I wrote this page before I hit the road, and now that I'm home and the trip is over, I've gone back and edited it a little. So if you see that I'm jumping from future, to current, to past tense, that might be why! My English 101 teacher would be so proud...
2 AM... 26 September 2005. I'm Finally hitting the road. I've been packing all day the last 2 days now, and am finally ready to go. Any further updates will be on the Blog page only. If you're able to help, I'd really appreciate it. I have probably enough gas money to get to Texas or New Orleans area. I'm planning to start driving, then in a day or two I'll start checking the news to see which way makes more sense. The story is about the Survivors, so I need to know where they are!
For those who don't know me, let me briefly introduce myself. I'm Carlin, and I am self employed as a wedding and event photographer and videographer, now coming to the end of my 5th year. Prior to this, I worked as a computer network tech, and was qualified as a MCSE, if that means anything! Going back more, I was in the US Navy for 9 years, where I was an aircraft tech, working on a combination of Jets and Helos, including a deployment in support of Desert Storm. There, now you know me! If you have any questions, please email me (hit the Contact Me button above.)
1 September, 2005 - As I was watching Hurricane Katrina and the events unfold in New Orleans this last week on the TV, I felt there had to be something I could do to help... I decided I should make a documentary of the survivors, have them tell their stories, and maybe follow a few families for a few weeks. So I started checking some numbers, and was really disappointed that it was just too expensive for me to do now. Then a couple of nights later, it came to me! The biggest obstacle was the cost to get down there. I have the time; plenty of video gear, and can live in my van! So then I thought… Maybe I could get people to sponsor my trip… its worth trying, right??
I was recently listening to an old tape of Dr. Denis Waitley, in which he describes the news and events right after Mount St. Helens erupted, back around 1980. There was a phrase he used, if I remember correctly, from the Chinese word for Crisis, which translated approximately to mean Opportunity riding a Dangerous Wind or Storm. You could think very negatively, and of course there was great loss of life and destruction to property. But what of the opportunity? There will be stories that come out of this storm, in the recovery, the rebuilding, the human spirit, the will to live, to be stronger. I've heard it said, an event is neither good nor evil, it just is. The real question is how do we react to it? Something to think about!
If only 50 people contributed $20 each, that would be enough to cover gas there and back. I’m not very materialistic, but obviously, more is good, too! If you are ready, just scroll to the bottom of the page. And Thank You!
Now I think this is interesting, in retrospect. Now that I'm back, I see that I had about 40 people contribute donations to help me cover the costs of getting there and back. The amazing part is that most of these people donated more than my "recommended" $20 each, and many of these were in the $50 range. So I had less people who helped me more than I expected. So it all worked out pretty well!
A little about the sponsors and how I funded the trip... I had planned to have people who donated money sign my van with a Sharpie marker. What happened in reality was that most people who donated were not local to me. Anyone who did sponsor will be listed in the credits of the video. The list of sponsors is also listed on this website.
One of the biggest issues I had in the begining was that I just didn't have enough time to find local sponsorship. I had planned for this project to be a "community" sponsored documentary. But I was so busy getting some jobs finished up and setting up my gear, I never really was able to let the community know what I was doing. I think that still, as of March, 2006, most of Wenatchee has no idea what I did or who I am!
Phase 1: Raise enough money to get there. I plan to hit the road when I have enough gas to get there, and will be leaving the contribution page on my website to hopefully cover my daily expenses and return trip. I’ve been reading a lot lately about taking action on faith, and this seems to really fit.
Phase 1 went fairly well!
Phase 2: The actual video operations and living on location. I’ll be living in the van, working from the van, and probably eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches. I’ll be loading my editing equipment into the van for the trip, and hope to be able to post regular updates on my website, or a Blog site. Assuming I can find someone who is willing to let me plug in!
Phase 2 was pretty much as I said it above. Lots of Peanut Butter sandwiches. I did find some places to set up gear now and then, and for the most part it worked out well.
Phase 3 & 4: When I return, the actual editing of the documentary. Public showing of the documentary, with distribution of the video, and proceeds donated to the recovery effort.
Phase 3 - editing is done. I have made a DVD (as of March 2006) and could distribute it fairly soon.
Phase 4 Before I look too hard at "direct sales" or "direct to video" I'm looking at getting some kind of Network broadcast. I've already sent a "work in progress" DVD to PBS, so wish me luck there!
If you’d like help, I’d really appreciate it. If you know anyone who you think may be interested, again, I thank you in advance for any help.
If you know anyone involved with distribution of independant documentaries, please do email me the info.