Happy Winter Solstice!

A year ago today we set out with our cameras and sound gear to begin the adventure of Beyond Naked. It was an amazing year: Tromping around in the snow and rain, searching in public locales for our four naked bikers, stopping people on the street to ask, “What do you think about public nudity?”

We met fascinating, fun people along the way. The lovely friends and family of our four riders. Interesting city officials and local historians. The fabulous Fremont Arts Council members and the Solcycle organizers.

And of course there was the big day itself. All of our 43 volunteers showed up exactly on time at 6:15 am, worked their asses off, and had a blast. (We’re so grateful for their talent.)

Our four riders showed up all smiles and excitement—yes, and some nervousness. Our artists (we’re so grateful for you guys too!) transformed Molly, Marty, Emily and Jeff into works of art.

The riders rode, despite the cold. The day the helicopter flew, despite the rain. Production happened as planned, despite the chaos of an event as big and crazy as a parade. We had the time of our lives.

Post-production, you ask? We’re still heads down working feverishly on the film. Dan is a mile-deep in 3 terabytes of footage, cutting together the story of this adventure. Lisa is chasing down archival images and video, gathering extra b-roll and finding great music.

Just this week three talented musicians offered their music for the project, one of whom is a local named David Haldeman of the band Basic Astronomy. Check out his album (Slow News Day).

Yes, it’s true that things just take longer than you think they will. So we’re not certain of a final release date yet. We know you’re eager to see it. We’re eager to share it. We’ll keep you posted.

Until that time, Happy Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah and all the rest!

Thanks for supporting Beyond Naked.

Dan and Lisa

We’re working away in the editing suite thinking that today would have been a much better to day to go naked than in the 57-degree weather of Solstice Day 2011. But Seattleites are tough, and audacious, and like these cute garden gals, very stylish with their umbrellas. Happy Indian Summer!

Just a quick post to say two words to an incredible, all-volunteer crew: Thank You. We put the climax of six months of filming into your hands, and you came through, big time. It was a professional treat to work with every one of you, and the film that gets made will have your creative fingerprints all over it. It wasn’t an easy assignment: many of you were working with unfamiliar equipment, in rainy conditions, filming people at their most vulnerable, and making them look like the creative super stars they are. You’re our heros. –Dan and Lisa

Emily rolls to the airport yesterday to pick up her long-time friend Nikki, who flew into Seattle to paint Emily for her ride in tomorrow’s Fremont Solstice Parade.

Meanwhile, we’re all set to roll with the film: a crew of more than 30 has been trained, assigned call times, and is ready to go Beyond Naked!

Thanks to you, we’ve reached our fundraising goal. We’re deeply grateful for all the support this project picked up in the final days of our Kickstarter campaign. We went from 53 percent funded to more than 107 percent funded in less than a week. That’s impressive. I learned a lot about fundraising from this experience, and when the dust settles from the big day which on June 18, I’ll sit down and share those thoughts. But right now, we’ve got a film to make.

We met with Aerial director of photography Tabb Firchau earlier this week along the parade route, for a run through that gave us goose bumps. Our rental equipment is on it’s way here, and we’re training two people this evening to drive the two pedicabs that will cary the aerial photo team and one that will carry a gyroscopically stabilized camera mount. Lisa and I have added recent UW grad John Stein to the crew as full time production assistant. All three of us were up till midnight last night making credentials for the crew, which will swell to about 30 people on June 18.

None of this would have been possible without your support. You rock.

We’re down to the last two days in our Kickstarter campaign, and we need a couple thousand bucks to close the gap and reach our goal. And if you’re on the fence about pledging, Seattle chef Enrico Ambrosetti has an extra incentive for you:

If you donate and use my name [Enrico Ambrosetti] you’ll get a box of my Delicious Cookies….and maybe if you’ll be very generous an invite to dinner at my house (i’m cooking) so you can meet Dan himself

OK I’ll up the ante further: If you pledge in Enrico’s name an amount of $500 or more, I’ll show up to dinner AND bring producer Lisa Cooper with me. That’s in addition to the already amazing incentive you’re getting at that level – an invite for TWO to the VIP parade viewing party hosted by Lara Feltin at Biznik HQ on the 3rd floor of the Fremont Space Building (one of best views of parade in town).

Pledge here: http://kck.st/jHAPzi

Enrico is an amazing chef who is opening an Italian restaurant near Pike Place Market on 1st Avenue later this summer. Seize this opportunity before it’s too late!

Yesterday afternoon, as my small crew and I calculated how much money and time separated us from our Kickstarter campaign fundraising goal, one thing became strikingly clear: it was time for action. Facebook posts weren’t going to get the job done alone. So my crew decided that it was time for their director to hit the streets.

This made me deeply uncomfortable. I’d rather ride naked in front of 100,000 people than beg for money. But my crew was insistent: you have to do something. So I picked up the sign they made for me, and hit the street on the same spot where, in a few days, hundreds of naked cyclists will be riding.

Out there, I felt naked. Beyond naked. Which, as I think about it, I’m glad I got to experience. After all, this is a film about four people willing to push themselves beyond their comfort zone.

So today, with 60 hours remaining in our campaign, I’m asking you to join me in the uncomfortable space that remains and help me close the gap. We are nearly 80 percent of the way there! We can totally do this, and make a film that all of us will be proud to say “I helped fund that film.”

On Wednesday, Lisa Cooper and I will be on stage at Neumos to talk about the film with host Warren Etheredge, who has invited us and several other Seattle indie filmmakers to participate in what’s shaping up to be a big fundraiser event. Please join us! Between interviews, you’ll have a chance to catch award-winning Seattle musicians performing at this event, which will benefit three local Kickstarter projects, including ours. So it’s a great way to have fun and support the film too.

Neumos
925 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA
Doors at 6 – advance tickets online $12 order here.
Facebook event page here.

Hope to see you there,

Wow, launching a Kickstarter project is a LOT of work. But it’s good work! And now that we’ve launched it, YOU have a chance to get directly involved in supporting this film, for as little as $10. We put a ton of effort into creating rewards at 9 different pledge levels. They include include Test Screening Membership, invitation to a VIP parade watching party at Biznik headquarters, which has one of the best 3rd story views down on the parade. There’s even a bare-as-you-dare film viewing party that James Beard-award winning chef Tiberio Simone will cater for us. For just $25, you’ll get an invite to view the film for a limited time online before it’s publicly available. Put some skin in the game and become a backer of this film!