'I am going to rent a truck today and go way out into the bush to find another older planter named Guy who sleeps on the block and climb's ice in competition.

First day with Franz

I have met Franz Otto and crew.

Shot some footage of him planting. He is a great planter.

A lot of things happened.

Tomorrow I am going to try to meet Guy LaSalle on the cut block where he is sleeping.

Virtual Clearcut is interesting.
The tone, I would say, is aggressive.


Here is a picture (I love) from the Bowron clearcut (1990). Biggest clear cut ever - visible from space. Jumping off point (kind of) for the book.

Uwe

I shot some stuff of a guy names Uwe who worked at the nursery. He was like 50 and had a dog named lady. He toured me around the places where they grew the trees. I kept aking him questions and he would answer them and start walking away as I finished. I could tell he was uncomfortable to be on the camera. Not sure if it is usable.

Bought this book at the PG bookstore.


Meeting Franz tonight.

Driving to Quesnel to meet Franz

Matt Bock, my foreman who lives in Prince George, has agreed to lend me his 92 Toyoto Previa to drive up to Quesnel today, where I plan to Meet Franz for the first time, provided I will have the van in Prince George by Monday.

This saves me around 150$ in rental fees (I had a a truck booked with enterprise).

I am a little bit nervous to meet Franz - mostly nervous that he will not be likeable or will wear awful t-shirts or something like that. Worried that he will not be interesting at all.

I don't know where I am going with any of this, and I plan on telling him as much. I am drawn to his legend. That he has done pretty much all there is to do in this little world we have, and has achieved the highest stature of any tree planter.

Still, he is effected by decisions made by morons in cities who have never even stepped on cut blocks, thus 'in the bigger context,' he is a small fish. I am interested in his motivations, his will, his work ethic, his story; but I don't know if there will be a good film.

This is kind of a journey form, a quest thing, but I don't want the film to be "here I am Mr. Filmmaker on his quest to meet the legend."

I like POV films when they are not about the filmmaker him/herself.

I shot some stuff of Fred and Cass (who are on my crew) on the last shift there. Fred hurt his neck trying to jerk his head away from some mosquitoes and Cass was throwing up in her land. I found them at the cache. Fred was holding his head all weird and walking in circles and Cass was laying down under the tarp. It was pretty funny / usable.

I want to come back for burn season and shoot Cam Stewart burning slash piles. Those images would have an epic, gulf war kind of vibe.

Update

1. I have been filming very little. I find it difficult to 'plant lots of trees to earn money for the film' and 'film other people planting trees' simultaneously.

2. I have 8 more days of planting.

3. My wide angle lens adapter arrived and looks good.

4. On the 19th I will travel to Quesnel to meet Franz Otto, legendary tree planter. I will shoot him for three days, probably just planting trees.

5. I have planned out shots.

6. Should I buy wireless lavalier mics?

7. If this doesn't 'work out' or 'amount to anything' how depressing will the gear look on my floor in a corner of our little apartment in New York when I walk out the door to my retail job?