Money Money Money!

Money is always in short supply if you make documentaries or are a budding feature filmmaker. I hope to learn more about raising cash for future projects tomorrow (April 24th) during a class with Erika Johnson of South Shore Productions in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.


http://www.southshoreproductions.net/



We were moving so fast trying to get the "Tales of the Road-Highway 61" book and documentary done that fundraising fell short but all bills were paid as I dipped into personal funds. It happens. I've learned a lot from that experience and don't plan to repeat it. I'm hoping Erika has some new ideas.

On a different subject, we are tweaking our website. This blog will be down for a bit but will be back. I need your ideas for links we can add to the "maps" section of the website. Maybe you've seen it. http://www.talesoftheroad.net/maps/index.cfm
I'm looking for new ideas for links/photos for those sites on the map. Drop me a line with your ideas: cathy@palisadeproductions.com

Happiness is a two lane highway!

And happiness for me is digging around and finding great information on some of the really cool sites and stories along those two lane roads. I pondered this while sitting in a day long conference, on a Saturday, at the University of Minnesota while birds were singing and flowers blooming outside.

The conference centered on the aging brain. Research shows that exercise and good nutrition are keys to bolstering the brain, but the keynote speaker (Todd Kashdan of George Mason University. http://www.toddkashdan.com/) also focused on how the brain loves novelty. That doesn't necessarily mean leaping out of planes or bungee jumping, but something as simple as getting out and enjoying new places, people and experiences.

After Todd's speech, I sat there thinking about the joy (and sheer terror) that TOTR has given me in the seven years since we started the project. It has been a fantastic learning experience and I can't wait to see what happens next as I continue to head down the highway!

Johnson Boatworks Bon Voyage

There are few places in White Bear Lake, Minnesota where 400 people can mingle with history. On Saturday, April 10th, that is

 what happened at the former Johnson/White Bear Boatworks, an old place profiled in "Tales of the Road-Highway 61." (Both the book and the film.)

The occasion was the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society's annual fundraiser and the venue was appropriate because (sadly) it appears the boatworks will soon be lost to history. There have been valiant efforts to save it. The future is unclear. It could make way for condos, or (fingers crossed) it might be the site for a community center/sailing museum. 

This is Steve Johnson, a descendent of the founder of the Boatworks:  John O. Johnson. John O. was a quiet guy but brilliant. I would think John O. would have been bemused by all the fuss the event created. Steve and the rest of the Johnson family seemed to enjoy themselves. Check out Steve in the movie. He's the skipper of the last racing scow of a specific class made by the Boatworks. The boat is beautiful and as fast as the wind itself! I was at the event to talk about why we included the Johnson Boatworks in TOTR. The story is such a good one. It was a no-brainer for inclusion. 

I also had a surprise for the director of the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society. A check for $1,500. Part of my proceeds from the book that I promised I'd spilt with the ten different organizations along the highway that helped make TOTR possible. Now, if the Boatworks, or at least a part of the Boatworks could be preserved...that would be money well spent! For more photos of a lovely night check out our Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101915670064

Hanging at the MOA

That would be the "Mall of America." Bloomington, Minnesota. I remember when we (in the media) dubbed it the Mega Mall. It is still quite a place. A shrine to consumer consumption. I was signing books and DVD's at the quaint Minnesot-AH! store: a place dedicated to all things Minnesotan. "Tales" fits in well. 

I was at a small table in the store's entry with a view of "Lids": a store dedicated to baseball caps. One of the perks of hanging out at the mall on a Saturday afternoon is the great people watching. It is a free show. The parade of humanity was incredibly entertaining. I learned that the mall has great cell phone reception. No dead spots. Nearly every person who passed me had their cell out. Four guys in a group five sauntered past. All four on the phone. I wonder if they were talking to each other. It wouldn't have surprised me. 

I marveled at the impeccably dressed woman with the runway walk who teetered on impossibly high heels. Those pencil heels must have been four inches high. Impressive considering she was also carrying several bags. I learned you can shop and still look great at the end of the day, a feat I've never achieved. 

An engaging, older man stopped by to chat. He has heard of "Tales" but begged off buying a book. He has too many he said. (Now, how can you have too many books! :)

He told me a story that I'm going to have to check out. It deals with a former DJ in the Twin Cities who worked at the venerable Top 40 station KDWB. This was in the 1960's, and "Donald K. Martin" (who was a friend of this gentleman) was driving to Duluth to see his girlfriend. The radio announcer was a pretty plugged in guy--he knew the local music scene--so when he saw a scruffy young man, with a guitar on his back, hitch-hiking on the shoulder of Highway 61, Martin stopped the car and said "Zimmerman! Where are you going now?" The young musician said "Out to New York to play a few songs." Martin gave the guy a lift. I wonder if Bob Dylan remembers that moment? Donald K. Martin does. 

A story for the sequel don't you think? The lesson? You just never know who you are going to run into either by the side of the road or in a shopping mall. 

R.I.P trusty (rusty) friend!

In order to do a documentary/book on an iconic highway you need a car that can go the distance--literally and figuratively. Said car needs to be tough because, in the case of Highway 61 in Minnesota, it's a good 440 miles from the northern tip of Minnesota to its southern most point and if you multiply numerous trips, over six years, we're talking about an eye-popping (piston popping?) number of miles. 

It is with great sadness that I say "goodbye" to the car that took me on the road trip of a lifetime. I know she doesn't look great in this photo. I lost the left rear hubcap somewhere between Hastings and Winona in year five of  "The Project." I never did replace it. I think it gave the old car a kind of "road warrior" look. (Enhanced with the layer of salt/dirt/grime over her many dings and dents.)

She (and yes---I give cars gender specific designations) never once left me on the side of the road although she'd burn through a quart or two of oil during most our of forays. What the heck. The car was burning oil and I was leaking oil by the time we wrapped up the book and film. We forgave each other our foibles. 

So when the "check engine" light came on (and stayed on) and the diagnosis of a clogged catalytic converter and old age was made it became clear something had to be done. But, with 215,599 miles on her and a clutch that slipped just a little, it seemed silly to think that she could be traded in. Besides, a trade-in seemed beneath her somehow. 

Thankfully,  the 2002 Subaru with the missing hubcap, the leaky pistons and the nearly shot clutch ultimately found a home. She was donated to the Newgate School in Minneapolis to be used in their automotive training program. It is a great non-profit effort. With a little elbow grease, a few new parts and some TLC, she may end up being given to a family in need of reliable transportation. I hope so. She's still got a few good miles in her. Now, if I could say the same thing about myself...

A sweet surprise!

Go figure! "Tales of the Road-Highway 61" has its own official cookie! 

Cookies like this tasty little morsel were on hand when White Bear Lake kicked off their first ever city-wide reading program and "Tales" is the book that young and old will read and discuss. 

We began the discussion with a short talk by yours truly at the White Bear Library, which was rudely interrupted by a tickle in my throat that made me cough without relief for what seemed like a lifetime. Actually, as I write this, I'm sidelined with a cough and laryngitis. The White Bear event may have been the precursor to what has bloomed into quite an illness. Want to see more images from the event? Head to the Tales of the Road group site on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101915670064

As I sit, snuffling and hacking, I have had time to think about next steps. The original plan was to kick back and relax in 2010 but that ain't gonna happen!

We will interview three survivors of the 1918 Moose Lake Forest Fire the first weekend of March and at least get their stories on tape because each person is well into their nineties and let's face it: once these folks are gone, their stories are gone too. 

I'm a member of the Red Wing Pottery Collector's Society and their latest newsletter had a wonderful tidbit about a garage in Red Wing made up of clay bricks that has a tie to the pottery. The garage is supposed to be torn down soon so that means we have to hightail it to Red Wing to get that shot before the building is gone for good. 

Speaking of another endangered site--the Hastings Bridge is also set to be dismantled and we'll have to make sure this spring/summer that we have that "in the can" (as it were) so we can do a story about the original Hastings bridge. It was a marvel! A spiral bridge that people still talk about today. 

So you see, I can forget about resting on any laurels. Maybe that is part of the plan. The highway and time wait for no one. 

Here, there and everywhere!

It's been a long few weeks. Long but satisfying. 

These are photos from the Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, Minnesota. "Tales of the Road" was a featured film. 

I did a little presentation afterward to a very

responsive audience. There's no small amount of satisfaction when viewers laugh at the "right" times or let out a collective "huh!" when some key piece of information is revealed. 

Books were sold by Chris Livingston who owns the local bookstore. I'm pleased that so many people liked the movie and then wanted to read the book. Which is better---book or film? I'll leave it up to readers and viewers. I'm wondering if doing another book, an updated book, is worth it. There have been a lot of changes along the highway since the book was published in October of 2008. I'm smitten with the old road guides that include advertising from the twenties and thirties and wonder whether something like that would work today. Something else to ponder. 

A final note: Look at the below photo. Note the gentleman in the beret over my shoulder.  That is Coffee John. A fan of TOTR and quite a guy. A shout-out to John!