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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 17, 2010.
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Get our heartfelt appreciation, periodic updates on the project, and some great karma.
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All of the above, plus a DVD of the finished documentary when it's released.
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All of the above, PLUS in addition to the Escaramuza DVD you'll get a DVD of our last project, the award-winning documentary series On the Muscle: Portrait of a Thoroughbred Racing Stable.
Pledge $120 or more Pledge $120 or more
WRANGLER SPECIAL--All of the above (including the two DVDs), PLUS, a Wrangler Jeans gift certificate (worth as much as $74, depending on the jeans you choose, even good for 20X brand) redeemable at any Wrangler Western retailer. (Thanks Boot Barn!)
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Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the finished documentary, PLUS everything above EXCEPT the Wrangler gift certificate.
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PURA RAZA SPECIAL--Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, PLUS the two DVDs, PLUS a personally dedicated, autographed copy of the gorgeous coffee table book CARDENAS: HORSES & HOME by world-renowned equine photographer Robert Vavra. This hardbound, out-of-print book showcases the Andalusian stallions and mares of Miguel Angel Cardenas at his 500-year-old Moorish estate in Ecija, Spain. The Cardenas Stud has had a huge impact on the Pura Raza Espanola. 11.5x11.5 book, with 272 color pages, also comes with a signed poster (18x24) of Vavra's image "Horses of the Wind." (see Update #5 for cover and some images)
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STALLIONS SPECIAL--Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, PLUS the two DVDs, PLUS a personally dedicated, autographed copy of the out-of-print coffee table book STALLIONS OF THE QUEST. Aficionados know that Robert Vavra is universally-acclaimed as the world's premier photographer of horses. Stallions of the Quest tells the dramatic story of the horse's return to America after abandoning the land of its origin 8-10,000 years earlier. 12.5x12.5, 225 pp, hardcover, also comes with a signed poster (18x24) of Vavra's image "Horses of the Wind." (see Update #5 for book cover and poster image)
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MEXICAN POPULAR ART--Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, PLUS the two DVDs, PLUS a personalized, autographed copy of the gorgeous coffee table book MEXICAN POPULAR ART: CLOTHING AND DOLLS, celebrating traditional Mexican regional clothing styles through authentic dolls made by folk artists in Mexico. This hardcover book contains 370 photos of vintage dolls and textiles from author Wendy Scalzo's private collection, with illuminating text. (see Update #4 for cover and some inside photos)
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VAVRA'S VISION SPECIAL--Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, PLUS the two DVDs, PLUS a personally dedicated, autographed copy of the retrospective coffee table book VAVRA'S VISION. This is Robert Vavra's last and final horse book, with imagery spanning his 60-year career as the world's preeminent photographer of horses.13.5x13.5 hardcover, over 300 photos, more than 400 pages in full color, and comes with a signed poster (18x24) of Vavra's image "Horses of the Wind." (see Update #5 for book cover and poster image)
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CHARRERÍA SPECIAL--You and a guest will attend a charreada in Southern California with Robin and Bill (tickets, tacos and beer included!!!) and meet the wonderful women of Escaramuza Charra Las Azaleas, PLUS you'll receive the two DVDs, and be included in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary.
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FIESTA SPECIAL--You and a guest will picnic with Robin & Bill in box seats at the fabulous Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, Burbank Equestrian Center, May 2011, PLUS you'll receive the two DVDs, and be included in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary.
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VAVRA COLLECTION SPECIAL--For those collecting Robert Vavra books, you can't beat this! Inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, PLUS the two DVDs, PLUS personally dedicated, autographed copies of all three Robert Vavra books described above: CARDENAS: HORSES & HOME, STALLIONS OF THE QUEST, AND VAVRA'S VISION. PLUS two signed posters: Horses of the Wind, and The Horse Whisperer. PLUS two bookmarks, one featuring Vavra with Ernest Hemingway, and other of Vavra with James Michener. PLUS a postage stamp from the Russian Republics of one of Vavra's equine images. WOW.
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VIDEO SPECIAL--Besides the two DVDs and inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary, you'll get a day of video shooting and a day of editing from Robin & Bill. As long as we can shoot it with our Sony Z1U HDV camera, and you're within 2 hours drive of Littlerock, CA, you're on. Nothing kinky :)
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DEL MAR DAWN TO DUSK SPECIAL--You and a guest will join Robin and Bill for an all expenses paid day of VIP treatment at Del Mar Racetrack. Start behind-the-scenes in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella for early morning workouts. Enjoy lunch and watch the races from your table at the Clubhouse Terrace, rub elbows with the swells inside the walking ring, and catch a race from down-by-the-rail. Includes parking, admissions, programs, lunch, two Del Mar Media Guides and two copies of the history book: Del Mar: Its Life and Good Times." AND, you get the two DVDs, PLUS inclusion in the "special thanks" credits at the end of the documentary. (Del Mar race meet runs July 21-Sept. 8; Wed., Thurs. or Sun. preferred)
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT, the two DVDs, the updates, and our everlasting gratitude.
Project By
Connected as Robin Rosenthal (277 friends)
As Pony Highway Productions, we've been making indie documentaries together since 1995. We like to work in an immersive, observational style that gives us the intimacy we value, and yields stories full of the nuance and drama of the real. The REAL real.
Our feature doc "A Circus Season: Travels with Tarzan" was a PBS primetime special. Our 3-part series "On the Muscle: Portrait of a Thoroughbred Racing Stable" won horseracing's Eclipse Award, and was an American Library Association Booklist Editors' Choice DVD. We also had the privilege of editing and post supervising director Carla Garapedian's multi-award winning human rights documentary "Screamers" featuring the band System of a Down.
Robin was a video artist and art instructor in San Antonio before coming to Los Angeles to work in film and tv post production. Bill began his career in the documentary unit at KQED, and made music and social issue documentaries collectively in San Francisco and Los Angeles. After a long stint editing feature films, he returned to his roots in documentary to form Pony Highway with Robin.
The past two years (and counting) spent in the company of la familia charro, both in California and Mexico, have been a joy.
Hello Toni, so good to hear from you. We added a comment under the Las Angelinas photograph so that people will know you were one of the two girls sliding. Which are you, front or back? We LOVE that photograph...it was so much fun to see all the photos and souvenirs from the days when Las Angelinas brought escaramuza to California.
Hello, I was part of the escaramuza "las angelinas" back in the 1970's. The picture show is me sliding my horse. Glad to see this...makes me feel good that someone acknowledges that we were the first escaramuza in calif. Great memories and beautiful tradition.
Thank you, Toni Griego Balderama.
Lorraine, thanks for helping to spread the word, and for your kind comments. I'm not sure if you still can once the project is funded, but please either "follow" the project here, or "friend" me and "like" Pony Highway Productions on Facebook so you'll stay in the loop for updates.
@Robin Rosenthal & Bill Yahraus -- I told everyone I could about it. I'm so glad the $$ was reached! I just know that this sport is going to gain the recognition it deserves--I think it already has because of you all doing this wonderful project. Thank you both for doing this :)
@Celeste...yes my daughters are in there. It's been an exciting year! We've gotten better and have learned so much (thanks to Alicia). It's such a beautiful sport and they are having fun learning and performing. I can't wait to see the documentary too!
@ Lorraine - I was recently friended by Las Espuelas on Facebook and have looked at the pictures in the "Lesson" photo album. Are your daughters in that album? I have also spoken to Alicia on the phone to ask about her program. It sounds exciting. I am just doing some research on escaramuza riding and programs, and I can't wait for the documentary to come out!
lol ha indeed!!!!!
Thanks Wendy. Having people believe in what we are doing is the nourishment that helps sustain a labor of love.
SALUDOS!!
I never doubted you would get funded. a true gift to the world is one that is done from passion, love and a sincere effort to educate others on wonderful things that exist in this life. Yours is special and evolved from all of that..the best of luck to you and yours!
So when is the next one??? lol ha
SI SI SI !! Espero que todo el mundo sepa como este documental va a cambiar la importancia y presencia de la Escaramuza en los Estados Unidos. Especialmente a ellos que nunca lo han visto. Estas mujeres son ejemplos de este deporte tradicional. A mi me encanta y todos van a poder gozarlo igualmente cuando tengan los fondos para poder ensenarle al mundo este documental.
Adelante amigos!!
Im so excited about this project !! Its was such a unique and important sacrifice that sustains an amazing integral part of Mexico's muchachas and their brave dedication to the art of Escaramuza. I would have never known about their lives here in California if not for you & Bill making this documentary. I do believe this documentary is the first of its kind in the USA . Wow, its a privilege to be a part of it. Adelante para siempre !!!
Lorraine, how wonderful to hear about Las Espuelas coming up in San Antonio. I miss my old hometown...I lived in San Antonio for many years. One of the most special cities in our country, I think. Maybe some day when I visit I will get to see your daughters ride! If you can kick in a few bucks to our campaign we would sure appreciate it...we are quite far from reaching our goal, and if we don't get to $10,000 by July 17 we won't get anything. We need the support of people like you to make this happen. Also please help by spreading the word to others you think would like to see this documentary get the finishing funds it needs, so we can get it out into the world.
best to you,
Robin (& Bill)
Awesome! We're so excited to hear this movie/documentary is coming out. My daughters just got into riding escaramuza here in San Antonio,TX back in Oct. of '09. They're still in the learning stage, but love every minute of it. Our trainer, Alicia Marquez, just started a group called Las Espuelas de San Antonio. They are a young group of girls ranging from 8 to 18 years old (total of 12 girls). It's an awesome sport that needs to be supported and publicized. I'm glad to hear that this project is being funded and underway. Our group is getting better by the day and hopefully will soon be able to compete!
~God Bless!