“What’s going on with the film?” I am sure this troubling question has kept you up for months and I apologize for not updating the blog sooner. Let’s go back to where I left you back in July when the lads at Team Garmin Slipstream were heading over to the Tour de France and had I just piqued their interest in PELOTON by requesting to film their riders at the Tour of Utah in August. Nothing came from that at all.
As the Tour of Utah approached however, I emailed the race’s Executive Director, Terry McGinnis, asking if we could film some race footage. He replied immediately, excited about the idea of a cycling film. I had briefly met Terry years before while riding. Our meeting this year was filled with enthusiasm for the upcoming tour, which was only two weeks away. His phone rang constantly, reminding him of the million things he needed to be doing, and yet here he was, taking time out of the day to meet and talk about ways he could help me get footage for my movie.
We bantered about the race and Terry could barely contain his excitement regarding the teams and riders that would be present this year, how exciting the course was going to be and how much work it had been to make it all happen. All his talk was pure enthusiasm that such a great race was going to happen right here in Utah. Unfortunately, despite the great opportunity offered, we decided not to spend money we did not have on filming footage we might not use.
The Tour of Utah came and went, summer went, I had some good meetings with production companies that liked the script and were considering investing for the larger budget version I presented… but they seemed to pass as well and I faced the depressing idea of not filming yet again.
One crisp October day, with the fading autumn sun highlighting the leaves last burst of color, I rode up Emigration Canyon. I was chugging along thinking, I’m flying up this hill, without realizing there was a massive tailwind assisting my ascent. Regardless, the wind boosted me enough so I could think of a new blog to write. Much as I wanted to report good news about production companies investing, Lance Armstrong signing on to play himself and Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan all cast for leading roles, such was not quite the case… Christmas in the lost city of Atlantis with the Easter bunny was a more likely reality.
So what could I blog about? I began thinking about the question, “Why bicycling?” People had asked if I could rewrite the script with swimmers or ultra-marathoners or gay high school track stars instead of cyclists. But cycling is a great sport full of metaphors, flashy colors and tight spandex, so what’s not to love? Cycling also has an interesting dichotomy of teamwork in a sport that praises individual accomplishment – something that works well for the protagonist in the script to learn. The work ethic and suffering in the sport are tremendous, the outdoor scenery stunning, no cycling films have been made in decades and more importantly, John was a cyclist (see the initial blog, The Genesis of Peloton). I wanted to tie in the camaraderie of cyclists and how people like Terry McGinnis had been excited to help because it was a cycling film. It was a rough idea for a blog and admittedly it lacked conviction, the same lack of conviction I was beginning to feel of the film ever getting made. I began the descent.
Chris, a friend of mine who had raced professionally in Europe, joined me on the ride down. Our talk turned to the recent death of the 34-year-old Belgian cyclist Franck Vandenbroucke and his self-sabotaged collapse from success. As we rode down the canyon comparing Vandenbroucke to Marco Pantani, another champion cyclist who died early after a marred career, Chris asked if I knew about Terry [McGinnis]? Knew what? That he had colon cancer for the last three years and had taken a turn for the worse. He was not expected to survive more than a few days or weeks. WHAT?? I had just been thinking about the guy on the ride up…
And there it was, a punch to my gut providing a kick in the ass. As the wave of shock passed me, I was filled with the intense realization that I absolutely was going to make this movie to honor people like Terry, one of the good guys in cycling and life who went out of his way to welcome people into cycling in Utah, took time to breathe life into my film when he was dying. Life is too short not to pursue our dreams, how many reminders do we need?
This all seemed to go back to the simple, yet elusive, theme which brought about this film in the first place, that we are here to live, not merely exist. That stagnation is a form of dying; that we honor ourselves by recognizing that what we do in life really is important; that we respect ourselves when we respect those around us. What does that have to do with cycling and filming? Maybe nothing, maybe everything.
Terry knew he was dying and he pushed the Tour of Utah to an exceptional level with an eye for making 2010 even better. He passed away shortly after that ride. We did not know each other well, but he took time to encourage my dream. If making this film can encourage the same in someone else, then I have accomplished something worthwhile. People like Terry remind me of why I am doing this and why it is important.
But how to get the film made? I rewrote the script and we had a “read through” where actors read the script aloud. I sat with my head bowed, taking notes, the vulnerable artist not wanting to make eye contact with people criticizing his work… slowly the actors breathed life into the script and at the end of it all, while I scribbled revision notes and listened to comments and criticisms, one actress told me she was trying not to cry during some scenes while another actor told me had chills during the race scenes and insisted I get this film made. It was nice to evoke an emotional response and for the first time I was happy with where the script was going. But that still got me no closer to filming!!! And then, unexpectedly someone told me two words that made me realize it was time to get the film done. I announced we would film in May, May 1st, MAY DAY. (It seemed apropos for several reasons you can read about in my book that is yet to be published.)
The initial announcement was not bold, in fact I think my voice initially gave away my own trepidation… but slowly the more people I told, the more it became a reality and suddenly people had suggestions for new people to discuss possible funding or other help. I am reminded of a quotation I used to carry in my wallet for years from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!
Truth be told I was not feeling bold or magical, I was feeling bouts of terror tinged with excitement that combined to give me insomnia and a stomach ache (maybe that was the increased caffeine intake). I knew we would not get a lot done over the holidays, but as if I needed one more reminder, I received one more of those, “Did you hear about….”
There is just something about the tone of someone’s voice when they ask that question. This time that nasty adversary, the big “C” monster, had decided to challenge my friend Cort. A really aggressive cancer I was told. I called him minutes later unsure what to say, but knowing we would counter whatever was going on with some humor. Instead of a sick and tired voice in the middle of chemotherapy, I was greeted with the most energetic and clear voice I had heard from Cort in years – which is saying something because his vocal cords were hoarse from the treatments. Cort regaled me with what he had gone through and how this wake up call had gotten him back to feeling alive for the first time in years. As we spoke, Cort’s words filled me with enthusiasm and hope, how crazy? Cort is a superman type guy, a world champion athlete, model, witty and all around good guy – and how typical, not even cancer could get him down. I thought of a letter I have on the wall next to my desk, a letter from Scott Tinley to Lance Armstrong:
http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/An_open_letter_to_Lance_Armstrong.htm
Read the letter.
So Terry, Cort and John, thanks to two words and your inspiration, we’re going forward, MAY DAY!! Already the pieces are coming together meeting with our production team, director of photography and music coordinator to discuss the themes of the film and how we will hit our audience with a deeply resonating message on multiple levels. We are looking to meeting with and presenting the film to more potential investors and looking to meet with potential cast these next months….
But of course it’s never so easy, the world has to send flying monkeys to challenge such dreams. The Utah Film Commission, which is being greatly supportive of our project, informed us that two HUGE budget films will be filming in Utah in May and using all the crew and equipment available in the State. The film’s include JOHN CARTER FROM MARS, a star studded Disney film with a budget over $100 million, and another film directed by some guy named Danny Boyle you might have heard about over the years, he won some award for a Bollywood type flic last year called SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Yeah, he’s filming here at that time, stealing my thunder and my crew. I suppose that’s a nod to the high level of our crew, that they would be invited onto those teams… so after those films wrap up and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 4 finishes filming in June, my crew will be ready and we will now film in July!
I realize, if you read carefully, you might have some questions…. stay tuned
