ratios and reminiscing

so the other night mike and i finally made the decision to edit the film in 2.35:1. now, i admit that, technically, i don't know much about the ratio and all, but mike and i sat and watched a lot of our footage in 2.35:1 ratio vs 16:9 and we got really excited. *i* got really excited. seeing the things we shot that way, it really gave everything a whole new feeling, made it look like a movie. we got a little lost just watching some of the footage. i really miss the road... i think we all do. mike and i are really excited to start editing.


A Random Collection of Shots from Footage I've Been Logging from mike ambs on Vimeo.

actually mike has been so obsessed lately with importing and tagging and watching all of the footage.. that it's pretty much been all i can do to remind him we need to get the next episode out. admittedly, the last episode was so emotionally draining for both of us... that we sort of, unofficially, took some time off. a break from each other and the '64 days' episodes. but i want you all to know i've been trying my best to get us working on the next episode again. we have an outline and some notes, but we still need to finish writing it. i'm really looking forward to watching it, it should be a lot of fun. we'll be picking up where we left off with larry saying goodbye to jay, then we'll be getting to know the crew a little better. anyway... if you're interested and you wanna see the next episode sometime soon, please help me and start bugging mike :) it's gotta work sometime :P

don't get me wrong though, i completely understand his desire to get started with the film editing process, especially after seeing how great some of the footage turned out.

and now, seeing as how we've hit the year mark, there has been a lot of reminiscing going on lately.

larry sent me a letter sharing a lot of his feelings about his trip, how it changed him and what his life has been like since. i forwarded it to mike and the three of us have kinda been sharing some thoughts back and forth. i think i'll leave you, now, with some of that.


first, mike's response to larry's letter:

The part where you say "a strange feeling of longing has filled my heart"... seemed very fitting - my days on the road remind me of a lost love... but... a true love, something that both seems to fuel and eat away at your insides... something that can never really be replaced. Maybe not even by another trip... the first one is always special... it's always a place inside you that you can never really go back to - you can't wake up for the first time twice... I'm rambling, not even sure if this makes sense. But - this was great. I just wanted to say that.

-mike

next, larry's reply:

(june 8th) Hey mike, Thanks man, I'm glad it made sense.

You feel it. I feel the same way man, like a lost love. It feels so weird all the time, and you can never fully capture it again. It's just fading memories that hurt and make you smile at the same time.

A year ago from this time now we we're eating at the bistro in Winthrop, I was eating that roasted half chicken and drinking a glass of Pinot Noir. And Aaron our waiter told me I could stay at his house with his wife Lyndsey. Today's also the day I left Jay. All my pictures from this day I accidentally deleted the next day taking pictures inside that abandoned house. I still remember almost every day, and can focus on so many moments and reconstruct them in my head...

(june 5th) I can't begin to describe how today feels. It's greater than my birthday, Christmas, and any other important day combined. I consider it my real birthday. My introduction to the rest of my life. June 5 is the day that Jay and I left home and flew to Seattle to start our cross country ride.

365 days ago from this moment, I was lying in my bed at my parents house, too nervous to sleep, too dumb struck to believe that I was about to attempt to ride across North America on a bicycle. I knew it was going to be a great adventure, but I didn't know that it would shape my life and create it's purpose.

This was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I can't even begin to describe how much it's changed my life.

Larry

and finally, my reply to larry:

i can't believe it's been a year. it kind of haunts me. it's crazy to think about that night in winthrop. i never would've remembered when that was.. everything seems to blend together for me. but when you bring it up.. it all comes flooding back, so clearly. i remember seeing you ride into town.. and going to that little store on the corner. i remember searching for any place still serving dinner, i remember the bus of high school kids riding around, i remember thinking about you.. and wondering how you must be feeling.. i remember thinking you were amazing... and a total beast for biking the way you did that day.. over those passes... low on food.. after leaving jay.

that day was amazing.. and that dinner was the best way to celebrate, even though we knew we couldn't afford it. it was worth it. that memory is totally worth it. i can close my eyes and picture us all at the table.. especially you. you fucking blew me away that day.

thanks for reminding me. i wish i were there now. i wish i had taken a picture of aaron... i wish i had footage of you staying with him and his wife. i wish we hadn't missed a lot of things.

i miss being on an adventure. i miss not knowing what tomorrow will bring. i miss that excitement. that freedom. each day now.. i think about this time last year.. it's impossible not to.

i'm so glad that you and mike are mending your relationship.

mander