A brief introduction

Just wanted to say hi to the interwebs and briefly introduce myself. My name is Shaun and I have been doing some editing for the BTS team. I am getting pretty close to finishing out the scene in beautiful Eugene, Oregon and I can't wait to start work on my home state of Montana!

A bit about myself...

I am a producer at Flashpoint Academy in downtown Chicago where I focus on shooting and editing projects for the school. It is a great place to work and a fantastic school.

I am also a founding member of The Adventurous Gentlepersons Consortium and creator of Adventurous Gentlepersons Premium Moustache Wax.

Cheers!

Shaun

Mark, Cinematographer: spring is here and new beginnings abound

So today I woke up before dawn, stretched, and pulled my bike out from its winter hibernation. I made my way the two blocks to the lake front and started on my way to work, the sunrise this morning was incredible! The pink and purple hues reflected in the water made the 35 degree weather almost seem like 40. I am completely out of shape from last years bike riding and so while the ride to work didn't kick my ass the one home did, especially with the head wind, ugh! After I got home and had a shower and some food I went over to Iron Cycles and got a new chain and bike lock, the people who work there are great, very helpful and friendly.

But enough about me biking, I have been working on getting out a new teaser and trailer for the film and am getting closer to finishing the teaser soon. I am also very excited about the upcoming fundraiser, even if it is 2 months out, and about all the great people that we have on board helping us now. At the end of the trip it was Just Me, Ryan, and Adam working on the film, although we did have Matt working on updating the website also and he has put in a lot of great work on that front. We are so glad to have Jill back helping us with event coordinating again, and also to be in association with the Non for profit theater company NWaC (Nothing Without a Company). Also we have some fantastic editors working with us now; Paul Yu, Shaun Hildner, and Bobby Senones; as well as our interns; Mike Matthews and Dave Tiritilli; transcribers; Ed Cooper, Nick Resendiz, and Ali Orielly; Animator Ralph Browne; and Scott and Stu composing Music. Thank you to all of you as well as everyone else who has been helping us and supporting us in our push to make this film.

Mark Barry

WEED"S MAY 15th EVENT ANNOUNCED

It is offical, Weed's on Weed St. has agreed to host us for the May 15th event 2-5pm. We have some great events in store for you, most of last year's sponsors are back, as well as live entertainment, biking games, quiz, raffle, and a bike ride from a local shop to Weeds! Some things to check out...

http://www.iron-cycles.com/

http://www.thechainlink.org/

http://www.nothingwithoutacompany.com/

Paul: just one of the editors

So, Ryan told everybody to write on this blog like forever ago, and now I just got the motivation to do it.

I got involved with this project thanks to Mark Barry, who's one of the filmmakers, who also goes to LaSalle Street Church with me. I had the first official meeting with Ryan and Mark the first of February, 2010 (I put the year because we all know this project has been going on for a while now). They went over the outline with me and gave me the footage for scene 1: Astoria. I've been editing the scene since then.

I basically know the riders now, even though I've only met Ryan personally. It'll be weird to see them in the future and be like, I know pretty much everything about you and you know nothing about me. Its weird. I have this special bond with each rider and they don't even know it. Sad.

Other than that, I think this is an exciting project because I've talked about the similar idea with college friends, making a documentary of us biking the states, but I guess the idea has already been done. I enjoy editing this video very much because of the shots they have. I think they are beautiful. I've been doing video editing on FCP for about 5 years now, since high school. It is also kinda my major, so... what else? I'm pretty much done working on scene 1 and ready to move on to a new scene.

And yes, I have a mustache.

From: Jill Event Coordinator

Hello BTS fans!

I have some great news, we are gearing up for another exciting season of fun, fund-raisers, and BIKING!!! So here is the plan, Weed's Bar in near North Chicago has generously agreed to host us again this year so we are planning some super fun actives. We are also hoping to have our friends from Flying Dog Ales join us again this year. We will feed you, give you prizes and hopefully we will raise the money we need for the editing processes of this exciting project! We are planning mid-May, so keep checking for more details later this month.

Even more exciting news: Nothing Without a Company, Inc. a non-profit theater company has taken on BTS as a working project for 2010. This means so much to me because I can now say I have bridged the gap for my two loves Theater and Film. After our frustration with the theater world some of us friends got together and started NWaC to bring theater back to the people. As a sight specific theater co. we focus on the community and bring those issues to the people on the street for free with original works, song & dance, fight choreography, and film elements. BTS had a need for a non-profit umbrella, and I had a need to bring the film world into this theater company that myself and two other lovely ladies began and serve on the broad of directors. I am so happy to work together with these two groups for your entertainment!

I have known these BTS boys for five years now and I have dedicated my time for the second year because I love this project and these guys! They are awesome creative people that I hope will remember Jill when they make it! Take care fans, and don't forget to join us for the next BTS event in mid-May. KEEP CHECKING FOR DETAILS.

Sincerely,
Jill
BTS Events Coordinator

Ryan, Producer: THE BLOG IS UP!

These past couple of months have proven to be extremely productive. We have developed an incredible group of people who all have the goal of making this film great. I am grateful for our entire team, and I can't wait to throw our next fund raiser!

Biking The States for me has been a journey both on the bike and behind the camera. I still have not stopped learning from this trip and I am so impressed by the response we have gotten thus far. The fact that we have nearly twenty people contributing to this project simply because they believe in it is a guarantee that we will complete it.

I can't delve too much further than that right now, but I plan on blogging frequently throughout this post-production process.

Sincerely,

Ryan C. Kolegas