CROSSING THE FINISH: ATHLETE Director Dave's Blog

G.O.A.T.

While in Harlem to catch Duffy on Monday night, I had what has to be one of the greatest meals of all time.

Sylvia's fried chicken + mac & cheese + collard greens + corn bread.

And let's not forget the sweet potato pie.

All hail the queen.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:34 AM | Permalink

NO ORDINARY TUESDAY

Tuesday Morning: LIVESTRONG Day NYC
Tuesday was the fifth annual LIVESTRONG Day. I had the privilege of attending an event at the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem. In attendance was Lance Armstrong, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Ralph Lauren, Dr. Harold Freeman (founder and president Ralph Lauren Center), and Dr. Harold Varmus (President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering). I was there to capture some footage to include in athlete and cancer survivor Jenny's segment of the film.

Really a remarkable morning where I came away inspired and moved by what I witnessed and learned about cancer treatment in the inner city. Definitely more to say about this in a future post. A big thank you to Carmen Navarro of the Ralph Lauren Center and Lauren Pfeifle and Katherine Mclane of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Tuesday Night: Glow in the Dark Tour
I'll start off by saying I was surprised how young the audience was (I thought I was at the Kids' Choice Awards). Despite that, the show at Madison Square Garden was great. Kanye = 90 minutes of 110%. Here are some highlights:

Lupe Fiasco kicks things off.

N.E.R.D. takes the stage.

Bumped into Kanye's manager Don C in the hall...

...and photographer Terry Richardson near the hot dog stand.

Mesmerized by Rihanna's dancers and their dual lightsaber skills.

West on fire.

Stronger.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 01:18 AM | Permalink

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT DUFFY

As a kid growing up, I would stay up late every Saturday night to catch SNL and then Showtime at the Apollo. Tonight I finally got my chance to visit the legendary theatre in Harlem (which is pretty incredible) to catch a legend-in-the-making.

Her name is Duffy and she's a soul singer from Wales, England (not a typo). Think Amy Winehouse but with an even better voice. No need for the Sandman tonight. She tore the roof off of the Apollo.

Her debut album is out today. Check out her work on MySpace.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:27 AM | Permalink

11:30

Another long weekend in the dungeon. Pleased with the overall pace though. Currently at about 11.5 minutes of Artie's segment. Really like what I have so far. But I've run into a bit of an obstacle. Without revealing too much, the challenge involves one of his races. I have hours and hours of footage but the question is how to present it without simplifying the physical effort, the emotion, and the significance associated with that race. And not to mention without relying on the use of bad sports cliches like slow motion or an adrenaline-pumping track to convey all that.

Let me sleep on it.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:59 AM | Permalink

LAST NIGHT

Moby's latest album Last Night is out now. Been listening to it for the past few weeks. Good stuff. Check out the album sampler on MySpace.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 01:21 AM | Permalink

NRT > OAK > JFK

From Tokyo to Oakland to NYC. A rare pair of Ato Matsumoto's (made famous by a Mr. West). Thank you Rob.

Ok that's my last post about sneakers (I promise). I'll leave that to the professionals.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:52 AM | Permalink

AIR WALS

Received a pretty funny email the other morning from athlete Carrie's and Kellie's dad Terry (pictured below) about my recent sneaker post.

Dave, just read your blog on "sneaker surprise" and you're right. I came across these "Air Wals", which are only available at select WalMarts (that is any WalMart you select). They, of course, are only worn on special occasions.

Terry

I don't know man. They actually do look kinda cool. Might have to get me a pair.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 01:24 AM | Permalink

NERVES OF STEEL

Taped a short interview for a company video today. Funny thing is that I actually felt comfortable in front of the camera. Quite the contrast to a year ago when I sat down for my Plum TV interview nervous and nauseous. It was one big blur (where's that easy button).

I think having experience behind the camera definitely helped ease the nerves today. Forget this director thing, next stop: Food Network (Microwave Magic with Dave Lam). Move over Bobby Flay.

DLM
athletemovie.com

PS - thank you MF for the pics.

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:02 AM | Permalink

SNEAKER SURPRISE

You never know what you're going to find in mass-market retailers like Modell's, Foot Locker, etc. when it comes to sneakers. I actually found a pair of Jordan Spiz'ikes at Champs Sports in Times Square today (which are now hard to come by outside of the secondary market and were only available at select retailers).

And while in TriBeCa, I spotted Air Jordan 5 x Air Force 1 fusions at Modell's.

For those wondering "what's the big deal?", here's a good article on NY's obesession with sneakers from the New York Times.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 07:59 PM | Permalink

LARGER THAN LIFE

Was at the multiplex today to catch Iron Man (cool film). Came across some impressive life-size (and interactive) ads for a few upcoming blockbusters.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 10:31 PM | Permalink

SUNSHINE

Just caught Danny Boyle's Sunshine. A really smart and innovative science fiction flick. For a film that doesn't have any aliens or galactic battles, I was actually on the edge of my futon (there's a nice, unexpected twist).

It's too bad not many people saw it when it came out in theatres last year (guilty). Might have been the way it was marketed. On the surface it looks like another film about a crew trapped on a spaceship. But it's so much more than that.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:57 AM | Permalink

ROCKSTAR

A huge line outside of Borders in Midtown...

...for chef Gordon Ramsay's (cook) book signing.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 09:35 PM | Permalink

RETURN TO THE DUNGEON

First weekend back in the editing dungeon. Not bad. Completed four and a half minutes of athlete Artie's segment. His story seems easier to edit than Kellie's and Carrie's segment (sorry guys, still my favorite twin-sister athletes though). I think it's because his storyline only involves one primary character (versus two subjects with intertwining stories). But time will tell.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 01:28 AM | Permalink

AIR KOONS

Pop artist Jeff Koons' latest exhibit is on the rooftop of the Museum of Metropolitan Art in NYC. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

Haven't been to the Met since '96 when I'd visit every other Friday for this art class, for one semester. Good times. Forgot how big this place is. TGI had my sneakers on.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 11:42 PM | Permalink

RUN WAY

Stills from a forthcoming short film I recently shot for a fashion client.

Speaking of film, it's back to the editing dungeon this weekend. After a short break juggling other projects, I'm excited to get back to work on ATHLETE. Stay tuned.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:40 AM | Permalink

THE GOURMET DUDE: PART DEUX

The Gourmet Dude strikes again. Hilarious.

Major bonus points for the custom Nike's. Gonna have to borrow that idea Pete.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 07:42 PM | Permalink

CROSSWALK TO BEIJING

Was really excited to learn that elite marathoner Magdalena Lewy-Boulet qualified for Beijing at the Olympic Trials in Boston on Sunday. Check out the post-race interview from NBC Sports:

Back in November 2006, I had the chance to interview her for ATHLETE (thank you again Katy). What's remarkable is that she's one of the few elite runners who has a day job (assistant track coach at Cal) and manages to balance that with family life (three-year old son) and training. If you've seen the ATHLETE teaser, you've heard her describe her daily routine, which begins at 5 am.

Check out additional coverage of her Olympic trials in the San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, and Runners World (interview from earlier this month).

I feel a slight case of Olympic fever coming on. Can't wait until August.

DLM
athletemovie.com

SUBSCRIBE: RSS + Email | SHOP: ATHLETE Movie Apparel + ATHLETE Movie Posters

Posted by athletemovie at 12:03 AM | Permalink