OFF THE WIRE
Sidecar Dogs
Time for some happy-happy news. Tidepool Films, which is really the
corporate road name of a filmmaking couple in Missoula, Montana named
Eric Ristau and Geneva Liimatta, is making a film called Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs.
Documentaries often take years to make. So far the couple has shot in Washington, California and Montana. “We’ve found other amazing sidecar dogs in other parts of the country,” Ristau said in a press release. The filmmakers intend to film other dogs in Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Utah, Colorado. “We really want to include them in the movie.”
Funding It
The film is funded mostly through Kickstarter, which bills itself as a “way to fund creative projects.” Since 2009, 5.8 million people have pledged about $1 billion to fund 57,000 creative projects through Kickstarter. Ristau thinks the film will cost about $28,000 to complete. So far Tidepool Films has raised about $10,000. If you chip in you get a souvenir tee shirt.
“By focusing on the dynamic and sometimes eccentric individuals who travel with their dog in a sidecar, we are actually exploring the essential relationship between humans and canines; the extraordinary bond that exists between them and flourishes through shared experiences and adventures,” Ristau said. “Sit Stay Ride will be a rollicking, upbeat film that introduces us to the interesting personalities and heartwarming relationships that exist on the highways and byways of America through a series of insightful interviews, stunning visuals, and intimate portraits of dogs doing what they love best.”
The dogs in the film are all strapped into the sidecars and all wear doggie goggles. None of them wear helmets.
Rescue Dogs
“In addition to being entertaining,” Ristau continued in his unusually likable press release. “It is our sincere desire that Sit Stay Ride be used as a tool to bolster advocacy for organizations concerned with animal welfare and adoption – causes near and dear to our own hearts as a number of our own treasured dogs have been rescues. Many of the canine personalities featured in this film were adopted from the Humane Society and other incredible organizations. Seeing them sporting their ‘doggles’ and smiling their big, doggy grins while cruising down the highway makes it unbelievable that they were ever given up for adoption in the first place.”
The film is about 30 percent done and should be completed this year. A clip from the movie follows this story. You can learn and see more at www.sidecardogs.com.
Documentaries often take years to make. So far the couple has shot in Washington, California and Montana. “We’ve found other amazing sidecar dogs in other parts of the country,” Ristau said in a press release. The filmmakers intend to film other dogs in Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Utah, Colorado. “We really want to include them in the movie.”
Funding It
The film is funded mostly through Kickstarter, which bills itself as a “way to fund creative projects.” Since 2009, 5.8 million people have pledged about $1 billion to fund 57,000 creative projects through Kickstarter. Ristau thinks the film will cost about $28,000 to complete. So far Tidepool Films has raised about $10,000. If you chip in you get a souvenir tee shirt.
“By focusing on the dynamic and sometimes eccentric individuals who travel with their dog in a sidecar, we are actually exploring the essential relationship between humans and canines; the extraordinary bond that exists between them and flourishes through shared experiences and adventures,” Ristau said. “Sit Stay Ride will be a rollicking, upbeat film that introduces us to the interesting personalities and heartwarming relationships that exist on the highways and byways of America through a series of insightful interviews, stunning visuals, and intimate portraits of dogs doing what they love best.”
The dogs in the film are all strapped into the sidecars and all wear doggie goggles. None of them wear helmets.
Rescue Dogs
“In addition to being entertaining,” Ristau continued in his unusually likable press release. “It is our sincere desire that Sit Stay Ride be used as a tool to bolster advocacy for organizations concerned with animal welfare and adoption – causes near and dear to our own hearts as a number of our own treasured dogs have been rescues. Many of the canine personalities featured in this film were adopted from the Humane Society and other incredible organizations. Seeing them sporting their ‘doggles’ and smiling their big, doggy grins while cruising down the highway makes it unbelievable that they were ever given up for adoption in the first place.”
The film is about 30 percent done and should be completed this year. A clip from the movie follows this story. You can learn and see more at www.sidecardogs.com.