| Figures
and Loops is a brand new film about artistic roller sports
that touches on more edges than four wheels under feet at any
time!! |
Q:
What was the initial motivation behind the making of your
documentary - Figures And Loops?
The initial motivation came from a desire to produce a
compelling, untold and quirky story. Artistic roller skating
was suggested and immediately clicked as the basis for the
film. We didn’t really know what we were going to cover, but
we knew that the material and the characters would reveal
themselves in time. |
Q:
Is there any footage of Walter in the film from his skater-boy
days?
There certainly is. His story and footage is woven in and out
of the piece, his character forming the bridge between past
and present. He relates in many ways to the characters that we
follow in the course of a season.. |
Q:
During filming, were there any instances that involved a bit
of drama between parents and skaters you could tell us
about?
For the most part the parents were very supportive of their
kids. There were many instances of coaches that we saw
shouting at skaters. We saw a lot of stuff when we weren’t
filming as well. One funny instance, and this is more just
America than roller skating, was when one girl maybe eight
years old had just finished skating. She sat down took her
skates off and opened her packed lunch. She said to her
mother,
“Mom,
I wanted some vegetables.”
“Shut up and eat your cake.”
“But I want to eat healthy.”
“Eat that or you don’t get anything.”
The
parents that we followed were very concerned with how their
kids skated, and the drama that arose was a healthy,
compassionate one as opposed to vilifying their child. |
Q:
The film 'Strictly Ballroom' really showed some true colors
and real life backstage primadonnas... Can we expect anything
like this in Figures and Loops?
There are glimpses of the over stylized, glamour princesses.
The sport plays host to many colorful characters, and most of
the ones we follow are pretty down to earth. There was one
girl though, we like to call her “caked on” which is short
for caked on make up. She transforms herself into a completely
different person, some glamorized diva – she has a small
cameo in the film. Other than that its just the regular run of
the mill glitterati, rhinestones and frills. |
Q:
How difficult was it getting the funds together to finance
this project? And was there much support from the Roller
Sports Federations?
It was extremely difficult. Financing any independent film is
hard, let alone one about an obscure subject matter. Luckily
some visionaries within skating could see how it would benefit
and they helped a lot. We also got help from family and
friends. We received no support from the Federation and they
were even hesitant to let us make a speech telling the skaters
what we were doing. They still have expressed no interest to
see the film, despite it being completed. Consequently we are
still looking for funds to pay for music rights, deferred
payments etc. We are willing to give credits to companies or
people who want to donate.
If you are interesting making a donation to the further
development of this project: Please visit the following link
to make a donation through the F&L
site.. |
Q:
Were you surprised by the lack of support you received
financially? Surely you would expect money to be thrown at
your left, right and centre from within our sport...
Well initially they seemed very enthusiastic, and we did
expect some support even if it was a few hundred dollars. But
after a couple of months it became blatantly obvious that they
were all talk and no action. When you think about it, it kind
of makes sense. That’s why very few outside the sport know
that it even exists. They spend thousands on a new logo and
hedge their time waiting to get into the Olympics. They are
blind to the exposure the sport could receive by helping to
promote an entertaining film about their sport. Or maybe they
are just lazy. It’s bizarre. Sometimes it seems like they
don’t want people to know about it. But the fact that it is
never broadcast and that the national championship crowd was
incredibly weak is worrying. They could fill an arena with
just as many people that would go to see ice-skating, if not
more. Roller skating is seeping its way back into mainstream
pop culture. But unfortunately because of managerial
incompetence artistic roller skating is declining in numbers. |
Q:
What were the biggest differences you noticed between the
athletes when you were filming in different countries?
It sounds dumb, but really the only differences were in
language, accents and qualities that pertain to any specific
cultures. The Aussie coaches seemed more laid back, the German
ones a bit more uptight. The Italians seemed to be in some
uber-passionate world of their own. There are always
exceptions though. |
 |
Q:
Come on, you can tell us... who were your favourites? My guess
is you'd be pretty impressed with Patrick and Beatrice..
Patrick and Bea were phenomenal. They were definitely a
favorite. We had heard so much about them before we got to
worlds and they didn’t disappoint. They epitomized the true
harmony of the technical and the artistic side of the sport.
True innovators. They had such a presence when they stepped
out onto the floor and they made these extravagant lifts look
effortless. Other favorites were the Luca's, Daniel from
Argentina when he did the mental institution routine, the Spanish
girls, and of course you Jayson. The short program to
Kylie would make any Australian proud. |
Q:
How have the audiences reacted during the screening of the
film? And do you think it could help with generating interest
in the sport?
We’ve received very positive feedback. People have told us
it inspired them to go skating. One guy said it “had him
laughing, learning and crying.” There’s a lot that is
going on in the film and we made it for skaters and
non-skaters. The skaters have all loved finally seeing a film
about their sport and the non skaters enjoy seeing this hidden
world. |
Q:
Have you been pleased with the number of 'bums on
seats'?
Yeah. At the premiere in San Francisco we got over 160 people
and in New York the bar/lounge was full. So people have been
enthusiastic about seeing it. |
Q:
As a result of the completion of the doco and post the first
screenings, has there been any kind of interest from Film
Festivals or Media in your project?
We’ve started to do some media and only recently started to
enter it into festivals. We did a radio show in Berkeley,
wrote an article that was published in USA Roller sports
magazine. But we are still only starting to get the word out.
We are also not very good at the marketing/publicity side of
things. Our mothers do a better job than we do. |
Q:
You would have a good idea as to how the sport is doing on a
world scale.. Having viewed through a lense, what advice could
you offer the sport to enhance its profile with the general
public and media?
Approach places like ESPN, FOX Sports, schools, even the
rinks. Pat Jacques, one of the coaches in the film says that
the Federation needs to work closer with the owners of rinks.
They need to do a better job of packaging and promoting the
sport instead of policing the sport. There’s no need to
contemporize the nature of the sport, but there is a need to
update how the sport is promoted and advertised. TV stations
must be looking for different things to broadcast and there is
some garbage that they show on those sport channels. An
offbeat documentary about artistic roller skating would go
down well in this climate of televised stagnation. |
Q:
Is there a highlight in the film that stands alone for you
guys?
Probably the pinnacle of the film, when the Lucas furiously
face off against one another. |
Q:
Can we expect to see you both at another world championships
or perhaps, headlining in Cannes?
Cannes is doubtful. But Fresno 2004 is likely, at least for
one of us. |
| |
| More
screenings in the US tba. Sydney and Melbourne TBA -
sometime around July is likely. |
