FW: Paragliding - The FIlm
William J. Briskey
My son is in the movie industry, specifically related to independent productions that aren’t associated with large production companies. He is close to getting his P2, so knows something about the sport. He has an idea for a movie which could appeal to many of us and he would like to gather any comments that folks would care to offer about the subject. Examples might include locations for shoots, events to simulate or draw from and other input. The goal is to make it real and valuable, educate the public, and leave a positive impression. I expect that he will soon put up a web site up that will provide updates on the progress of the venture – this is pretty raw yet.
Either reply to the list or Brian directly if you like. Read on…
Bill
From: Brian Briskey
[mailto:a.v.ta...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 10:46
PM
To: Dad Home
Subject: Paragliding - The FIlm
Dad,
I'm in talks right now with a friend of mine who is stretching his producing wings and has set his sights on paragliding as an unexplored subject for film. His previous work has been acting (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1178519/) but his passion has always been surfing and sports that connect man with nature. The other day we sat down to discuss the feasibility, distribution plan, and story-line of a film with three lead actors, three supporting characters, three domestic locations and possibly a fourth international location. The budget could be >$500K and begin pre-production next year... but in film, all things are fickle and dependent on many extraneous factors.
I personally see this as an opportunity to create the first narrative movie about paragliding while also enforce the culture that keeps pilots safe and the paragliding scene growing. There is a thrill to paragliding that must also be parsed with caution and humility. My hope is to share the below LOG LINE and PLOT LINE to spark conversation among you and some other pilots for feedback.
LOG LINE:
Chance Jackson, world-renowned athlete and champion savant, has taken home trophies in every every extreme sport he has ever tried. His talent is only outdone by his ego. So when when Chance seeks to become a champion acro-paraglider the world sports media is anxious and the paragliding is upset by Chance's lack of respect for paragliding or other paragliders. Chance ignores the disapproving pilots, including Maria as paraglider training for the Paragliding World Championships in cross-country until a cascade of foolish maneuvers ending in a nearly fatal crash permanently harms Chance. Lacking the support of others, losing face, and unable to retake the skies Chance must come to grips with his ego, the waste of his talents, and the consequences of nature to ever rise again.
PLOT LINE:
Chance Jackson, world-renowned athlete and champion savant, has taken home awards, trophies, and accolades in every every extreme sport he ever tried. His fans try desperately to imitate his stunts and bravado, many to the point of severe personal harm. But Chance's talent far outdone by his ego. With his personal videographer, named "Squire" in tow, Chance seeks to become a master pilot in paragliding. Media in world sports is anxious to see Chance dominate the skies; but the world of paragliding is taken aback if not upset by his lack of respect for paragliding or other paragliders. Several pilots have become vocal with Chance, including an antagonizing acro competitor named Blair and a young female pilot named Maria, who is training for the cross-country part of the Paragliding World Championships.
Despite strong disapproval by instructors and experienced pilots, Chance continues performing risky acro maneuvers and in a cascade of errors falls in a low altitude negative spin into stall and ends in a full collapse to the ground. Compound fractures and bruising immobilize Chance with permanent damage disabling much of his range of motion. Chance returns to the paragliding launch site as soon as possible to regain clout in the media but the local pilots deny him the privilege of launch. It is at this time the former foe pilot Maria offers the diplomatic solution of a tandem flight so Chance can save face in exchange for his promise to stay grounded for a year. Chance begrudgingly agrees and goes on the tandem flight. This flight is the first time Chance has ever truly let go of control and begins to learn flying in a cathartic moment. He begins to see a future for his natural talents not as the sports star but as the sports mentor. Once back on the ground, Chance offers to serve as ground crew for pilots participating in the Paragliding World Championship. The ultimate test of Chance's talents come when during the cross country race his new-found friends are ambushed by surprise storm conditions.
Chance's talents from other sports kick-in to help him intuitively guide and coach each of the airborne team-members to the ground but not before losing Maria into a steamrolling thunderhead. The paragliding race turns into a paragliding chase as Chance and the other teams drive across the countryside, trying to maintain radio contact with Maria and rescue her in anyway possible from the hazardous clouds holding her captive. Maria is able to continue her spiral downward to lower her altitude and is eventually able to skirt the cloud wall and find an exit. Chance helps coordinate the rescue and escort of harmed pilots to medical care ensuring no loss of life. In the following days Chance turns to the media in a new way by serving as a spokesperson for balancing thrill with caution, Rather than continue his line of popular stunt videos, Chance returns to each of his former sports to shoot training videos in hopes of improving their cultures much in the same was as paragliding has taught humility to many.
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~Brian Briskey
Storytelling and democratization of funding/distribution (crowd-FINDING) with social networking, is the New Paradigm for strong social activism AND entertainment.
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