Filming the Promo Video

It was with great pleasure and gratitude that I spent yesterday morning at the river with my daughter, Haley Moreland, Jim Karpowicz, and Tom Newcomb.  Jim and Tom volunteered their time, expertise, and film equipment to shoot a promotional video for the expedition.  Haley agreed to interview for the clip, and she helped by photographing the occasion.  The purpose for the video is to utilize one of the online fundraising programs, such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe, with the video.  Ideally, the donations generated will help pay for the trip and, ultimately, get a book started.  Getting the trip accomplished will be the first step in getting a book started.

Jim and Tom are long-time colleagues creating films for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), among other things.  They have recently been assigned a project with the MDC focused on Missouri mountain lions.  I know, right?! Mountain lions!  Good luck, guys.  Be careful out there.

Tom is a cameraman for CBS in STL, Jim has done work for The Documentary Group, and you can find other projects by going to Tom’s website at www.blacktruckpictures.com.  Among a host of other undertakings by them, you can find a fascinating video about Lewis and Clark from the website here.

Although the morning was quite cold and crisp, I enjoyed getting in the kayak and paddling around a bit for the shoot.  And, the guys setting up the interviewing studio at the end of a wing dike was particularly intriguing, if not a little intimidating (they ran an extension cord all the way out there!).  We built a nice fire in Cooper’s bonfire ring, so the warmth from the fire made the experience quite comfortable and especially pleasant.  Although, that could be a result of the warm-hearted individuals present.  (That includes you, J.W., thanks for building the fire!)

Interviewing on film is not one of my strengths.  Jim and Tom will need to work their magic.  They assured me not to worry.  Really, I am just humbled by the experience, and extremely grateful for our Missouri River community and the support I am receiving for the expedition.  Not to mention the support I am receiving from my friends, some old, some new, some near and some far!  I may have to post a happy dance similar to Rod Wellington’s portage dances  :).

I love this quote from Lewis and Clark’s journals, as highlighted in Tom’s Lewis and Clark video.  Over and over again, despite the circumstances, they continued to write:  “We proceeded on.” I’m going to remember that one.

Thanks again Haley, Jim and Tom!  That was fun.