For those of you who have followed the progress of this documentary since its beginnings in 2011, you might wonder at the finality of this next statement.
"Journey Home" is completed.
I know I've said that once before and fate would stand up and prove me wrong...but this time I'm 98.75% sure.
Those who know me personally know that I pull no punches with honesty. In fact, as it pertains to this film, I've shared so many "ups" and "downs" one might rightly think the film was a Soap Opera rather than a documentary.
If you are "new" to the project (as in, you began following these blog updates later than September of last year), you may have no concept as to the first version of "Journey Home" or the events that transpired to necessitate a re-shoot. To be honest, none of that matters now.
"Journey Home," as it is now, is an extraordinary film. It is completely different from the older version and is a much more "complete" story about Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and sea turtle rehab.
So, what's my 1.25% trepidation? Honestly, I am waiting for some "other shoe to drop." As a filmmaker it's hard for me to look at my completed works objectively. I do know that if I like something of mine - and like it a lot - chances are it's pretty damn awesome. But my cooperation and standing agreement with LMC means they have to love it, too. After all, the final film will be sold through them, with 100% of the profits going to save sea turtles.
I did a private screening of the "rough cut" with admin staff from the center today. As they watched the film I could feel my pulse quicken. Would they like it? Would they like it as much as I do?
Those who viewed it today had nothing but the highest praise for the film. They complimented aspects of it that I worked very hard at to get them "just right."
However, for the center to fully sign-off on the film and give it their stamp of approval, it needs to be viewed by LMC leadership and their head veterinarian. I don't doubt they will like it but I know they're looking at it for the details. Are the sea turtle facts correct? Does the film project the themes and mission of the center correctly? I did my best to achieve those goals but I'm also gun-shy about having another new and drastic hurdle to overcome.
Now, I just have to sit back and wait.

Cheers,
-Rick

As I've worked on Journey Home - and, as I work on other productions - I'm being confronted more and more with questions about "how" someone goes about making an independent film for less than $10K.
The short answer is that you don't need more than an HD camera and a solid idea to make a film. The slightly longer version of that answer is that, if you want distribution...revenue...awards at film fests, well, then you'll need more than basic talent and a camera.
In some ways I feel I was lucky to not know some of the "facts" that I know now. The daunting nature of the various legalities, associated costs, logistical imperatives and certain necessary steps might have made me over think my plan to film my doc from scratch, by myself and raise the funding as I went.
I simply took my idea of wanting to film sea turtle rehab, got permission to film and started right-in on doing it. It never occurred to me that I had much to be concerned with.
Some lessons I would learn as i went along. During the original filming phase and post production of Journey Home (euphemistically called, "Journey Home 1.0"), I got it in my mind to score part of the film to a song I loved by recording artist Loreena McKinnett. So, having never done this sort of thing before, I took it upon myself to look up contact info for her recording label, write a detailed proposal for the usage and then ask if they could "donate" its use to the film.
Sounds crazy, right?
Well, it actually worked. The song "Dante's Prayer" was given special permission and licensing approval for (at least) the first wave of DVDs to be used by Loggerhead Marinelife Center. In all, it took five months of work, wonderful and considerate assistance from Quinlan Road records and a a bit of luck (though, some would say "sweet talking") to get it into the film. Sadly, the necessitated re-shooting of the entire documentary made it impossible to simply "re-do" the agreement. The song was dropped from the sequence (heck, even the sequence was dropped) and the new version of the film will have only original scoring by Mike White.
The next thing I came across was the fact that I wanted underwater footage of the turtles that was shot directly and not from the porthole in their rehab tanks. For that and a few other pieces of gear (all stuff that I had no preconceived notion I would need), I would need to raise money.
So, I Googled, "Raising funds for film." Lo and behold, there were websites to do just that. I settled on Kickstarter because I liked their business model and I felt like it would reach the maximum audience for "pledgers."
Kickstarter is a HUGE resource for independent and low-budget artists. Last year alone, projects on the crowd-funding website raised more than $319 Million. I will reiterate that for effect: $319 Million from people pledging mostly $10 here...$100 there...heck, Journey Home (1.0 and 2.0) raised slightly more than $4 K using Kickstarter. By the way, and this may surprise many of my fans (some of whom pledged on BOTH Kickstarter campaigns), the largest, single pledges came from absolute strangers who stumbled upon the project.
I can honestly say that without it, there would be no film.
When it came to legality, I again learned as I went along. There are a lot of resources online these days and I think I may have tapped into all of them when it comes to filming permissions, releases and distribution rights. My standard release form is simple and was modeled after a template provided for free on the On MY Block Films website.
Now, keep in mind I have worked on this doc for 15-months and none of these "lessons" happened overnight. I also sought out and read (so far) eight books on independent filmmaking and directing. When it comes to something you're passionate about, there is no such thing as "too much knowledge."
To that end, I am also currently enrolled in film classes at Indian River State College in their "film track" program.
AT some point, after I have the new, finished, 2.0 version of the film completed, I promise I will create a more in-depth "how-to" guide on this website. Because I want to inspire and encourage others to make films, tell unique and important stories and help change the world, I'm committed to sharing what I know.
Making a film is NOT an easy task. But, if it's done well, it impacts people to their cores.
With great filmmaking comes great responsibility...or something like that.

Cheers,
-Rick

Journey Home is in that quasi-limbo land of post production. I wish I had cool things to post about it, but, honestly, it's really all writing, planning and storyboards at the moment. Watching paint dry would be far more entertaining...really.
As we enter 2013, I am struck by the fact that I will have worked on the film for parts of 2011, 2012 and, now, 2013. The doc is truly a journey in itself.
Looking back on 2012, I can say with some assurance that it was a very memorable year for the film. Highs....lows...success and failure. I wouldn't trade a second of it all for the experiences I've gained.
So what does 2013 look like? Is there a timeline in place for what happens when? Yes....and no.
I want to have the film completed in time for Loggerhead's "Turtle fest" in April. I also "want' a million dollars and the ability to play the banjo. What will determine the timeline for the film is how long it takes me to craft the best story possible. Period. Still, my personal deadline is April 1st. That might work out on many levels.
However, during this period of post production, support becomes critical. I will continue to bounce concepts and footage off of my "fans" throughout this time. I'll be looking to you folks to tell me what works and what doesn't.
So, here's to hoping 2013 is a an amazing and wonderful new year for all of us.

Peace, love and cheers,
-Rick

The last scenes of primary footage were filmed today. In a 4.5-hour-long filming marathon, I was able to get footage of research, conservation efforts, educational programs and a few, last bits of medical care for a shark bit victim (turtle).
What this means is that the re-shoot for Journey Home, which started in September, now moves into post-production or the editing phase.
Journey Home 2.0 is a very amazing story...and one that is phenomenally different from the first, completed film.
I feel that I "lucked out" again in having the opportunity, not just to do it over, but to craft a stronger, more "timeless" documentary.
The newer story encompasses the global problem of saving a species as seen through the efforts of Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
I can say with 100-percent certainty that this would not be possible without the help and support of many, many people.
I wasn't a one-man band in doing this film. I'm still not.
I'm grateful for that.
As I have said once before, "now begins the hard part."

I finally got around to rendering a new trailer for the documentary re-shoot. There are just a couple of fine tuning items I'll need to finish before it's ready to go live. Having said that, I'm pretty sure it'll be done tomorrow!
One can only hope, anyway.
In the meantime enjoy these stills from the production.
Cheers,
-Rick

When I started filming "Journey Home" in October of 2011, I knew I'd see drama unfold during the course of saving the lives of sea turtles. I knew, too, there would be loss and sorrow.
For more than a year, I've seen triumph and tragedy play out too many times to count. As a filmmaker I think about how "lucky" I have been to capture these dramatic - yet not overly emotional - scenes.
Time and time again the most poignant scenes are the ones that illustrate just how directly - and, in some cases, adversely - humans impact the life cycle of these endangered species.
Sometimes it's the unintentional by-product of an industry, like commercial fishing or boat operation, but far too often it comes from ignorance and carelessness.
I have watched turtles die because of it.
"Journey Home" will carry the message of sea turtle awareness and education. In subtle scenes, viewers will see the results of litter, negligence and apathy on creatures who - if left unmolested - might have numbers so healthy as to no longer carry the "endangered species"  identifier.
There is only one chance at this and it is right now. If we fail in preserving and protecting sea turtles, they will vanish into extinction.
My philosophy while filming is simple: tell their story. It's not to "create" a story or "embellish" a story...it is simply to show others what I have been privileged to see.
Of course, as a visual artist, I hope to do it in a way that will be interesting and will have an impact on anyone who sees it.
What's more, you don't have to wait for the film to finish production. All of the information and tools to educate folks about the issues facing sea turtles are here - on the film's site. If you have other questions or want more information, visit Loggerhead Marinelife Center's website: http://marinelife.org/

Resumption of filming today meant testing out new gear in the "field" and solidifying the direction of the new film.
Along with an additional hour of raw footage, I was able to sit down with LMC staff and chart a course for the final bits of filming before Journey Home 2.0 goes into post-processing.
There will be a rapid succession of filming events and scenes at LMC over the next few weeks. I hope to finish primary filming by mid-January.
And, as insane as it might sound, I hope to deliver a completed film by the end of March.
This is a slightly-accelerated schedule but it is doable...and necessary.
Journey Home needs to be seen. It needs to be talked about. There is no time to wait.  Every day lost is a day we can never get back in the march towards extinction.

*Warning: Thar be preaching ahead!*

The real problem is that we don't see enough of ourselves in them. Sea turtles are easy to marginalize because of it. But that fishing line that snapped, the plastic grocery bag that accidentally flew out the window, that need we had to open up the boat's throttle because it's fun to do so...it kills them. The oil we spill, the encroaching beach side developments, those lights we need along every inch of road...we are killing them. And THIS MOMENT is that one point - that ONE MOMENT IN HISTORY - when we can save or doom an entire species.
I know it sounds "dramatic." I know there are species in more critical danger in places all over the world. But sea turtles CAN be saved. We just have to commit - as a whole society - to do something about it.
I'll exit my soapbox on that.... for now.

Cheers,
-Rick

Here is the first taste of the some of what is to come in the final version of Journey Home. My lifelong friend (and wildly talented artist) Mike White is doing all of the music for the film. "Lost at Sea" was the first one he'd completed for me earlier this year. The video below will be the "final cut" for the music video that will also be on the DVD.
Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Cheers,
-Rick

A second fundraising effort via Kickstarter is wrapping up today and the goal, $1,100, has been met...and then some.
I've said it before, I am truly grateful to each and every person who has shown (or will show) "Journey Home" support.
Now, I've got a few critical pieces of equipment to order, music rights to purchase and to finish primary re-filming.
I think the biggest thing I've learned as a new director is that NO FILM HAPPENS ALONE. It takes many people, working behind the scenes or showing their support, to produce any film of value. In the beginning I'd erroneously thought of myself as a one-man band. Nothing could be further from the truth, though.
So, the good news is we are back in business! The only "not-so-good" news is that we are slightly behind the timeline I was hoping to stick to. It's a self-imposed deadline, really...but one that matters for a few film fests I hope to enter "Journey Home" into.
I guess it just means we'll be working faster and smarter from here on out.

Cheers,
-Rick