, cars, traffic, cops - I even went to the wrong airport once. Plus I was always making the film better, and that meant ripping new files to the tape deck, then watching the tape methodically before playing it for an audience. Hours and hours striving for perfection. I hoped this time it would be different. Who was I kidding?
I ran out the door for the airport, forgetting my backpack of cycling gear. I realized it as the cab pulled away but figured it was snowing in Banff. No worries.
I went to Banff knowing we would probably not win any awards (being up against films like “March of the Penguins”) but what great company to be in eh? Just to be part of what many consider the best outdoor/adventure film festival there is, would be award enough for me. In the weeks leading up to that trip, I worked with the festival’s producer on mastering a DV Cam tape that would be played at the screening. I spent close to 80 hours on this labour of love, putting off freelance work and many potential rides and kayak sessions on the river. I wanted it to be perfect. The final result was flawless. So imagine my distain when, after choking up during my presentation speech to well over 300 people in the main theater, the movie started and what was being played was not the mastered tape, but a low-quality DVD from about 3 months prior. To sit through the screening hating what I saw broke my heart. It just about ruined the experience when I ran back to the projectionists booth and asked the guy why he wasn’t playing the tape and he dumbly stared at me and said, “Uh, all I know is there’s a DVD here so I put it in, isn’t the tape just a backup?”
It was one of those moments when you feel like a kid who just had his ice cream cone knocked out of his hands. I sat there watching the screen wanting soooo bad to either start crying or punch someone in the nuts. Seriously. I almost pounded the hippie in the projection room (who may very well have just made an honest mistake but hell, I wanted to pound him just the same). But nothing in life is perfect, right. Or as Adam would say, “That’s the way the cookie crumbles” or “Murphy’s Law - random stuff happens” or “frustration is as frustration does” - not that I’d find solace in any of the above. I almost left the theater but thank God I didn’t because when the film was done the applause started and just wouldn’t stop. The credits were rolling and still applause. Ken’s “Thank You’s” finished and slowly the applause tapered. After “The End” flashed on the screen, it started all over again - this time more intense than before! Well, I guess that put a smile back on my face and when the lights came up and I saw everyone still seated clapping - I felt like a little kid who got another ice cream cone handed to him.
So the rest of the week was spent exploring Banff, attending screenings, discussions, book signings and I even squeezed in a ride thanks to Jim Baker loaning me his bike, helmet, clothes and even his shoes! John Evely had Dori and I stop to get one great photo after another as he guided us along the Hoo-Doo trail, ringing his bell every 100ft. to ward off hungry Grizzlies. Halloween in Banff went off thanks to half the town consisting of Halloween-hungry Aussies. It was a great way to forget the tape fiasco and wrap up the year of filming and year of touring. I imagine that will be the last screening I attend. At least for a month or two!
Thanks again for reading and please - buy many copies of the DVD cuz we’re still paying off our loans and Christmas is coming! My poor family is getting nothing but some framed photos from the tour and a couple of ORTA DVD’s! Visa will get all my kibbie this year!
-Until the next project (keep an eye on www.greatfallsmovie.com )
Jason
