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Entry 12 - Space Games Headquarters, Farmington, UT
We took a gamble and it didn't pay off. We hoped that the two final teams to compete (and the two most likely to win) would compete and be finished before we left our our slightly later flight.
Unfortunately, the start time was delayed for the laser team (which we more than expected but still hoped against) and the solar team hadn't even gotten onto the field yet. We were up against the clock to get to the airport ... so, looking at the disappointment in each other's faces ... we decided to simply bite the bullet and purchase three later tickets. We're staying through the end and will worry about the money later. There is no way we'e going to leave at the VERY end and miss one of the main reasons why we came.
Now ... we have to run out on the field!! More later!!!
Entry 11 - Homestay, Salt Lake City, UT
Tonight was our last night here. We'll be shooting tomorrow until 2pm, but this was our last night. And to be honest, it was a little sad. : ( We've spent 16-18 hour days with these people for the past nine days, and many of them we might never see again. On top of that, while some of the groups had issues with either the event coordinators or other group members, we were able to play an impartial role and actually make friends with virtually everyone. And despite being asked out again by the Japanese team ... we're all beat, so we headed back here.
We're going to leave Travis behind with a camera to shoot the team(s) that compete tomorrow. It truly sucks that we can't all be here to tape it as a team ... not to mention that we simply can't *be* here when these people that we've gotten to know pretty well either win or lose (and there likely will be a winner of the half-million dollar prize, which is a big deal). It's just a bummer. But we figured it would be best to have at least one person here. So Dan and Nic are going back to manage the Bitter Jester office and catch up on work that they missed and Tarek is flying back to work in a few hours.
By far the highlight of today had to be when the Kansas City Space Pirates ran in their first competition run and came very close to winning. Unfortunately ... they didn't. Their time was 15 seconds too slow and they had an uncontrolled descent. The wind was so rough at the top of the tether (whipping around some 400 feet in the air) that the climber began to break apart - which was a sad moment for The Pirates, to say the least. But here is the funny part ... as pieces of solar arrays began twisting and eventually snapping off and fluttering to the ground, everyone looked up. Everyone, that is, except for Dan, who kept on shooting.
Now, if you know Dan, you likely know that he nearly lost his nose in a similar incident in 2001 when he and Nic were shooting a house being demolished. A huge piece of aluminum siding flew up in the air and came down on Dan's face, taking a chunk the size of a dime out of the bridge of his nose. As before, Dan's face was once again buried in his camera and he wasn't looking up. So Travis, being the steadfast and trusty boom operator, shouted out to Dan saying "Dan. Dan! DAN!!! DAN, LOOK UP!! YOUR NOSE, DAN! YOUR NOSE!!!!" Dan quickly locked his camera down and took off through the grass like a deer being hunted by lions, literally racing toward the audience who stood behind the perimeter fence. Ironically, all of the broken piece of the climber landed beyond the fence, but that's not what was amusing. The rest of the team member and crew under the 400-foot crane were all looking up. What the rest of us all saw was actually kind of peaceful-looking: several solar cell arrays gracefully floating down to the ground, almost like big feathers on the wind. They weigh almost nothing and in 18-mile-per-hour winds they simply wafted back and forth, gently settling to the ground some 1,000 feet from the crane itself.
Now cut back to the image of a frightened Dan Kullman (clad in his bright yellow construction worker's hard hat) running at top speed toward safety, only to eventually realize that ... as he looked around ... he saw that no-one else was running with him. So he slowly stopped, turned, and humbly trodded back to his camera and keept shooting. It's almost a certainty that on the tape - after you hear Travis' shouts for Dan to protect his chopping block of a nose from repeat injury - that you will likely hear Nic laughing hysterically at the lemon-coloured hard hat-clad Daniel bolting for safety from, well, pretty much nothing, surrounded by a hundred people who barely moved a muscle. ;-)
Sadly ... the visual is not on tape, so you'll just have to enjoy this entry!
Entry 10 - Hanger #3, Farmington, UT
If you're wondering why there was a slight delay in entries, just check the end of the last one, and you can figure it out, based on where we were headed. : ) But now we're back. This is going to simply be an update as to the state of the crew, the shoot, and the project in general.
Being in Utah in October is different than being in Chicago in October. None of us have had chapped lips this bad in ... we don't know how long. Smiling is painful and laughing is horrible! laughing. We're all sore, tired, and a bit cranky from time to time, but that's to be expected. This shoot has been a whole lot of rushing around only to find that the plans have changed, people have moved, locations have gotten too noisy ... but all things considered, it's been pretty good.
We have shot approximately 46 hours of footage and will likely have another 4 to 6 hours before we leave. We're also considering leaving a single crew member behind with a camera for a few extra days. It's still up in the air, but seems to be a viable solution to saving money AND getting the winner on tape, should that happen after Monday.
That's it for now. More when more is available.
Entry 09 - Space Games Headquarters, Farmington, UT
We don't have much time to write now as we're heading out to a semi-relaxed dinner (our second for the week -- second semi-relaxed dinner, that is ... not our second dinner).
Our plan as of now is to try and save money. We're going to fly standby on the last flight out on Monday. Sadly, that only gains us a little less than two hours and involves a layover, which isn't great. However, that two hours could make a world of difference. But, should we miss something spectacular, there will be enough cameras rolling here that aren't ours (and we've made friends with virtually everyone here) that we'll have access to the tapes.
We've done a ton of interviews in various locations. At this point we just need the content, so unfortunately the lighting has suffered, which Dan isn't happy about. But better that than nothing. And in the end, we were here to do a bare-bones test film, not the full slam dunk. But we have more than enough OUTSTANDING footage and some really great interviews.
We walk around now and get waved at and people come up to us and start conversations. We've been up against the previous year's film crews in the sense that they have been in the way, done stupid things (so we're told), shot and edited poorly, or came and shot and then disappeared off the face of the planet. Honestly, it was a difficult hurdle earning people's trust but it's a pretty safe bet that we've done just that.
In addition, we've been getting Polaroids of each of our interviewees. These will serve two purposes. First, we'll be able to keep track of everyone when we're back in Chicago. Secondly, we're thinking of using them in the credit sequence. Nic started started a competition with the people here for the best Bitter Jester Polaroid photo. Currently, Dr. Brad Edwards (the guy who basically "wrote the book" on Space Elevators) is the record holder. Not only are two of his fingers in his mouth making a face, but his eyes are crossed.
He said "Man, this is going to come back and haunt me, I just know it." We all just laughed. Who does he think we are!?
:-)
Ok. Now it's off to dinner, then to interview the Japanese team ... and then drink Saki and Bud Light with them. They requested Bud Light ... so that's what we're bringing.
Entry 08 - Space Games Headquarters, Farmington, UT
Well, we (and our cameras) just witnessed a world record. The U. of Saskatchewan Science and Technology team were the first people in history to power-elevate a machine using only laser power. So technically they didn't break a record, they made a record. Which means that we just made a Guinness record being the first production company to TAPE the first group to make the record.
And now it's raining again ... and we're heading back out into the field. Hoo-ahhh, I hope we can stay ... (see previous entries)
Entry 07 - Space Games Headquarters, Farmington, UT
Weather has caused some major delays in shooting. Our crew was originally scheduled to fly out on Monday the 22nd, which is now probably the last day of the event. We're hoping to stay until Wednesday, which would allow us to be here on Monday and Tuesday, to capture the end of the Space Games. However ... changing our flights on American Airlines will cost just shy of a whopping two thousand dollars. Yes, it's ridiculous. We could likely find three one-way flights on another airline for less! Way to go, American Airlines!
Nic has been on the phone all day pleading with the airline to have pity on us, given that we're out here shooting an aerospace documentary. Of course he figured this would be futile, but when it proved to be futile Nic was still disappointed. The best response he got was the suggestion of visiting a website where we can apply to American Airlines Corporate Office for a sponsorship. This, option of course, would take two months before we heard a response, which would likely be a negative one. Obviously Nic couldn't get a name of someone to talk to, obviously. Ahh, big corporations.
Regardless, we're stuck in a rut. We're trying to pull strings and call favours on some people we've met here, including the team that has Boeing reps with them ... it's a long shot, but we'll see. Right now, it's not looking good.
Entry 06 - Homestay, Salt Lake City, UT
Today could be summed up in one word: HAIL. Or, to be more precise, in four words: HAIL, HAIL, HAIL, and HAIL! Because that’s the number of times it did!! We’re not sure how many of you reading this have ever tried to shoot interviews inside the back of truck with a plastic roof when it’s hailing, but we don’t recommend it. In fact, being on the inside of a huge metal hanger isn’t that much better, to be frank. The ad weather here isn’t just messing up the competing teams’ schedules!
As the title of the posting states, upon the urging of Ben Shelef (the program director of the games), we have officially decided to extend our shooting schedule an extra two days -- that is, barring any unforeseen difficulties such as the need to return our rented equipment as originally scheduled, which would be a problem. Assuming everything falls into place we will be making calls tomorrow to secure later flights, extended rentals, food, lodging, transportation, insurance, and new shooting schedules. In other words … keep your fingers crossed for us!
Because of the inclement weather (except when the sun would break through the clouds after we had all moved inside, of course) many of the teams were able to qualify on a tether suspended from the ceiling of the second hanger. Qualification for a teams simply means that they can prove that their climber and the rigging attached to it are safe, functional, and able to ascend up the tether. And it wasn’t always easy, even inside with zero wind and no other natural elements to contend with. But, in the end, all the teams that attempted to qualify did so. The plan tomorrow is for the laser and microwave power beaming teams to qualify, possibly even outside.
The rest of the day was filled with shooting, mostly interviews where and when we could. But it's amazing what a little set dressing can do! Not to mention having to communicate and get to know the different teams so well. This morning we were invited to have Saki with the Japanese team in their RV and ths afternoon we were invited to drink beer with the team from the University of British Columbia. Two offers, we should add, that we will be accepting. ;-)
Before calling it a night, we wanted to direct you to two web pages you might find interesting. The first is a short animation made about the space elevator itself, and something that might appear in our final documentary. Secondly is a link to the live Space Games webcams that will be set up! There are still bugs to be worked out in the webcams, but once they are up and running, you will be able to see relatively images updated once a minute.
That’s it for now. Once again, bedtime has come and gone. More soon, so stay tuned!
Entry 05 - Homestay, Salt Lake City, UT
Today was a day of … not disaster, but a day of destruction and disappointment - on many levels and for many people. In the morning, the team from the University of British Columbia attempted their qualification run on the 100-foot tether. The actual competition will take place on a 360-foot tether, suspended on a whopping 400-foot tall crane. Yesterday the Kansas City Space Pirates qualified for the games with their climber on a sunny, virtually windless day. Unlike them, the UBC team faced clouds, an impending storm (which is currently howling outside as I write this), and wind. Lots and lots and LOTS of wind.
Their climber barely made it onto the tether, much less up it. The machine itself, a beautiful, spidery-looking metallic organism comprised of poles, wires, suspension cables, and tons of solar cells, barely stood a chance on the tether. The moment it was let go the whipping tether shook the climber so violently that solar cells began flying off and crashing to the ground. The climber itself cocked to one side and the qualifying climb had to be halted. A second attempt was made, during which time the wind ripped three enormous mirrors off their gigantic reflecting arrays. These arrays look like giant siege machines, poised for an impending assault on a stronghold. The second trial had to be abandoned when the climber itself simply couldn’t be let go of for fear of it being ripped apart on the tether. The scenes that we have captured on video are reminiscent of watching old films of early airplanes as the wings folded in on themselves and crashed into a pile of rubble as the pilots ran for cover. It was really a sight to see. Then the clouds came back. And all this was before Nic ruined our only wide-angle lens in what can only be called “The Money Shot” -- a piece of footage that cost the production $400 dollars and some delays. But we’ll get to that in a moment …
Meanwhile, we tried to find a location for interviews -- not an easy task when all we have locally are huge hangers lit from above by gigantic sodium-vapor lights (which, as we mentioned in the previous blog) are just about the worst light you can you on video. Not to mention the fact that sound is terrible in a huge room even when you don’t have nine teams of 10+ people doing construction of various types. Not having interviews is simply unacceptable in this project, as they are what will drive the story. And having poorly-lit interviews (or interviews with terrible sound) is also unacceptable given the amount of time, money, and energy that so many people have put into this documentary.
In the end, we secured an empty moving truck, graciously lent to us by the LaserMotive team from Washington state. We were able to get half of a single interview before the rain started. The pounding rain on the top of the truck made sound recording futile. However, it was amusing to walk an unsuspecting professional scientist up a narrow plank, into the back of a truck, sit him down in an ominously lit metal chair, and slam the back door down behind him. Then, locked in the back of some scary truck surrounded by four strangers with hot lights two cameras staring at him, begin to grill him on why the heck someone would ever want to build a space elevator in the first place!
We have this documentary in our sights!! We can see the finished piece in our heads. The footage we've gotten thus far is really pretty great. If the future interviews go as well as the one today went, the film is going to be rock solid, gripping, and entertaining. But clouds are on the horizon for us as well ...
The worst part of the day by far had to be when all the team captains were called to a special meeting. The simplest explanation would be to say that they had a nice talk about the weather. The more complicated explanation is that this weekend’s space games have been postponed. Not by months or even weeks, but by days. The weather is supposed to get much worse over the next several days. And even if it clears up by Friday, eight out of the nine teams will not have practiced or qualified on the shorter tether. They don’t want to have the public come to see climbers getting destroyed, either, as that wouldn’t do much to promote a positive image for what they’re trying to accomplish. So the plan is to postpone the actual space games until Tuesday or Wednesday. The Spaceward Foundation will then forego the revenue from an audience for the sake of finishing this years competition. It’s a setback, but the important part is the competition itself, not the audience being there to see it. That part is important, but it isn’t essential.
Unfortunately, this is probably the worst possible scenario for us. We are trying to scramble to figure out if we can afford to stay to see the actual games … the main reason why we came out here. But that would mean penalty fees for changing four flights, another three days of equipment rental, car rental, gas, food, and potentially lodging Monday and Tuesday nights.
Add to that The Money Shot and, well … : ) The Money Shot consists of a very short, very beautiful scene. Square metal supports were being cut by a metal circular saw which produced a cascade of metal sparks. We’d shot this several times over the past few days, but today Nic wanted to trying something different. So he stood in the path of the sparks, flying toward the camera in a shower of orange and white. It looked AWESOME. It also melted four spots on our wide rented angle lens. There is a debate amongst the crew as to what was melted (the glass itself vs. some kind of protective coating that we didn’t know was on the glass). Our insurance will cover the cost of the lens (minus our deductible), but the bigger concern is not having a wide angle lens for a day or two. And not having a location for interviews. And … not being here for the Space Games. :-\
The footage we have to date is simply gorgeous. People think we’re crazy, watching what we shoot, but we know what we’re doing. Assuming we can get the interviews we need, secure a lens ASAP, and find additional funding to stay until Wednesday … we really think we’re going to have an amazing piece. We’re doing our BEST to get clips and photos up on our site, but it’s not an easy task, sadly. We will soon though, we promise. We were jokingly invited by a member of the Saskatchewan team to drive back with them to Canada if they win. For now, we just hope we’ll be here if they do.