Entry #7

  

March 31, 2004

Las Vegas, NV

Major League Baseball is currently reviewing our proposal. I feel confident they'll allow us to shoot inside the stadiums.

We have letters and faxes out to every team. We have heard from and have tentative approval from several teams.

I have spoken to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and they are very enthusiastic about our project. They are deciding what role, if any, their charity can/will serve as they have very strict guidelines that I completely respect.

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center in Phoenix is completely behind our project. They are under the National Parkinson's Foundation's "umbrella". The National Parkinson's Foundation continues to be completely behind us as well.

All profits from the film will go to Parkinson's research for a cure and to improving the quality of life for those who currently live with the illness.

As with any film, there will be unavoidable hard costs. I am doing everything in my ability to lessen or remove those costs. 

I have encouraged my dad to keep a journal of his thoughts as this process continues.

March 31, 2004 - Dan

Walnut Creek, CA

I'm finally getting into gear. I told Bob that I feel like I'm moving in slow motion in relation to his activity. We all do what we can.

My first recollection of the idea to do a baseball trip is related to reading Robert Wood’s book, "Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks". Woods was a school teacher from Seattle. He took off by himself one summer to see and "grade" all of the Major League Baseball parks just like a report card. Bob was away at college at the time. It was in my mind that after he graduated he would be so busy with life that the idea of us seeing all the ball parks would get set aside. We took two trips over two years and saw seven parks and that was it. Life sure enough got in the way.

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #6

MY LETTER TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS:

Greetings,

I will be making a documentary entitled, “Boys of Summer”, of our experience. We will road trip in an RV across America, interviewing fathers and sons and those affiliated with Parkinson’s Disease and baseball everywhere we go. We will explore all America, baseball and life have to offer on our journey.

I am an award-winning independent filmmaker, with three features and two short films under my belt, including “The Playaz Court” (Artisan Entertainment) and two Stephen King projects: “Luckey Quarter” and “Roland Meets Brown” (Grand Prize Winner, King’s American Gunslinger Contest).

My hope with “Boys of Summer” is to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease, examine the love affair fathers and sons have with baseball against the backdrop of America’s stunning beauty and share the adventure of a lifetime with a man I love dearly, my father.

We are in contact and working with Mary Ann Sprinkle from the National Parkinson Foundation and Margaret Coles, who is associated with Muhammad Ali's center in Arizona. We have a letter out to Michael J. Fox's organization and all of the Major League Baseball teams.

Please visit www.bosmovie.com for the schedule and updated information.

March 30, 2004

Las Vegas, NV

It is very late night -- really more like the 31st than the 30th – as I write this update. The last two days have been very productive. I've received calls from the Rangers, A's, Mariners and Red Sox. What's up with the NL?

I also have spoken with the MLB commissioner's office regarding access for shooting inside the ballparks. I suppose they're looking to issue us a form of a press pass -- that would be cool.

I learned from a friend in New York today that tailgating absolutely is a tradition for both the Yankees and Mets fans -- something I thought their fans might bypass on if they didn't have the typical parking lot. Apparently, the Mets do and that accounts for that. The Yankees don't have the typical lot, but my friend (who's a big Yankee fan) says they tailgate on the rooftop of the closest parking garage. “BBQ in the Bronx”. Sounds like a 1970’s “B” horror flick.

I had a great conversation with the Las Vegas 51's. They seem very hip to trying to help us with a fundraiser. I'm going to propose another one incorporating Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman’s favorite area downtown: The Fremont Street Experience. He's been pushing hard to revitalize this area for (...let’s see...forever). He’s also been pushing for a (or several) pro sports franchise(s). I'm working on a tailgate party there and afterward we send everyone to the game via shuttle. Could be a blast...I love Vegas.

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #5

March 29, 2004

Las Vegas, NV

“This is it” (the proposed schedule...and the holes in it):

Friday, 18-JuneLas Vegas

Saturday,19-June Camping at Grand Canyon

Sunday, 20-JunePhoenix, AZ (1)

*Need hotel for Sunday, June 20th night

Mon-Tue, 21, 22-June On the road, destinations TBA

Wednesday, 23-June Arrive in Houston

Thursday, 24-JunHouston, TX (2)

*Need hotel in Houston on 23rd and 24th

Friday, 25-Jun Arlington, TX (3)

Sat, 26th & perhaps Sun, 27th Dallas

Sun-Wed, 27-30th On the road, destinations TBA

Thursday,1-Jul Tampa Bay, FL (4)

*Need Hotel in Tampa Bay, July 1

Friday, 2-Jul Miami, FL (5)

*Need Hotel in Miami, July 2

Saturday, 3-July On the Road

Sunday, 4-JulyAtlanta, GA (6)

*Need hotel July 4

Monday, 5-July  On the road

Tuesday, 6-JulyBaltimore, MD (7)

*Need hotel July 6

Wednesday, 7-JulyPhiladelphia, PA (8)

*Need hotel July 7

Thursday, 8-JulNew York, NY (9)

*Need Hotel July 8

Friday, 9-JulBoston, MA (10)

*Need Hotel July 9

Saturday, 10-July  Niagara Falls

Sunday, 11-Jul    Toronto, CAN (11)

ALL STAR BREAK

Thursday, 15-JulDetroit, MI (12)

*Need Hotel 15-July

Friday, 16-July  TBA

Saturday, 17-JulyPittsburgh, PA (13)

*Need Hotel 17-July

Sunday, 18-July  TBA

Monday, 19-JulyCincinnati, OH (14)

Tuesday, 20-JulyField of Dreams, Dyersville, IA

Wednesday, 21-July Kansas City, MO (15)

Thursday, 22-JulyMinneapolis, MN (16)

*Need Hotel, 22-July

Friday, 23-JulyChicago, IL (17)

Saturday, 24-JulyCleveland, OH (18)

*Need hotel 24-July

Sunday, 25-JulyNew York, NY (19)

*Need Hotel -- could be outside NY on the way to Montreal

Monday 26-July 

Tuesday, 27-JulMontreal, CAN (20)

*Need Hotel on the 27th

On the road 28th, 29th

Friday, 30-JulyChicago, IL (21)

Sunday, 1-AugustMilwaukee, WI (22)

*Need Hotel in Milwaukee (?) -- May take a trip back to Minneapolis for National Parkinson Convention -- TBD

Tuesday, 3-AugustSt. Louis, MO (23)

*Need Hotel in St. Louis

Wednesday, 4-AugustOn the road

Thursday, 5-AugustDenver, CO (24)

*Need Hotel in Denver

Friday 6-August Las Vegas

Saturday, 7-AugustSan Diego, CA (25)

*Need Hotel in San Diego

Sunday, 8-AugustLos Angeles, CA (26)

*Need Hotel in Los Angeles

Monday, 9-AugustCamping in Malibu!

Tuesday, 10-AugustAnaheim, CA (27)

*Drive through the night to Oakland...

Wednesday,11-August Oakland, CA (28)

*Drive through the night to Seattle

Thursday, 12-AugustSeattle, WA (29)

*Family reunion in Seattle - On road or back in Bay at Mom and Dad’s where we don’t need the hotel so much...

Friday, 20-AugSan Francisco, CA (30)

*And that’s all she wrote...

I've been asked if the idea really came to me while watching "Field of Dreams". The answer is absolutely "yes". The original trip to see all the parks started back in 1990.

The most difficult step on any journey being the first one, I reached out to Major League Baseball. I started with their web site. I was directed to the teams individual addresses. I wrote them all my plea. To date, I've heard from the Twins and Cubs ("Sorry, can't help you) as well as the Red Sox and Mariners ("We can and would like to help you -- give us more details").

I also searched out Parkinson's Foundations. After contacting several (and still waiting on a reply from the most obvious one, the Michael J Fox Foundation), it became clear to me that the folks at the National Parkinson Foundation (and Mary Ann Sprinkle and Margaret Ann Coles, specifically), were immediately supportive of the journey. That initial support is so meaningful. It’s sort of like receiving "unconditional love" and I can't say enough kind words of thanks to them for their support.

They have already provided a few amazing contacts. Two Parkinsonians, one man in Phoenix, another in Baltimore, have reached out to me, shared their stories and told me how much they appreciate what we are doing.

I have proposed fundraising tailgate parties at the games we attend to fund our trip. Obviously, not all MLB teams have parking lots in which to tailgate, but I hope that there may be local bars or hangouts which may house similar types of events for us.

Our cash budget, as of today, is exactly $0.00. We will have hard costs and will need to deal with those -- but fortunately, this preproduction doesn't have a high expense (I’m covering the phone calls out of pocket and I have an excellent work-for-love assistant in my beautiful partner, Annamaria).

Today I faxed all the Major League teams as a follow up to the letter I sent two weeks ago. I expect to hear from more of them soon. The ones who said no? Oh yeah, I'm asking again. And I'll keep asking. Still following the Andy Dufresne line of pursuit for what I want (see my favorite movie of all-time, "The Shawshank Redemption", for this reference).

I called media relations with the Dodgers AAA affiliate here in Las Vegas, the “51’s”. I'm hoping to have a big local tailgate/fundraiser to get us started.

I also have some calls into some other connected friends with the Oakland A’s, St. Louis and San Diego. No telling what's going to stick and what's going to slide. Put it out there and let it be what it be.

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #4

Big Decision in the City of Big Lights

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Annamaria:

When it came down to it, his parents came to Las Vegas. We went to Caesars to see Bob performing as Caesar, his “regular” job. Then we went home and watched the movie, “The Terminal”. When the movie was over, Bob started talking about the trip. It was very dark in the apartment (stove light only -- maybe kind of a reddish light...). Paulette, was at first in an “absolutely not” kind of stance. The change happened when Dan said, I know I want to do this. Paulette got very quiet. She asked me, “What do you think of this.” And I said, I think they should do it.

Then it got talked about -- maybe Paulette and Emma could come with them. She got a lot more comfortable. Just being invited seemed to make a difference. It was pretty much set in stone that the guys were going.

Paulette:

When I could see that I wasn’t going to be away from dad for two months in a row, I felt better. I asked Annamaria how she felt about being away from Bob -- she was much more positive. This is what he does, she said. He has to go. I admired her for being so upbeat and willing to let him go. But he doesn’t have PD and she doesn’t have depression. And Dan & I have a longer relationship.

I have no doubts about Bob’s ability to pull off the trip. I am concerned that he was taking on a big task -- perhaps overwhelming. But, when he puts his mind to something, he does it. I know he will take care of Dan.

I am happy for Dan and Bob. It will be a wonderful thing -- but I can’t say I’m excited about it. 

Surely They’ll Love Us…

March 1, 2004 

Since getting mom’s approval for the loaner on dad, I’ve spent the last two weeks working on the schedule. There is a scene in the movie “Vanilla Sky” where Tom Cruise’s character has his company’s paperwork sprawled across every inch of the floor in an attempt to make some sense out of it all. I’ve been using a similar method with the scheduling process.

Mom’s approved us for sixty days. Dad and I decided that we’re going to leave sometime in June/early July as that’s statistically when the least rainouts occur.

But which way will we go? How can we touch all four corners of the country (not to mention Montreal and Toronto) with the least amount of backtracking? And just because we can be in a city at a certain time doesn’t mean it’s convenient for the home team to be home, too. The nerve of these organizations.

So I printed each team’s schedule out and laid it on the floor. I held a map of the U.S. in one hand and pencil with a really good eraser in the other. As I walked the teams, grouped geographically, I would get about two weeks in before getting stuck by either a long wait for a team to go home, or the need to have to double back, adding thousands of mile to an already looooong road trip.

The main bugaboos are places like Tampa/Miami, Seattle and Montreal. These places are all, relatively, on an island. The geographic consideration of Houston and Dallas are no treat either, so we’ve got to figure out a way to hit them at the same time.

"Imagine all the possibilities", as Tom Chapin used to say on his program, “Make A Wish”. And I do. It's the most exhilarating and frustrating place at the same time. Because while having all the doors open is exciting, it’s also maddening because we don’t have anything to point to until we set some foundation. The “what about this way?” or “maybe that way?” questioning can go on forever. At some point, in order to move forward, I just have to say – this is it.

Beyond scheduling, a large part of the focus is on hitting the phones, internet and fax machine as hard as we can. We simply need awareness at this point from the right people.

I have a few trees to shake for money, but I have to admit that part always gives me pause. It’s not that I don’t believe in what I’m doing -- I fully do. It’s just that money (at the level I’m asking for) has seemed to, by and large, elude me to this point in my life/career.

I’m very hopeful that people see the nonprofit side of this and the tremendous cause of it all, along with a tangible piece of evidence of what we’ve done (the documentary) to share with everyone and say, “Yes”.

Annamaria:

Bob really hasn’t talked to me about what he needs overall. I just do it as it comes. We have two desks in our office. I just started calling and faxing. I’ve been going through the phone book, taking lots of notes, and sending lots of faxes.

One of the most difficult things seems to be getting a car for the trip. We’ve tried the big names in Las Vegas and even a few companies on a national level. So far, no luck. We needed more of a salesman approach.

Getting the smaller things (food, gift cards, etc.) has been easier. I have to work all different hours (east/west coast) -- talking to supervisors from different places and such on top of my regular job. The internet is such a beautiful tool. It is really making this possible. Unfortunately we only have the one terminal to plug into it...

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #3

Tuesday, February 10, 2004

From the patio at the VooDoo Lounge, 51 stories high atop the Rio hotel in Las Vegas, Annamaria and I looked out on our city of lights and held each other tight. Big lights, big dreams. I cranked the volume on my cell phone to max, held it out between us and pushed the send button. 

Mom answered the phone and, as is the drill on most phone calls, gave the phone to dad while she scrambled to the other room to pick up the other line. We said hello to dad then let the phone line lie quiet as we waited for mom to pick up  -- these awkward few seconds with our beautiful pitch weighing down our tongues stretched an eternity.

Mom said hello and I didn’t hesitate. I laid it out: the movie, the tears, the dream, apple pie and Chevrolet, the need to do this now more than ever. I don’t think I breathed for 60 seconds. And then I was done. And all was quiet. Then it was quiet some more...

Finally:

“Well,” dad said, “It sounds interesting”.

Hardly the ringing endorsement I was looking for.

“I have some questions,” mom added.

That was the understatement of the night. For the next half-hour or so I lobbied, scrambled and presented counters to all arguments. Mind you, some of the fundamental questions were tough:

Q:How much do you think this is going to cost?

A:I’ve laid out a $50,000 budget.

Q:Where is that money coming from?

A:I don’t know. I’ve got some contacts--

Q:You’re not going to ask us for the money are you?

A:No! This is supposed to benefit you guys not drain you.

Q:How long will you be gone?

A:I’m thinking about three months.

Q:What are the travel arrangements -- what kind of vehicle -- who’s?

A: I don’t know. I’m planning on contacting a number of different car agencies/dealerships to see if we can get a sponsored donation/loaner that they can logo up.

Q:Would this be just your father and you?

A:I’m open to the possibilities. 

Annamaria’s version of the call:

It was freezing cold. We were on the roof of the Rio. Bob was so excited. We had the whole world in front of us, it seemed like (at least all of Vegas -- it’s an amazing view from up there). I remember I was hugging Bob (also trying to keep warm) as he called. At first there was the small talk, then he just said it. Then it was quiet. After a few seconds, Bob said: “Hello? Anyone there?”

I was sad for him because he didn’t get the reaction he wanted. He talked to his dad more about it and his dad obviously wanted to go. 

Mom’s version of the call:

I was stunned. That was the first thing I felt. I liked the premise of the idea. I went immediately to my fear of Dan being gone for that period of time. I was scared because of his health. I was scared of how fast his health might deteriorate. I worried how I would be with my depression being alone for that amount of time. I wondered how dad would handle it energy-wise.

I had many questions. I wanted time to think about it and discuss with dad.

Dad’s version of the call:

I think Paulette kind of dismissed the idea. My response was to take Bob at his word, which was assuming we could address all the potential problems. And I don’t think mom could get by that. 

I just remember my biggest concern being Paulette. I had a lot of questions about details both having to do with the trip and with being with gone. The length of time was discussed. 

If I had any specific concerns I would have said them. The immeditate thing in my mind was excitement, not all the reasons why aren’t all the potential problems answered. 

It wasn’t as much a firm idea in my mind as it was in Bob’s. He comes up with a lot of ideas and I didn’t know how committed he was to this idea. It would run through my mind, but I didn’t know how much reality to attach to it -- because it was just an idea. Certainly the idea was appealing. I wasn’t terribly concerned about my (physical) ability -- mom was more concerned about that. I had no reservations about my ability to drive. 

Mom, after hanging up the phone:

I thought about how I felt about being separated. I felt some guilt putting my negativity on such a neat idea, but I had to be real about being separated that long. It hurt to not have Dan empathize with my feelings of separation. I didn’t feel he considered the pain of my being alone.

I felt more included when the idea of me coming along on the trip was brought up. I’d get to see things I’d like to see with them. There was a reality factor as far as the house and Emma (family Cockapoo) -- someone needed to be here. But, I knew I wanted to see New York & Boston with them. 

Bob, after hanging up the phone:

Give it time, I thought. That didn’t go how I wanted, but I trust in the big picture here. I don’t know what I’m fully doing here...but I know enough to say this is important and it’s important right now. 

Give it time.

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #2

Saturday, February 7, 2004

Telling Annamaria, the woman I often call “Bella” (Italian -- as she so proudly is -- for “beautiful”), about my dream was only scary in my mind. Past girlfriends and people in my life have been very damaging and hurtful to my dreams. I don’t blame them -- I dream big and I’m sure it seems scary. I know I challenge/frighten a good deal of people and inspire others (sometimes, those people are the same!). But I don’t apologize for my dreams anymore. 

Annamaria knew something was going on as came home and saw my still tear-streaked face from watching “Field of Dreams”. I told her everything, including the part about needing to go on this adventure, even though I didn’t know hardly anything about the tangible parts of making it “real” at this point. 

Annamaria remembers:

We were sitting at the kitchen table in our Las Vegas apartment. Bob sat down and told me about this adventure wit his father. I thought, wow what a great opportunity. I worried financially (how were we going to do it?), but when he explained it, I just thought it made sense. 

I knew he was going to go. The passion that he had about it...he gets this crazy look in his eye -- it says, “Don’t stop me.”

She said yes. 

With Annamaria’s blessing, I gained a new foot hold. She saw the same importance in this trip I did. She was willing to sacrifice pieces of herself to help make a dream of mine and my fathers come true. More than that, though, she was willing and wanting to jump into the frey and get her hands dirty. She was going to help me push this stone uphill. 

Annamaria and I talked shop for a few days, bouncing ideas off each other to answer PP’s questions (she has quite a PP in her own head). We wanted to shape this idea clearly enough for other people to see it and love it as we did. Good ideas have a ring or a hum to them -- they resonate. This one was vibrating both of our ribcages and we desperately wanted others to share that with us.

One idea that came to light was the idea of making a documentary of this experience. Documentaries had recently enjoyed a new-found popularity thanks largely (love him/them or hate him/them) to Michael Moore and “reality TV”. With my degree in broadcast journalism and my practical experience in filmmaking, this seemed like a natural fit. 

It would be low to no cost to do that, I reasoned to PP, as I had the camera and all I’d be doing was capturing what we were doing with it. As for editing, okay, I made the plunge upgrading from my G3 Powerbook to a G5 tower with a dual 1.8 processor. PP frowned at this expense but I knew I was going to have to crack a few eggs. 

Then, in a beautiful moment of quiet meditation, I heard a whisper in my ear: “What about doing this non-profit?” My breathing seized. I have always been a fan of non-profit and have supported such ventures and enterprises I believe in with the meager contributions I could throughout the years. But actually doing non-profit work...I mean, I had said I wanted to. And the universe knows I’ve said I will do the work “when the time is right”. 

Funny how sometimes the right time chooses you and not you it. I guess it knows, left up to me, even with the best intentions, it might never get chosen. Annamaria and I had recently read and were both particularly inspired by Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner’s book, “Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good”. It all fit. 

So that would become part of the pitch -- we’ll do this non-profit, donating whatever we make from the film to a Parkinson non-profit group. Which one? PP asked. Which ever one loves us the most, I answered. Surely they’ll all love us, what we’re doing and be thankful for our gracious offer, right?

The movie can be seen here. Please watch it and share it with friends. 100% proceeds benefit the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Entry #1

BOYS OF SUMMER (The Book)

February 7, 2004

The Pitch...

My father and I love baseball. It has served as our communication when words would not suffice. Beyond just a game, baseball has oft been a template for life. 

During the summer of 1990 and 1991, while I was on break from college, we began a tour of the major league ballparks of America. Our goal was to see them all. In 1990, we saw Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium, Milwaukee County and (old) Comiskey Park. In 1991 we saw Yankee Stadium, Veterans Stadium and Fenway Park. Then, after I graduated in 1992, life just seemed to “get busy” for both of us and, to date, we haven’t been on any more baseball adventures.

In July 2001, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This was two weeks on the heels of my mom’s diagnosis with breast cancer. I had the fortune of living with my parents at that time. I was fresh off a devastating breakup myself and back in my old home town of Walnut Creek, CA. I was there to make my third feature film, “the long road home”. This would mark the first time I would be in complete control of the project, tacking on directing and producing to my normal tags of actor and writer. It was a self-effacing piece called, “the long road home” and, like many of my art works, it would have deeper roots than I would at first recognize.   

During this time, Dad and I had many long conversations, often with an A’s game on in the background. We discussed his and mom’s illnesses, what could be done, the meaning of life itself and, at the same time, crazy as it sounds, Jason Giambi’s future with the A’s.

I believe one of the most painful relationships in a man’s life is often with his father. The root of many men’s pain seems to lie in the lack of acceptance from his father. That was squarely what I was dealing with, accelerated now, with the fear of my dad’s strange new illness. 

In “the long road home”, the main character (Bo Cooper), a thirty year-old sports writer returns to his childhood hometown for his long-awaited wedding and bachelor party. 

When he arrives he drops the bombshell that he’s called everything off. While his mother is in full-panic mode, his father has nothing to say. Bo turns his back on his family and drinks his problems as far away as that will take him. 

Eventually, after some well-earned humiliation and with the guidance of a close friend, Bo is able to ask his father what he needs to. Just as important, his dad is able to respond in the only way that would truly give satisfaction -- even if it doesn’t sit well with Bo at first.

This scene takes place near the end of the film, after Bo has come full-circle on everything but his relationship with his dad. Bo is packing to return to his adult home.

***BEGIN SCENE***

INT. BO’S ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Bo enters. He looks at all the old pictures and trophies from his youth, then starts to take them off the wall. He shelves some and puts others in his duffle bag. Dad comes to the door, watches Bo. Bo turns, sees his Dad.

BO

Hey.

DAD

Whatcha up to?

BO

I, uh...I need a few things 

        to...figure out some stuff. Besides, 

        it’s probably about time to change 

        this room up.

DAD

(beat -- Dad nods)

We should get going to the airport

in about a half hour.

Dad starts to walk away.

BO

Dad?

(Dad stops - beat)

Do you approve of me?

DAD

I guess I don’t know what you mean.

BO 

Do you approve of me? Of my life? Of 

        who I am? Of me as your son?

DAD

I...I love you very much.

They stare at each other for a long beat. What else is there to say? Bo goes back to taking stuff off the wall. 

DAD (CONT'D)

Do you need help with your bags?

BO

No.

Dad exits.

***END SCENE***

In early 2004, for no conscious reason I could think of, I re-watched one of my favorite movies, “Field of Dreams”. I knew the movie was good. I forgot it was that good. I cried. Not just tears, but deep, heaving sobs that were connected to my fears of losing my dad and not getting to do the things we’d set out to do. It immediately sparked:

My dad and I needed to finish the trip we started long ago. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do in the Summer of 2004. 

I have ideas come to me all the time. Sometimes they whisper, sometimes they scream. Their volume does not, in any way shape or form, dictate their importance. It is, however, harder to ignore the screamers. This one was a screamer. 

I wanted to tell my parents immediately, but the Pragmatic Producer (PP) voice in my head gave rise before I could grab the phone.

What about money? PP asked. What about the time off of work? Do you think Annamaria (my live-in girlfriend) is going to mind you being gone for X amount of time? How about mom? How’s she going to feel about giving up her husband for X amount of time -- especially with the reminder that time with him is now more precious than ever? Do you think your dad even wants to do something like this? Can he do something like this anymore?

That last one caught me. The idea that my dad, a Superman in my mind’s eye as most sons hold their fathers, might not physically be able to make this trip scared me. It scared me to the point of deeper determination. Because if his health is in question now, it will be a certainty somewhere down the road -- quite possibly sooner than later. 

So I went to work, starting with Annamaria.

The original, award-winning documentary is available here for free. The kickstarter page is here. Please contribute to get us back out on the road for the follow up documentary, ten years later. 

Along with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, a book was born from this project. The original, award-winning documentary is available here for free. The kickstarter page is here. Please contribute to get us back out on the road for the follow up documentary, ten years later.