About this project
THE PROJECT
http://www.careercourierthemovie.com
Filming a feature length documentary on being a bicycle courier. It will revolve around Kevin Bolger, a.k.a. Squid, from NYC and James Adamson from Portland, Oregon. Being a bicycle messenger is a job, not a career. The pay is low, it's dangerous, and offers little if any room for job advancement. I hope to show why after almost 20 years, Kevin and James are still working as full time bicycle couriers.
THE PLAN
I will be going to NYC to spend a week where Kevin works. http://www.cyclehawk.com/ Then I will spend a week with James in Portland and the messenger community there. http://portlandmessenger.org/ I will also attend and document NACCC. (North American Cycle Courier Championships) http://www.dirtysouthmessengers.com/
Being a messenger is about relationships. You literally travel the entire city everyday and develop relationships within your community that aren't typically in the routine of traditional jobs. And of course the most important relationship a courier has is with his/her bike. Being a messenger isn't just riding and delivering packages. After the work day is over there are messenger races, parties, zines, social rides and more. It is as much of a lifestyle as a job.
THE QUOTE
"If you want to be a messenger, I would paraphrase a friend: It's a dead-end job for losers. You're gonna get hurt. You'll get hit by cars. The glamour is bullshit. It's a way to knock yourself out and use your body up. Of course, that's true. But it's also true that it's a lot of fun."
-Markus Cook
THE MONEY
I own all equipment needed, camera's, computer, software and will be donating my time. The money I am trying to raise will go directly to cost of traveling to the three cities, NYC, Portland and Atlanta. Anything over my goal will allow me additional time in each location for more interviews.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
47
Backers
$9,101
pledged of $8,450 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 25, 2010.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Above plus digital stills from the making of the movie.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Above plus t-shirt from one of the courier companies we film at.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Above plus a signed poster and bicycle messenger cycling cap.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Above and Executive Producer credit in the film.
Project By
Connected as Kenton Hoppas (387 friends)
Kenton Hoppas had no intentions of ever making a film until his mother in-law gave him a digital camera that was capable of shooting 20 seconds of video, without audio. Serendipitously within a few months a homeless man gave him a digital camera that not only captured audio, it captured up to three minutes video. Still shooting films, still refusing to buy a camera, borrowing his dad's super8 camera, Kenton shot a six minute short for a film festival and won a bike.
Now owning his own equipment, Kenton has just finished his first live action short. He also has started a series of short documentaries on musicians.
Kenton owns and operates Aloha Bicycle Courier, an all bicycle courier company in San Diego.
