CROSSING THE FINISH: ATHLETE Director Dave's Blog

It's a sad time for those who live in and around the Gramercy area in NYC. After nearly three decades, the local video store, The Video Stop, shut its doors for good last Wednesday. Ironically, it wasn't video on-demand, DVDs-by-mail, or the Internet that led to its closure. It was a dispute with the building's landlord (sound familiar?).




What set The Video Stop apart from other video stores in the neighborhood was its great selection of hard-to-find independent titles. Can't tell you how many films I've rented from that place that have made an impression on me as a filmmaker -- from City of God to Amores Perros to Bloody Sunday. All from The Video Stop.

DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On my way to film the Montauk Century Bike Ride at four this morning, I hopped into a cab equipped with one of those snazzy touch-screen monitors in the back. There are two hundred taxis in New York City that are testing out the new technology. The monitor provides passengers with news, weather, and the ability to pay by credit card.



But what makes the monitor really rock is that it plays movie trailers. That's right. Movie. Trailers. It's surreal to watch the trailer to 300 and hear the words "THIS IS SPARTA!!!" while you're zipping down Madison Avenue. One more reason to love New York.

DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 08:39 PM | Permalink

True story. Was walking home tonight in New York City. A guy who is wearing a denim Superman jacket walks in front of me and turns around a few times. I thought he was wondering why I was carrying a giant Nike golf umbrella. It was raining (lightly).

Suddenly, he asks, "Did you see that Ocean's Thirteen poster? The date adds up to 21. (he chuckles) It is a casino movie! I noticed that. Have a good one."

So it turns out we passed a phone booth ad featuring the new Clooney/Pitt film a few blocks back. I have seen (and admire) the posters, which are hard to miss in Manhattan. They're designed to look like a blackjack card. However, I hadn't noticed that small clever detail with the release date, 06/08/07 (06 + 08 + 07 = 21). Brilliant.



DLM

athletemovie.com

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"El Laberinto del Fauno por favor."

Those were the words I struggled to utter when I purchased my ticket to see Pan's Labyrinth for the first time.


       


"Increíble! Increíble!"

That's what I was thinking (in English, at least) when I left the theatre after the film. What's remarkable, is that I saw the Spanish-language film in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this year, without subtitles (and I don't speak Spanish). Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about the film for days. That's when you know you've seen something special. I guess you could say it was the universal language of film that came through loud and clear.

Pan's Labyrinth takes place in post-Civil War Spain in 1944 and is about a girl who immerses herself in fairy tales to escape from her harsh reality. Definitely one of the best films of 2006.





It was directed by Guillermo del Toro, who happens to be close friends with fellow Mexican directors, Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel) and Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men). Check out their interview with Charlie Rose, then run out and rent Pan's Labyrinth por favor.

DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 12:10 AM | Permalink

Can you believe it? It’s the 247th day on the production of ATHLETE. As I’m sitting here and writing this on location in Syracuse, NY, I can’t help but reflect on how amazing, enlightening, inspiring, moving, and physically gruelling the last 8 1/2 months have been.

There have been challenging times like sitting at JFK at 3 am (with two hours of sleep), waiting for a terminal to open, so I could board an early-morning flight to begin a 10-hour shoot. The most fascinating thing about filmmaking -– as a first-time director -– is that, unlike other creative disciplines, like graphic design, music, or writing, you have to physically be there to capture specific moments in order to tell your story. For me, that has meant a lot of time spent on planes, trains, and taxis and running on fumes (no pun intended).

But the tremendous upside to all of this is that I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet people, experience moments, and visit places I would not have, if it weren’t for the film. It’s shoots like the one in Syracuse this weekend, that remind me what an amazing creative process and experience filmmaking is. What was so special about this particular shoot? You’ll have to wait until 2008 ;)

DLM

athletemovie.com

PS -- Many thanks to Carrie, TJ, Caroline, Heather, Tyler, Teagan and the rest of the gang for your incredible “upstate hospitality”.

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Posted by DLM at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ok, maybe that’s exaggerating a bit. But I definitely underestimated how difficult filming a bike tour in New York City would be. Although not nearly as tough as some marathons I’ve shot, today was still a workout:

5:30 am – Begin filming on Upper East Side

7:30 am – Arrive in Tribeca for start of bike tour

9:00 am – Head back to Upper East Side to film on FDR Drive

10:30 am – Stop at McDonald’s Union Square for breakfast (combo #10 please)

12:00 pm – Board ferry to Staten Island to film conclusion of bike tour

2:00 pm – Board ferry back to Manhattan

3:30 pm – Wrap filming on the Lower East Side





Production photos of today’s shoot, at the Five Boro Bike Tour with Artie and the Achilles Angels, are viewable on Flickr.

Zzzzz

DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 09:30 PM | Permalink

Since I began work on ATHLETE in September '06, I've met some amazing people with incredible stories of courage, endurance, and triumph. Many of these individuals and stories are a part of the film. However, what about the hundreds and even thousands of other everyday athletes and their stories?

That gave me the idea for the EVERYDAY ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT on athletemovie.com. Between now and the launch of the film in '08, we will celebrate an everyday athlete each month. Afterall, that is what this film is all about.





A reader forwarded me the following blog about an everyday triathlete in Kansas City -- KC Tri Chick (aka, Julie). She is a 28-year old consultant who is training for Ironman Florida this November. Julie's blog offers an insightful look at her quest to complete the grueling triathlon in Panama City Beach, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. This weekend, she runs her very first marathon in Lincoln, NE. We, at athletemovie.com salute you Julie!

Do you know of an everyday athlete with a great story for the SPOTLIGHT? Email us at spotlight@athletemovie.com.

DLM

"Defy Definition."

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Posted by DLM at 12:30 AM | Permalink

Gotta thank everyone down under for checking out athletemovie.com. I think it started with this post about ATHLETE on a local running site, CoolRunning Australia. Thanks guys!





DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 01:26 AM | Permalink

It's been a busy few days on ATHLETE. After the Plum TV taping on Friday, I spent the weekend filming in Long Branch, New Jersey. It was there that I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing marathon legend and running pioneer, Katherine Switzer.

She is best known for being the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with a bib number in 1967, when women were not allowed to enter the race (she registered as “K.V. Switzer”). Her other achievements include winning the New York City Marathon in 1974 and creating the Avon Running Global Women's Circuit program.


        


The other highlight of the shoot was being able to film athlete, Jenny, at the Team In Training (TNT) dinner, the night before the New Jersey Marathon. Jenny was the honoree at the event and who, many in attendance, would consider to be a hero. Her inspiring and moving speech -- about her battle and triumph over cancer, and what TNT has meant to her -- brought many in the room to tears.

In fact, a TNT member came up to me afterwards and asked if he could purchase the footage of her speech. He really believes Jenny’s story demonstrates the importance of TNT fundraising and serves as a powerful example of cancer survivorship.

A special behind-the-scenes look at the ATHLETE shoot in Jersey is available on Yahoo! Video and production photos are viewable on Flickr.

DLM

athletemovie.com

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Posted by DLM at 12:23 AM | Permalink