Early Morning Asphalt

Some Random Favorite Moments...

2008-11-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

Steve inadvertently drives some cattle.

Interview with Buck by his cabin in the Nevada mountains.

Dogs Across America

Photographing Charlie in Nevada desert...

Interview with Tiny, the Colorado oil-rig trucker. I am on far left and stand 6'6".

Shooting bottle rockets with Lindsey and Hannah, who were rafting the Mississippi.

A Mom uses our megaphone to call her son from a creek in Colorado, to do an interview with us.

Crossing a fog-shrouded Mississippi river.

Cory directs Dave, a member of Charlie's crew, to go play in the cornfield.

Halloween with VQ Orthocare's Robert Spieler...

A daily event: Where's Rick? There he is!

Shooting at sunset, almost every day.

Recovery Period

2008-11-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

Every event of this sort has a recovery period. Both Marshall and Charlie finished their journeys and we have all started to return to our respective lives. The daily texts and phone calls from crew and runners have started to dwindle. It seems winter is almost here, and we're all wondering where Fall went to, knowing that we were just too preoccupied to notice.

Both my producer, Kate, and I have begun the work of completing the film - budgets to go over, footage to review, and the all-consuming task of assembling a film from the 300+ hours of footage we've shot over the last 53 days. Thankfully, we have two amazing editors in Julie Snider and Rob Tortoriello of Madhouse Post in New York to help shape the film. A couple days before the finish, Kate told us of a dream she had where her entire body was a map - her veins were roads pulsing and vibrating, her arms were maps of states, she had clearly internalized the entire experience into her being. I had a dream that night where I loaned our two cameras to my college basketball team and entrusted them with completing the film. Wow. This was actually more like a nightmare...

For now, stay tuned for a final weeks wrap-up and more blog posts as we get into post-production. And my biggest thanks to the crew and all of their hard work...

Media Management Superstar, Shooter, Driver,

Assistant Camera, Impersonation Master: Cory Gegner

Director of Photography Extra-Ordinaire, Cat Lover, Pancake Aficionado: Andreas von Scheele

Superlative-Inspiring Sound Man, Spanish to English Translator,

Funk to English Translator, Proponent of the corn chip: Steve Clack

Deserving-of-Cult-Status Performance Driver,

Orienteering Master, Multi-Tasker,

Soon-To-Run-The-Entire-Film-Industry Production Assistant:

Amira Soliman

Tireless where-is-he-now rock-climbing running-down

2nd unit director of photography, special-needs food activist, master

of the Pittsburghese: Rick Baraff

Super-duper double super tireless organizer, mapper,

orientation specialist, information-gatherer, route-explorer, producer:

Kate O'Neil

Honorary crew member, soon-to-be director, master of

the film "frame": Dr. Paul Langevin

The Crew

A Running America Halloween

2008-10-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

As we get closer to NYC, we are all even more aware and vigilant about how Marshall is doing. He has come so far, we have all come so far - the crews (both film and runner's) and we can't wait to see him achieve his dream.

He's a real pro - always quick to smile, come up and throw a joke your way, and then keep on going. We know he appreciates the little things that break up the monotony of the miles so we try our best to provide him with a little diversion along the way.

This includes our cobbled together Halloween costumes. Rick, our adventure cinematographer went as "Extreme Rick."

Kate and Amira went as witches...

And Cory took second place in the costume contest going as "Guy On His Way to Skynrd Concert."

I chose to go as his sidekick...

And the winner of the costume contest went to Dr. Paul, who dressed up as Amira - our tireless, mapping, driving, phone-calling foundation of much of this production. Notice the level of detail: pens in the hair, stack of maps, fanny pack and keys around his neck...

Week 4 Wrap Up

2008-10-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

Illinois -> Indiana -> Ohio

2008-10-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

The states are starting to pass by quickly. Maybe it's our familiarity with this lifestyle now, or maybe it's that they're getting shorter. Hmmmm. The corn just keeps on coming.

Lately, the production crew has been playing the "What character would you be in 'Apocalypse Now'?" game. I've been voted as Kurtz twice and Willard once. And Steve, our sound guy, now believes Fritos are vitamins. Oh Steve!

Marshall and Charlie are still going strong. "Time to make the donuts," Marshall will say as he heads off into the pre-dawn morning...

The Mississippi: Courtesy of Hannah and Lindsey

2008-10-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

While crossing the Fort Madison bridge for the sixth time today (we go back and forth all day on one road for interviews, more running footage, or whatever most of the day) I glanced to my right and saw what was an unmistakable Huck Finn-style raft floating near the bridge. I knew exactly who was in there the moment I saw it. A free spirit (or spirits). Somebody who wanted to float the river in what was the most primitive of ways. We pulled around to the adjacent parking lot and I ran to the bank and waved to the skipper of the craft, a young woman trying to manuever into the channel for the drawbridge. She yelled if I could contact the bridge control to raise it for them. I yelled back "Yes, but can I interview you for our documentary first?" And she brought the raft into dock for us. We then spent a good two hours hanging out with Hannah and Lindsey, two twentysomethings who had a vision one morning while road-tripping alongside the Mississippi (we should be floating down this river!) and then made it happen over the next three years. They constructed their raft from salvaged materials (completely recycled) and put-in last June at the start of the river. They have a small motor (for emergencies) and use mostly human power to get down the river when the current is weak.

Their raft is a work-in-progress yet it is almost like a work of art. They've completely made it their own. It's a wonderful example of inventiveness and the pioneer spirit. Like us, they've met hundreds of people who have reached out to them, who they have effected. They told us that almost every other person they speak with says they've had a dream of floating the Mississippi.

Our interview with them was fantastic. They have an idea of what's going on, but not completely. When told that the economy was in the crapper and some people predicted a serious collapse they looked at us blankly: "Right. So...that's no surprise." They also had some interesting theories on what would happen if Obama was elected in November. Personally, I'm so glad I glanced to the right on that bridge, as we got to speak with (yet again) some people doing what they want to do, and really living their dream.

We were sad to see them go, and both Andreas and I admitted to each other a bit of melancholy as they paddled down the glittering water. Maybe it was a desire to throw work on the back stove and raft, boat, run, ride, climb (insert dream here) for six months or a year. So it goes - they paddle, we drive, Marshall and Charlie run.

Horsefeather Organic Farm - Lamoni, Iowa

2008-10-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago we had the honor and pleasure of having dinner at Horsefeather organic farm in Lamoni, Iowa. Kevin and Sophie Ryan were our gracious hosts who prepared a feast of grass-fed pork and beef, milk and butter from Clementine the cow (who we helped milk a few minutes prior to dinner) and also homemade ice cream, and assorted other delicious foods. Neighbors came from as far away as 40 miles to eat with us. Sophie and Kevin have an intelligent and funny son, Drew, who showed us the ropes on the farm. We watched as he brought in Danny and Dave, the plow horses, fed Phil the cat, and also set up Clementine the cow for milking. Drew is thirteen years old and gets up at 5:30 every day to help his Dad with farm chores. The Ryan's house was built completely from wood/trees/lumber on their acreage. The building contains straw insulation, burns wood for most of its heat, and is beautiful and warm and inviting.

These folks are truly living the sustainable life and are humble yet opinionated on where our country is headed. I can't say enough how wonderful it was to get to know them. After spending so, so many nights in motels after eating chain-restaurant food it was incredible to be in a real home, eating real food, and talking to regular people who we don't see for a half an hour before jumping in our cars and moving forward. The quietness of the farm just slowed us all down, and we really had a hard time dragging ourselves out of there.

I've spent some time at a few places that I would definitely come back to visit, and this was definitely tops on the list. And again, huge thanks to Kevin, Sophie and Drew Ryan who opened their home to our traveling circus...

2000 miles...

2008-10-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

We make our way through Nebraska and into Iowa. Iowa is almost through and we're about to cross the Mississippi early tomorrow morning into Illinois. Earlier today, we all hung out on an empty Iowa road with lights, a cake, and a festive spirit as Marshall clocked off mile 2,000. We cheered and clapped - just the crews, all of us having spent the last 35 days together watching this exact thing - Charlie and Marshall running, clicking off mile after mile. Yet this last 300 yards seemed special. He celebrated his 2,000th mile with a few puffs on a crewmember's cigar, a few bites of cake and a teary-eyed smile and then was on his way, toward mile 2001.

At the beginning of this adventure Charlie told all of us, "this will change you, and you may not know how until six months after." However, documenting this event gives us the privilege of both being apart from it and in it. It's been a great 4 and a half weeks, and there is a bit of sadness as we move towards the East coast...

Dogs Across America

2008-10-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

It seems every time we stop as a group alongside the road we collect a few dogs from neighboring houses. They are nearly always friendly country dogs, looking for a little playtime and diversion. We are often glad to have a reminder of some kind of life that is a little more stable than the traveling circus we are generally seen as. Some stay as long as we are there, others come by to say hello and then head back to their home. Either way, they seem to know we mean no harm and are there to simply eat, pass the time, shoot a little running footage and then continue on our way down the road. They seem so interested I often interview them as well, asking them questions about the economy, the upcoming elections, and the bailout. They are as tired of it all as we are, as one old black lab recently told me "He just wished the whole shenanigans would just stop so I can go back to chasing squirrels ."

Andreas finds a new friend

Steve spends some quality time after lunch.

Thoughts on Second Winds

2008-10-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.” -William James

On through Utah and into Colorado. The landscapes change but the motion doesn’t. One foot after the other. One mile after the other. Or, as we now know, in Charlie’s case - one pedal stroke after the other. It’s been an eventful week. Charlie’s MRI was negative, but Dr. Paul still has him taking it easy. You can’t hold somebody like Charlie Engle back. The man is a force of nature. He is an open, honest and compassionate person whose positive energy bleeds into everything and everyone around him.
As a filmmaker, you want people who are both compelling and able to express themselves, thus Charlie is a joy to work with and shoot. When I attended the Nehst Studio Filmmaker’s Boot Camp six months ago I never would have thought I’d be in the position I’m in now, to document and witness two world class athletes battling against the road and themselves everyday to move themselves across the country. Whatever happens, happens. But this is a true documenting of the will of the human spirit, and a true connection has been established with the people we meet along the way.

The second wind is a well-known fact of human endeavor, it’s pushing through when you have nothing left. When I ask people what they think of what Charlie and Marshall are doing, some just laugh and shake their heads, some nod in appreciation, while others don’t say anything but look past me down the road. Sometimes I see a look of possibility flash across their faces. I interpret this as a signal something has clicked in their head or body: I wonder what I could do if I set my mind to it?

Backtracking: This Was Nevada...

2008-10-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Super Crews

2008-09-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

It's come to my attention that many people are unaware of the manpower and work it takes to not only document but get two people across the country on foot. Charlie and Marshall take in about 10,000 calories a day so they can keep running - this alone occupies quite a bit of time. There's the pre-breakfast, the breakfast, then the pre-lunch, the lunch, the snacks, the dinner, the late dinner, the Vitamix smoothies, the snacks. They'll usually go through a pair of shoes every couple of days, need massages about once every hour, and so on and so on. A full-time doctor and EMT administer to their blisters, aches, pains and various other ailments. Dr. Paul, our on-staff doctor, has told us Charlie and Marshall have dealt with more pains and running issues in about two weeks than the entire field of runners at the Western States 100K deal with in two days. Their are numerous hardworking people dedicated to getting them through each mile. These folks, such as Marshall's wife, Heather - get by on very little sleep. There is a crew van, and then an RV. The crew van stops every mile for them - giving them whatever they need, while the RV will stop every 5 miles or so in case they need a rest, some hot food, or a bucket full of ice water.

From our end of things, we are usually tracking with them - doing interviews with crew, talking to the runners themselves, and also stopping along the way to get a perspective on America these days from any number of people along the route - beef jerky salesman, construction workers, bikers, off-the-grid revolutionaries, and so on. Our crew consists of Andreas von Scheele and Rick Baraff, our first and second unit cameras, Steve Clack, our sound guy, Cory Gregner, our all-around second camera/assistant camera/media management supervisor, and Amira Soliman, our wunderkind production assistant and sometimes interviewer. The crew is amazing to work with - dedicated and positive in some oftentimes trying situations. Desert wind, thunderstorms, cattle drives, eighteen-wheelers - all of the things you deal with while shooting runners moving on down the highways and by-ways of the country. We've got a lot of love and respect for their crew(s) and the same in return. We all pitch in to make whatever needs to happen, happen. Sometimes I find myself trying to convey the experience to people we speak with along the way, and sometimes it's impossible to explain. Maybe some pictures will help...

Charlie gives Cory some love...

Steve and Andreas wait until Marshall catches up...

Amira helps Marshall put on his lav mic...

Kevin waits for Charlie to appear on the horizon...

Getting The Shot

2008-09-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Rick, our second unit DP, is a great adventure cinematographer. We've embedded him with Charlie's crew, and he relishes a challenge. Last night I looked around and found him on top of a nearby "hill" getting a shot of Charlie as well as some time lapse as the sun peeked over the nearby mountains. Thankfully, he has shot the Borneo Eco-Challenge and lived in the jungle for weeks and just came back from bagging peaks in Colorado. So he knows what he's doing. And the shot is amazing.

Running with Charlie...

2008-09-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Every couple days or so, I check in with Charlie and Marshall with a "running interview" - we talk about what's going on with them, what's going on in the country, and I get some miles in myself. I have to say, if you get the chance to come out and run with either one, they're both great people with stories, insights, and a unique perspective on what it means to be alive in these times. You'd never know that they're putting in 70 miles a day when you run with them. We generally shoot these interviews from our "camera car" - which is really just a mini-van rigged out to shoot out the back. Amira, our wunderkind production assistant has mastered the art of driving 5 m.p.h. and Andreas, our DP, has mastered the art of holding focus in dicey terrain. After getting in some running footage, we generally take off and search out interesting people along the route to interview. We've had the pleasure of talking to off-the-grid landowners, displaced citydwellers, an entire soccer team and a taxidermist in the middle of the desert. All of them have had surprising, inspiring, and insightful thoughts and opinions on where the country is headed and this historic run.

Stay tuned for more, as we head into the rocks of Utah and then the Rockies...

Day 5: Fallon, Nevada

2008-09-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

A rough day yesterday for all of us. I slept in a tent outside Marshall's RV to shoot his morning ritual and his heading out into the 4:30 a.m. pre-dawn. I don't think I've ever experienced someone heading off for a 70 mile run in the desert in such good spirits, singing Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Betty" as he ran into the distance. The heat is really taking its toll. Charlie had some dehydration from the previous day, and we are out setting up shots in the desert sun. Certainly not the same as running 70 miles through it, but we have discovered the sheik look and why it is so popular in these types of climes. We are headed out onto route 50 today, the self-proclaimed "Loneliest Road in America." Charlie has switched to running nights, to combat the heat and dehydration. Marshall continues on during the day, his support crew stops every mile with cold water, food - basically whatever he needs. These guys are like high-end endurance machines, they need maintenance every single step of the way.

San Francisco to Napa - Days 1 & 2

2008-09-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

After a long time planning, Running America begins. San Francisco is an incredibly cinematic city - the architecture, light, and overall energy of the place all make for opportunities and choices. It is always wonderful to have choices when shooting. Beginning at city hall, we followed our police escort up Van Ness, taking a left and heading past the Presidio towards Golden Gate Bridge. Our guest runners ran with Charlie and Marshall through most of the stretch, chatting them up from everything about family to politics to marathoning as we headed out into Marin county. It was a hectic day, with lots of things to cover and just an overall shaking out of how a documentary film crew was going to go about following two runners and their support crews. But everyone involved in this project is just incredible, down the line. We headed into Napa after lunch, and although we had known intellectually what these two guys were taking on was immense, emotionally we didn't realize until 6 pm. They were still running. Headlamps went on.

And then they got up today and continued running. And it was later in the day, as the sun was setting on a lonely road that I felt a great sense of privilege to have the opportunity to document and witness this event. I felt privileged that Larry Meistrich at Nehst Studios hired me to direct the project and sent me out on the road for 46 days. I felt privileged to have already met and interviewed some amazing people - from the mathematics major at Berkeley to the crop duster pilot to the guys outside Thompson's saloon cheering on Charlie - it's already been an amazing shoot. And only two days in.

As you come upon these guys, taking step after step, you have to catch yourself as you think they're "just out for a run." Because this run is going to last for another 44 days...

Mood and Tone Boards

2008-09-09T02:38:00.000-07:00

Andreas von Scheele, one of our DPs, recently finished the mood and tone boards. Andreas, Liz Rubin and I have been throwing photos, words, and random thoughts at each other for the past two weeks, discussing how to visually and narratively tackle the project. These are going to remind us of some original inspirations and keep us focused on a few directives we have for ourselves.

Running at 60fps

2008-09-08T11:02:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning we shot a bunch of test footage with our friend and marathon runner Jason Goupil - testing out various frame rates and compositions and inevitably falling in love with 60fps.

We also experienced a nice primer for shooting out of the back of an SUV going 5 m.p.h. for 46 days...

Curves & Lines & Interviews

2008-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

My two very talented DPs (Andreas von Scheele and Liz Rubin) and I are in discussions about mood and image for Running America - leading lines, S-curves, lines by implication and how these techniques will fit into our interviews and B-roll.

FSA Photography

2008-09-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

During pre-production on Running America I have been pondering how to use this massive influence on visual expression in our shooting style...