Docu Idea

[wannabehelmer]

Me, my dad and my best friend are in two years going to go on a road trip to see one game in every stadium in the US. My family is sort of unconventional, my dad, who is actually my step father, is African American, I'm a blue blooded old money wasp and my best friend is a working class Irish american. We also differ politically, I'm an conservative atheist, by best friend is a libertarian ex-catholic, and my step father is a religious protestant.

Also the summer we will be able to do it, will in a likelihood be me my last free summer for a while, I will be (hopefully) going into grad school in the UK and then the military. My best friend will be going on to State School after two years in community college. One of the things the three of us have in common is a love for baseball and America.

We will hopefully visit diffrent sites, in cities, real local places, take to fans, and regular people, and anyone else who wants to comment on camera. I will try and focus about the good things, about our nation. The sport of baseball and all of that. So it will be about baseball, and this nation, and what sports mean to Americans. I've never made a film, and any advice about how I should prepare. Also any comments, about this idea would be great.

 

[Alcove Audio]

Welcome!

If you are going to be shooting in any of the stadiums - or even on the property outside - you will need legal permission from whatever corporate entity handles such things for each individual team and their facility. You can contact MLB; they may be of help.

You also need to define he focus of your doc. You listed quite a few things in your post, but you'll never do anything yourselves (I assume that's the point of the trip) if you try to capture everything you discussed.

BTW, the YES Network had a weekly series that took (I think it was) five Yankees fans to every single Yankees game.

 

[wannabehelmer]

Thanks for the info, I will have to cut down on the stuff, right now it's just in the whole brain storming phase. I probably should make it more of a travel lougue, and about the three of us. The trip will be three months, so I figure I'll be able to do a few other things, but not to many like you said. Anyway thanks for the reply, definetly helpfull.

 

[bird]

It's a great idea, but costly, I would imagine. Have you ever considered the farm leagues? You'd still have to settle some legal issues as noted above, but the games would be cheaper and access a little easier (as many minor league teams,a nd their stadiums, are located in a city or suburb close to their major brothers), and, you may just get early footage of a future star.

 

[wannabehelmer]

Seeing every stadium has been a dream of all three of us. I've considered the farm team thing, you mentioned, I love minor league baseball, heck I just love baseball. Anyway, while it would cost more, I think it would be worth it, we'll planning to do it, two years from now, my step dad is a lawyer, so with the legal stuff, I'm sure he'd help out, as he knows about that stuff. As for the costs, luckily we will have enough for that. Still will definitely consider that, or even is time allows catch a few minor league games not out of the way.

The current plan is to go by car, to each stadium, three months, or even perhaps four if my step dad can get the time off, see one game in each stadium, spend some time in that city, and on the way back, since we are from NY, see the induction ceremony at the hall of fame.

 

[wparrish24]

As far as the trip, logistically thats gonna be a challenge. With the money, time, and passion you can do it. As far as the documentary, I think you should incorperate the political, religious, and ethnic views of you, your father and friend into y'all love for baseball. As far as a documentaries, I believe it's important to make an outline first. It helps with direction and staying on track.

 

[backlash]

Maybe it would be nice to know about the traditions of each team that you visit. How that city lives the spirit of baseball compared to others. And then film the experiences of the 3 of you.

Long documentaries take ages to film and they take a life on their own. Lately the fashion, which I like, is that half way through the documentary takes a turn and ends in something else. But that is something that you realise what is important to focus on once you go through the documentary.

Also, don't make it boring :-P