After filling the beloved and embattled Portage Theater in Chicago for it's premier, a really nice double header at the Julien Film Festival in Dubuque Iowa and some nudging by a couple Route 66 community members, I finally uploaded the complete Route 66 - Ten Years Later movie. It's free for you to watch, you'd be a peach if you shared it. I'd love your comments. I hope you enjoy it, keep some Kleenex close for the laughs and tears. About a year and a half of work went into this.
A pre Kickstarter, completely self funded project, I'm really happy with the outcome. Especially since I used it as a way to learn directing, digital film making, camera operation, audio recording, non linear editing and color correction. Enjoy the show.
Showing posts with label Route 66. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Route 66. Show all posts
Wednesday
JULIEN FILM FESTIVAL - WE'RE THERE!
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The two screenings were at the Holiday Inn and a bar called "The Hug". And yes, I get the implications of playing the Holiday Inn
in Dubuque IA…where can I go now that I’ve done it all…sleepless nights since,
is all I can say. The Hub was Sunday at 11:30am…and they were serving…and
everyone had a glass…and this is now my solution to any and all technical
issues the film may or may not have.
The premier of the movie was at the Portage Theater in
Chicago…That event was a success for me, more because of the PR campaign that
got 250+ people in the door over than the fact my movie was on the screen. I
was spent, tired, and ready for it to be over by the time everyone saw it that
night. The trip, the editing, the expectations, the let downs, and the
scratching away to finally find the stories voice was a rough experience. Even
now I find it hard to watch this movie and not get a little choked up. I’ve
never looked for validation for my work beyond repeat clients and
paid invoices…having a gallery show or entering contests to fish for praise has never been
anything that interested me. The premier of 66 was different. I did the premier as a way to have closure to the
project, an experiment in PR, a lesson in film making, and this was a universally worthwhile story, not an art piece, no interpretation needed. For the Film Fest I went back and fixed every
technical issue I didn’t have the skills to fix before, added a few scenes to
smooth the story and prove to my self that I have actually learned a lot about
film making in the last 3 years and that I have so very much more to learn. Now it's finally time to burn a master Blu-Ray or two, take the hard drives, put them in a lead box and bury them in the back yard so I'm not tempted to "tweak" it. Time to let it be. But, it's also as good as it's ever going to be. Finally.
A few HS classmates came out and one even sent his folks in his place, everyone who hadn’t seen it really enjoyed the story, the visuals, the music and the emotional aspect of the movie. So far the movie has made over 300 people feel something significant. I’ll call that a success.
I had the distinct pleasure of having my film “Route 66 –Ten Years Later” be a featured movie in the Julien Film Fest this past weekend
2012-04-21/22 in lovely Dubuque IA. Two screenings, two amazing Q/A’s and lots
of smiley mouths and teary eyes.
The two screenings were at the Holiday Inn and a bar called "The Hug". And yes, I get the implications of playing the Holiday Inn
in Dubuque IA…where can I go now that I’ve done it all…sleepless nights since,
is all I can say. The Hub was Sunday at 11:30am…and they were serving…and
everyone had a glass…and this is now my solution to any and all technical
issues the film may or may not have.
The premier of the movie was at the Portage Theater in
Chicago…That event was a success for me, more because of the PR campaign that
got 250+ people in the door over than the fact my movie was on the screen. I
was spent, tired, and ready for it to be over by the time everyone saw it that
night. The trip, the editing, the expectations, the let downs, and the
scratching away to finally find the stories voice was a rough experience. Even
now I find it hard to watch this movie and not get a little choked up. I’ve
never looked for validation for my work beyond repeat clients and
paid invoices…having a gallery show or entering contests to fish for praise has never been
anything that interested me. The premier of 66 was different. I did the premier as a way to have closure to the
project, an experiment in PR, a lesson in film making, and this was a universally worthwhile story, not an art piece, no interpretation needed. For the Film Fest I went back and fixed every
technical issue I didn’t have the skills to fix before, added a few scenes to
smooth the story and prove to my self that I have actually learned a lot about
film making in the last 3 years and that I have so very much more to learn. Now it's finally time to burn a master Blu-Ray or two, take the hard drives, put them in a lead box and bury them in the back yard so I'm not tempted to "tweak" it. Time to let it be. But, it's also as good as it's ever going to be. Finally.
A few HS classmates came out and one even sent his folks in his place, everyone who hadn’t seen it really enjoyed the story, the visuals, the music and the emotional aspect of the movie. So far the movie has made over 300 people feel something significant. I’ll call that a success.
Hanging out with the other “real” film makers was inspiring.
This was my first movie…period, I’m really motivated to do more and take what
I’ve learned from that and the bunch of other motion projects over the last few
years and do another movie. Keep watching.
Friday
A Year Ago Tonight - September 9th 2010
A year ago today…September 9 2010 a project that was ten years in the making hit a big screen at the Portage Theater in Chicago. “Route 66 - Ten Years Later” was an idea that was slightly ill planned, overly ambitious and basically a way to get out of town and do another road trip down a famous road with a friend who there was never a dull moment. My other motivation was to get my hands on some motion equipment and see if I could make a moving image look like my still frames. That seamless continuity between the two visuals, maintaining the same feeling, color pallet, and point of view with two wildly different ways of telling the story was a big part of the project for me.
What happened during the filming is something that comes out in the film. But what I will tell you is that I came back with a “what the fuck am I going to do with this?!” $12,000.00 and 5000 miles later I had driven across the us on a famous road, seen what addiction can do to someone you care about, driven for a straight 36hrs at mostly over 100mph to get home to see another dear friend. In the weeks that followed I started to sift and look and search for a direction to all the footage I had.
The next year and a half was a vertical learning curve of the editing software, story telling, self realization, weight gain (you become a hermit and spend 14hrs in front of a computer for a year) and mental struggle to find a path down this movies road.
There’s several events that made the film come together. 1. I said fuck it….really, I said fuck it, I don’t care if I look like an ass or Tim looks like a drunk. It’s what happened out there. It’s the story I have, It’s not what I went out to get, but it’s the hand I’m playing. 2. Webster Wine Bar rough cut screening. Feedback from friends who don’t sugar coat….gold standard. 3. Chris Bathgate graciously offered up his music catalog for the sound track….GAME CHANGER
What I learned…well, there’s a lot of technical bits that are in my head now. Camera moves, audio recording in the field or in studio, working with the editing software. All of that is the tech and I’m glad to have it. The story telling aspect was the one I’m happiest to have gotten. Telling a story in one frame @ 1/125 of a second is very different than 24 frames every second. Mixing sound, motion and imagery to convey a feeling and tell the story. It’s magical when it all happens.
The screening at the Portage was a wonderful surprise. A little over 250 came out to see the film. I think I knew 60. The staff at Portage had done a wonderful job of making sure it looked good on the screen and that the film was properly promoted.
The two best things about that night were, the entire crowd clapping after an emotional interview with Angel Delgadillo, and the response Tim Steil got from everyone after the show, in the lobby. Tim had not seen any of the film prior to the screening. How he and I are pictured is as we were in that car, on that road, those days in June 2009. The crowd was asking for Tim’s autograph on the book and dvd’s, asking him about the trip, revering him as the star of a film. I think he got more accolades and positive energy that night than he had in the previous 10 years. I think Tim needed that as much as I needed to have the project come to a close. We were the last two to leave the theater, the marquee of the Portage had the name of my film up in lights, it was a beautiful September night and I said “I’ll never do this again with you”…which, is exactly what I’ve said 3 previous times.
This past year has been filled with wonderlust. I can’t wait to get out on the road, any road or plane and go someplace. So far so good.
What happened during the filming is something that comes out in the film. But what I will tell you is that I came back with a “what the fuck am I going to do with this?!” $12,000.00 and 5000 miles later I had driven across the us on a famous road, seen what addiction can do to someone you care about, driven for a straight 36hrs at mostly over 100mph to get home to see another dear friend. In the weeks that followed I started to sift and look and search for a direction to all the footage I had.The next year and a half was a vertical learning curve of the editing software, story telling, self realization, weight gain (you become a hermit and spend 14hrs in front of a computer for a year) and mental struggle to find a path down this movies road.
There’s several events that made the film come together. 1. I said fuck it….really, I said fuck it, I don’t care if I look like an ass or Tim looks like a drunk. It’s what happened out there. It’s the story I have, It’s not what I went out to get, but it’s the hand I’m playing. 2. Webster Wine Bar rough cut screening. Feedback from friends who don’t sugar coat….gold standard. 3. Chris Bathgate graciously offered up his music catalog for the sound track….GAME CHANGER
The screening at the Portage was a wonderful surprise. A little over 250 came out to see the film. I think I knew 60. The staff at Portage had done a wonderful job of making sure it looked good on the screen and that the film was properly promoted.
The two best things about that night were, the entire crowd clapping after an emotional interview with Angel Delgadillo, and the response Tim Steil got from everyone after the show, in the lobby. Tim had not seen any of the film prior to the screening. How he and I are pictured is as we were in that car, on that road, those days in June 2009. The crowd was asking for Tim’s autograph on the book and dvd’s, asking him about the trip, revering him as the star of a film. I think he got more accolades and positive energy that night than he had in the previous 10 years. I think Tim needed that as much as I needed to have the project come to a close. We were the last two to leave the theater, the marquee of the Portage had the name of my film up in lights, it was a beautiful September night and I said “I’ll never do this again with you”…which, is exactly what I’ve said 3 previous times.This past year has been filled with wonderlust. I can’t wait to get out on the road, any road or plane and go someplace. So far so good.
Tuesday
September 9th - Portage Theater
Welp...it's coming up. The big screen debut of this lil' film I've been hacking at for the last year. I am really excited about the way it's all coming together in the final stretch. As a still photographer for the last 10 years, every frame told a thousand words, taking on a project where I had to tell a story with 24 frames a second, 1440 frames a minute and 76320 frames all together, posed several...challenges. How the ef does that work? It's not a miracle, it takes time, thought, planning and trial and error, and error, and error, and start over, more error, finally, shazzam!. Shooting the footage is one thing. Telling the story with all of the scenes, variables, sound...hoy! I made a sequence change the other day...switched two clips around and placed a different piece of music under it...simple changes, but completely changed the mood and nailed the message I wanted to convey and ended the "there's just something not right" issue I was having. Every step along the way has been a new lesson. I can't wait to show it off and share what I learned with anyone interested.
Everyone is invited...September 9th, Portage Theater the film will go on about 8pm, they sell booze, easy parking, the film is about 53minutes, Q/A after. More info on the F-Book.
In the mean time...check out the new trailer below, and I hope to see you there.
Everyone is invited...September 9th, Portage Theater the film will go on about 8pm, they sell booze, easy parking, the film is about 53minutes, Q/A after. More info on the F-Book.
In the mean time...check out the new trailer below, and I hope to see you there.
Friday
My Seat At The Back Of The Room
Thank you to the 50+ people who showed up to take a look at my fairly rough cut of "Route 66 - Ten Years Later". Tom and the staff at Webster Wine Bar did a fabulous job of making sure every glass was filled, and everyone had a seat. I can't thank you guys enough. Sandstorm Rosencrans has my eternal thanks for the loooong hours she put in getting the last minute PDF behind the scenes book together for the DVD/Book combos being sold. Also, a thanks to everyone who came up and gave an honest opinion to the piece. It's been an interesting journey putting together a movie with minimal planning and a story that changed once we got into it. Right now all the technical issues have been worked out, the final edit is in place and I'm getting together with a musician to do the sound track, be looking for a proper release mid spring and another party. Tuesday
I made a movie - Screening is Feb 4
Be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it.
When Tim Steil, writer and my book partner, called me to find out when a mutual friends play was running, I had no idea that call would turn into us making a movie. During the conversation, and I hadn't talked to Tim on the phone in a year and a half, he reminded me that June 13, 1999 was the 10 year anniversary of us hopping into his crappy Ford Windstar and spending 17 days meandering down one of the nations most famous roads. "AH HA! We must do this again", was my response, to Tim's response of "pish, whatever man".
Several months of begging, pleading, outlining, threats and finally bribery Tim committed. My photo buddy and brilliant documentary photographer Miriam was my backup co-pilot, but having the original writer, original me, and us seeking out what "WE" had fond memories of was really the story I wanted to film. It was supposed to be a story about what's changed along this road, and there's plenty. Ten years is a long time. The exterior story is what I was shooting for, it was a story I was interested in, it was what my frickin shot list had scribbled on the top.
This was really the first time I had directed/filmed anything that wasn't a scripted short very commercial/corporate vibe. Also, the first time I was going to handle everything start to finish with my own hands. The camera, the audio, the production, the post work. It was going to be "film school". I also wanted to figure out how to make my moving pictures look like my still photos. I think I did. As the miles blew past, the story was morphing, the road had changed, people had changed, Tim had changed a lot.
After Santa Monica we drove to a motel by LAX, I dropped Tim off, I headed to Hollywood to hang out with some old friends and not be in a car for the weekend. It was about two months after that I started hacking through all the footage. My original story was there, but there is the story of my co-pilot that floats to the surface and is as compelling. If you can make it out to the screening on Feb 4 at Webster Wine Bar, come out. Otherwise postings on distribution will follow.
When Tim Steil, writer and my book partner, called me to find out when a mutual friends play was running, I had no idea that call would turn into us making a movie. During the conversation, and I hadn't talked to Tim on the phone in a year and a half, he reminded me that June 13, 1999 was the 10 year anniversary of us hopping into his crappy Ford Windstar and spending 17 days meandering down one of the nations most famous roads. "AH HA! We must do this again", was my response, to Tim's response of "pish, whatever man".
Several months of begging, pleading, outlining, threats and finally bribery Tim committed. My photo buddy and brilliant documentary photographer Miriam was my backup co-pilot, but having the original writer, original me, and us seeking out what "WE" had fond memories of was really the story I wanted to film. It was supposed to be a story about what's changed along this road, and there's plenty. Ten years is a long time. The exterior story is what I was shooting for, it was a story I was interested in, it was what my frickin shot list had scribbled on the top.
This was really the first time I had directed/filmed anything that wasn't a scripted short very commercial/corporate vibe. Also, the first time I was going to handle everything start to finish with my own hands. The camera, the audio, the production, the post work. It was going to be "film school". I also wanted to figure out how to make my moving pictures look like my still photos. I think I did. As the miles blew past, the story was morphing, the road had changed, people had changed, Tim had changed a lot.
After Santa Monica we drove to a motel by LAX, I dropped Tim off, I headed to Hollywood to hang out with some old friends and not be in a car for the weekend. It was about two months after that I started hacking through all the footage. My original story was there, but there is the story of my co-pilot that floats to the surface and is as compelling. If you can make it out to the screening on Feb 4 at Webster Wine Bar, come out. Otherwise postings on distribution will follow.
Wednesday
"Route 66 - Ten Years Later" Gallery up at Webster Wine Bar
Friday
Route 66 - Part 7
“I’M IN, BROTHER!!!” was what came over the receiver of my phone. Finally my month and a half of begging, pleading, lobbying, and finally physical threats had worked. Tim and Jim, the band was back together!
That sentence was followed with...“But, I have a few health issues and such you need to know about."...ugh. So, you did tell me Tim…but you know how I listen when I have a project I’m geeked about.
My simple inspiration was to go out and see what’s changed along a sleepy East-West Route in a world that’s changed so much since 1999. I wanted to take along the guy who ten years ago I barely knew when we first started down the same road, and in the last ten years have spent almost 8 weeks in a car with doing other books.
This time was going to be different; I knew that ahead of time. I knew the pace, the frantic pace that had to be maintained to finish in the slim window of time. I knew there was way more involved in shooting video than shooting stills. I did forget, most people are not as mono-focused, obsessed freaks about their work as I am. The project at any cost! The capture of the image is the most important thing! Nothing and no one has a chance if they get in the way of me getting that shot. Hence, some unceremonious shoving out of the way prior to this trip of me, and by me…sorry about that ma'am, character flaw removal is in the works.
We were doing loooong days, lots of miles, couple hrs of sleep a night, not exactly the most brilliant diets, though healthier than the original RT66 adventure. I know Tim wasn’t impressed with my blatant and taunting disregard for any and all speed laws, and my demand for “better” and "more" all the time. It all took a toll.
I’ve come to believe that the "Road Trip" is a great and wonderful creature. It bonds people together, it can make or break a relationship, you learn a lot about the people your with, and it’s inevitably filled with adventure. In the case of this project it’s the common thread that binds all the characters, places, Tim and myself together. It's the real backbone of this whole story.
It took ten years and two trips down Route 66 for Tim to get his feet into the Pacific Ocean. When he did, I realized that the two things that may have changed most in ten years along Route 66 might just be the two fools who drove too fast, and too far to get here.
This is the last Route 66 Blog "Webisode". Work now gets into gear on the full length documentary. I'm really happy I did this project, glad Tim was there, without whom, this would never have happened.
Thursday
Route 66- Part 6
"Snapshots From The Road" is what I'm calling this post.
One of the challenges I put to myself on this project was making the video footage look as close to my still images as possible. You judge, but I think I'm getting closer. The interviews have the look of my portraits, the landscapes have my blue/black skies and zooming clouds. So friends, Episode 6 is a "slide show" of sorts, containing snap shots, stills and video footage from basically all image capture devices I had with me, including the Blackberry. This was a nice recap of the trip for me. John Holst, Angel, Lidden, Tim slumped over the Bagdad Cafe counter waiting for our malts, the biscuits and gravy mega platter for $7.95 at Emma's, all great memories. Makes me want to hit the road again. Though...the 37hr run from LA is still haunting me...and Swedespeed...phantom engine codes keep popping up after topping 130mph...repeatedly...but I digress. I heart road trips.
Still shots posted HERE as a nifty web gallery for your viewing pleasure as well. I'll send you a quarter if you can tell which shots are from Blackberry in the video. God love technology.
Feed back is fun, let me hear what you think.
Cheers!
Wednesday
Route 66 - Part 5.2
Well…again, a lesson on how things change. How things, people, places, etc, change either completely, subtly, or have gone away completely. In the case of Oatman AZ. all of the above. My beloved Garlic Burger is gone…we did hit the Oatman Hotel for a sad substitute, I think Chef Jim is going to be knocking one of these suckers out of the ol’ 1551 Thomas St. kitchen just to feed the jones.
Cindy at Arizona Girls gave me the low-down on Cactus Joe’s. The old guy that owned it passed several years back, the building, which, literally is built around a big old Cactus, became “not up to code” for a restaurant in Arizona. She bought/acquired the place and opened her Candle/Turtle/Tourist Info shop.
I got to feed some turtles, Cindy was great, full of into, I bought some candles from her (they’re really quite nice) for her time. This is about a ½ hour of hanging out with Cindy and Turtles, getting an audio interview and etc. I notice two things as I’m wrapping up. 1. There is a Burro in the house…literally. Pony in the living room, Horse in the kitchen, Zebra on in the foyer, how ever you want to say it. This thing just mossied on in and was eating something out of a pail. Thing I noticed #2…Tim in a heated debate with several 5-6 year old boys about GI Joe. Knowing Tim and his “military past”, I’ve learned to steer completely clear of anything that has to do with military service. Apparently there was quite the discussion of explosives on belt or chest. All I know is that old 12” GI Joe needed a fire suit when in my presence. Call me Cobra.
Tuesday
Route 66 - Part 5.1
We left Kingman and doubled back a bit to catch some footage of the Hackberry General Store. I was hoping to do a quick interview of the owners, but schedules didn't jive on our whirlwind spin across the west. So...met some cool Brits on Harley's, shot some footage, hit the road to OATMAN...
Hells yeah! I love driving, I love driving fast, I love driving technically and fast. I love cars that can deliver on those two things. I also love having a passenger that's "medicated" enough to still be uptight about hairpins at 80mph, but not freaking out...like 10 years ago...in a van...doing 40mph. C'mon 5 days with ol' Hunter S. sitting next to me was requiring some rapid pace, steam blow off, don't hate.
Oatman has held a fascination for me for the last 10 years…Reason 1. The road. I remember ambling along, navigating around hairpins, the drop offs. Being a bit nervous. Reason 2. Garlic Burger. I’ve wanted one for 9 years. One of the best “Sittin’ round jawin stories with friends” stories I have is about Garlic, Onion Truck, Mojave, and 115’ heat.
Check the video.
Monday
Route 66 - Part 4
So we blast out of the Blue Swallow, and head west. The Jack Rabbit at the Here It Is gas stop is still there, it's a bit weathered, but in fine shape. Next stop was the Twin Arrows. This used to be a gas stop with restaurant, gift shop and otherwise. The arrows are in bad shape these days, the buildings around them are run down, and you have to hop cement barecades to get into the grounds. One of my favorite photos from the book was done here. The color of the old arrows, the deep blue S. Western sky just popped off the page. I heard a rumor of a restoration group possibly taking it over.
Williams AZ. I want to come back here with a girlfriend and explore. Williams is a cute little town not unlike Galena IL, which I grew up near. You can take the train to the Grand Canyon, there's new and interesting shops, restaurants and things to do. The Red Garter would be my pick of places to stop. John Holst, the owner, is a civic minded Route 66 businessman. His interview conveyed his passion for his town and making it a successful Route 66 stop.
Then there's Angel Delgadillo. Two things would have kept me from doing this documentary.
1. Tim not committing to it. It took some work as it was to get him out on the road.
2. If Angel was not going to be available/willing to do an on camera interview.
Angel is Route 66. If it wasn't for this guy, most of the road would have been forgotten except for the heartiest of road trip historians. He's gracious, wonderful, and you just feel better being around him. His passion for what he stands for and his humility about his celebrity is inspiring. This is a longer video post, but it's so very worth watching every second. The men featured are champions of the road and promoters of their towns.
After the interview, Angel gave both Tim and I honest to god real old school barber shaves. I've had two in my life. This one and the one he gave me 10 years ago.
Sunday
Route 66 - Part 3
From Jim:
I hate you Broadband Connect to nothing card...I love you road trip.
Minor tourette's issue here and there followed by bouts of awe. Long day, lots of miles, we started at Lucille's, a classic spot on the road and ended up at the Blue Swallow. Points between were filled with in car confessions about life and duty, plans and hopes. It's been about 8 years since the last book "Highway 61 Revisited" Tim and I worked on. I've changed a lot, grew up, have been running my own business, traveled to many other countries, gotten my heart squished, and probably done the same to someone else. My copilot has changed too. The road trip, next to camping, I think is one of the best ways to get to know someone. You talk, you open up, and you share. Tim and I hadn't talked, for no reason, for probably a year prior to his call randomly a few months ago. My hope was that this trip would be an exercise in directing and video production for me, and a clearing of the head and get back in the game push for Tim. I know I'm up until 4am working on the footage, photos and audio, Tim is as he put it "I'm drinking from the fire hose and trying to take it all in". I'm looking forward to his written words.
The next segment is going to blow your mind. Call 911 now.
And yeah...it may take a day or two. Apparently even I need sleep at some point within 56hr blocks. Jeez.
You can bother us on the Facebook or Twitter, or hell, just call, I need to know if the Blackberry is alive.
Friday
Route 66 - Part 2
From near Ft. Leonard Wood in MO to Yukon OK...lots of driving, but what a day. Spending time with a couple of my favorite Route 66 personalities was an absolute treat. Jim Ross opened his beautiful home to Tim and I as a location to film the interviews with him and photographer Shellee Graham.
The old section of 9' wide road and the Blue Whale both seem to be pretty much as they were 10 years ago. Which, is nice to see. This was my fourth time to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. First time was as a photo assistant, about 6 mo after it happened. Second time was with Tim doing the book, the next was as a photographer, in town for a gig, and today. The last two it was in it's current state. For me the personal artifacts that were put on the chain link fence always got me. The monument is moving, somber, and beautiful all at the same time.
From Tim:
Just outside Fort Leonard Wood
There are a few rare treats in life I think everyone should experience at least once. An incredible French meal that takes you four hours to eat, three bottles of wine to wash down, and six months to pay for.
A chance to drive a car so fast and expensive, that once you get over 125MPH. you just hope if you crash it you die on impact because you don’t want to spend the rest of your sorry life paying for it.
I think we should all get at least one night of awesome sex with someone about ten times more beautiful than ourselves, and just by way of rare treats, I think every person on this rock ought to spend one Saturday night in a motel just outside the gates of a major military installation.
---For More Of The Story Click Here-----
Thursday
Route 66 - Part 1
From Jim:
Whooo-Hooo!!! What a great and wonderful late start in the pouring rain. Then, a ride in a RED 57 Thunderbird, an interview with Rich at the Ra66it Ranch, BBQ in St. Louis and our first landmark that isn't there. Tim's working on some text to go with this...updates to come...work flow is being tweaked...smooth is the word for Sunday.
From Tim:
I was talking with Jim a month or so back about absolutely nothing and the subject of Route 66 came up. I reminded him that it would be ten years since we took that first ride, and Lord how things have changed since then. There was a silence on the other end, and he said;
“We ought to do it again”
“Yeah right” I answered.
“No” he insisted, “We HAVE to do it again!”
Long story short, we are.
We were trying to come up with a concept, a through-line for this whole thing, and I guess what it is all about is not so much just Route 66, but the very spirit of a road trip. Not the mileage, but the friends made and maintained. Not about the last time you saw something or somewhere, but how both have changed in the last ten years. It all about people, and change.
Lives.
Changing.
Lives,changing.
The comma is important.
---TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY CLICK HERE----
Monday
Route 66 - How I met your photographer
If you think back hard, I figure every story you ever heard that made you laugh till you wet yourself, cry till you felt better, or stand in front of a mirror for a sec and tell yourself to cut it out, all tend to either begin or end with the exact same words:
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Ten years ago today, June 9, I gassed up my minivan and drove down old Route 66 with a photographer. We published a book about the trip. See above.
Backstage with a band at a rock show in the VIP room at a club in Chicago. He had shot the album cover for the band I was reviewing that night. I was working for this little suburban magazine at the time. It involved showing up about twice a month and cleaning out my mailbox, which, with all the typical press releases and tickets to shows from three weeks ago, usually included two kinds of CDs. Either a black and white cover with five balding guys from Westmont standing in front of a brick wall, or the latest major label failure that after three months of launching them and Letterman won’t book them they find my damned address somewhere.
I used to sort the CD’s into two piles, one for the locals, and one for the majors. I figured give the local guys a little love just to support the music scene, and seriously, there just ain’t anyone on this planet that has enough money to make me go see Third Eye Blind-again.
Then there is this woman on an album cover. Pearl earrings, necklace, red dress, draped across a theater balcony. She’s got the sort of legs that go all the way to the ground, and the tone of her skin is almost exactly the same as the gold on the balcony. I wouldn’t know good art if you snuck up and broke it over my head, but I just remember thinking, wow, that’s a really nice picture. I threw the CD it in the major label pile, because obviously no indie band could afford that kind of artwork. Then I got around to listening to it.
The band was called Oo Oo Wa, and I mean….if you really tried hard, you couldn’t have come up with a stupider idea for a band at the time. They signed their record contract on the day Nirvana released Nevermind. While everyone else was doing a heroin nod on the pavement in their long johns holding a reissue Fender, these knuckleheads were out touring in suits, playing New Romantic stuff. A touch of ABC, a bit of Steely Dan, maybe a scent of Thomas Dolby. Their first album, “Screen Kiss" is one of my guiltiest guilty pleasures. I listen to it often. I’m listening to it right now.
So anyway, my main contact with the band was the keyboard player, Darren Callahan. He’s a real nice guy, once you get over the desire to beat him to death with your bare hands. In the last ten years, I think I have got about one email a month from him announcing a new novel, two new CDs, and whatever his latest play being produced for NPR is. I consider him a very good friend. In the same respect, if he writes another damned book or play, I’m either going to have to get a paper route or kill him.
Darren and I had stayed in touch over the years, and when I got this Route 66 thing, I emailed him and said I needed a photog, he suggested Jim. He had introduced us at the show, I remember standing there thinking he was kind of a hipster, then the head of the record company stood up and cracked his head right into a light fixture. The fact he was bald made it even better.I think Jim and my ent ire conversation that involved me asking if there was any beer up here.
Fast forward a bit, I call Jim and leave a voice mail message saying heydarrensaidishouldcallyoucauseigotthisroute66bookprojectthingwannagoforarideleetsmeet.
Election night, Chicago 1998. About $125 worth of Guiness at some bar in Wicker Park. I have a pretty good outline for the book, he’s got a pretty good camera and some money for film. It’s a deal.
I think Jim had a whole better notion of what he was going to do than I did. I wrote from the gut, and he shot from whatever knowledge center he had, whether it was just good schooling or plain instinct.
I rousted him out of bed about 5 the morning in June 1999, and we took off. Our plan was just to hit the interstates and go to where we needed to interview folks, but once we hit Old Route 66, we never got off. It really was the trip of a lifetime. Whether you want to believe it or not, there’s just a whole damned lot of America out there, and its fun to look at.
Wheat fields, Oilfields, Canyons, Deserts, Battlefields, Swimmin Pools, Movie Stars, and one gray afternoon on Santa Monica Pier where neither of us could really speak to each other of the enormity of what we just did.
So anyway, we’re doing it again. Both of our lives have changed a lot since that first trip. I think they will change a little more after this one.
We’re going out loaded for bear this time. I think Jim has already spent more on new technology than I made for the book back then. It will be online in many places, and there will be a longer form piece coming in a while, assuming we get back alive.
You know, there’s a lot of hoo hah about the romance of a road trip. But the damned truth is they suck. You have to trade off driving so you don’t get all sunburned just on one side, sooner or later you have to take a crap and realize you’re in Texas and the next gas station is 90 miles up the road, there is a point where you start to miss your family, you don’t have any more clean clothes and the entire car smells like feet.
But for all the hell and high water you meet along the way, you get a thousand or so miles into a trip like this and you realize there are two kinds of friends you can have in this world. One will call your wife and tell her what jail you’re in, another will help you get rid of the body in the first place.
When the guy walked out and pointed a gun in my face in Amarillo, I knew I had made a good choice of running mates. (so it's clear...no one died, or were harmed in the production of Rt. 66...much - Jim)
I’m going. Jim’s going. We leave this week.
Want to come along?
Tim
p.s. This really does seem like a good idea.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Ten years ago today, June 9, I gassed up my minivan and drove down old Route 66 with a photographer. We published a book about the trip. See above.
Backstage with a band at a rock show in the VIP room at a club in Chicago. He had shot the album cover for the band I was reviewing that night. I was working for this little suburban magazine at the time. It involved showing up about twice a month and cleaning out my mailbox, which, with all the typical press releases and tickets to shows from three weeks ago, usually included two kinds of CDs. Either a black and white cover with five balding guys from Westmont standing in front of a brick wall, or the latest major label failure that after three months of launching them and Letterman won’t book them they find my damned address somewhere.
I used to sort the CD’s into two piles, one for the locals, and one for the majors. I figured give the local guys a little love just to support the music scene, and seriously, there just ain’t anyone on this planet that has enough money to make me go see Third Eye Blind-again.
Then there is this woman on an album cover. Pearl earrings, necklace, red dress, draped across a theater balcony. She’s got the sort of legs that go all the way to the ground, and the tone of her skin is almost exactly the same as the gold on the balcony. I wouldn’t know good art if you snuck up and broke it over my head, but I just remember thinking, wow, that’s a really nice picture. I threw the CD it in the major label pile, because obviously no indie band could afford that kind of artwork. Then I got around to listening to it.
The band was called Oo Oo Wa, and I mean….if you really tried hard, you couldn’t have come up with a stupider idea for a band at the time. They signed their record contract on the day Nirvana released Nevermind. While everyone else was doing a heroin nod on the pavement in their long johns holding a reissue Fender, these knuckleheads were out touring in suits, playing New Romantic stuff. A touch of ABC, a bit of Steely Dan, maybe a scent of Thomas Dolby. Their first album, “Screen Kiss" is one of my guiltiest guilty pleasures. I listen to it often. I’m listening to it right now.
So anyway, my main contact with the band was the keyboard player, Darren Callahan. He’s a real nice guy, once you get over the desire to beat him to death with your bare hands. In the last ten years, I think I have got about one email a month from him announcing a new novel, two new CDs, and whatever his latest play being produced for NPR is. I consider him a very good friend. In the same respect, if he writes another damned book or play, I’m either going to have to get a paper route or kill him.
Darren and I had stayed in touch over the years, and when I got this Route 66 thing, I emailed him and said I needed a photog, he suggested Jim. He had introduced us at the show, I remember standing there thinking he was kind of a hipster, then the head of the record company stood up and cracked his head right into a light fixture. The fact he was bald made it even better.I think Jim and my ent ire conversation that involved me asking if there was any beer up here.
Fast forward a bit, I call Jim and leave a voice mail message saying heydarrensaidishouldcallyoucauseigotthisroute66bookprojectthingwannagoforarideleetsmeet.
Election night, Chicago 1998. About $125 worth of Guiness at some bar in Wicker Park. I have a pretty good outline for the book, he’s got a pretty good camera and some money for film. It’s a deal.
I think Jim had a whole better notion of what he was going to do than I did. I wrote from the gut, and he shot from whatever knowledge center he had, whether it was just good schooling or plain instinct.
I rousted him out of bed about 5 the morning in June 1999, and we took off. Our plan was just to hit the interstates and go to where we needed to interview folks, but once we hit Old Route 66, we never got off. It really was the trip of a lifetime. Whether you want to believe it or not, there’s just a whole damned lot of America out there, and its fun to look at.
Wheat fields, Oilfields, Canyons, Deserts, Battlefields, Swimmin Pools, Movie Stars, and one gray afternoon on Santa Monica Pier where neither of us could really speak to each other of the enormity of what we just did.
So anyway, we’re doing it again. Both of our lives have changed a lot since that first trip. I think they will change a little more after this one.
We’re going out loaded for bear this time. I think Jim has already spent more on new technology than I made for the book back then. It will be online in many places, and there will be a longer form piece coming in a while, assuming we get back alive.
You know, there’s a lot of hoo hah about the romance of a road trip. But the damned truth is they suck. You have to trade off driving so you don’t get all sunburned just on one side, sooner or later you have to take a crap and realize you’re in Texas and the next gas station is 90 miles up the road, there is a point where you start to miss your family, you don’t have any more clean clothes and the entire car smells like feet.
But for all the hell and high water you meet along the way, you get a thousand or so miles into a trip like this and you realize there are two kinds of friends you can have in this world. One will call your wife and tell her what jail you’re in, another will help you get rid of the body in the first place.
When the guy walked out and pointed a gun in my face in Amarillo, I knew I had made a good choice of running mates. (so it's clear...no one died, or were harmed in the production of Rt. 66...much - Jim)
I’m going. Jim’s going. We leave this week.
Want to come along?
Tim
p.s. This really does seem like a good idea.
Saturday
Route 66 - The Begining
Ten years ago writer Tim Steil and photographer Jim Luning collaborated on what they thought would be a one off fun project. A book on Route 66.
During the 17 odd days on the road the two strangers became friends, were moved by the enormity of the American West and were forever changed by the experience.
That was 1999, it's now 2009, the world is different, they are different, follow them as they do the trip again. Ever wanted to see Route 66 but haven't? Come along with Tim and Jim...the adventure begins June 09.
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