Skip to content
Driven: the Marathon Swimming Documentary
![[Deleted User]](https://w3.vanillicon.com/v2/38457411ab9e76637dae5191416e8d2c.svg)
http://www.indiegogo.com/driventhemovie?c=home
Driven, documents the experiences of three individuals as they attempted marathon swims across the Santa Barbara Channel in 2012.
Driven, documents the experiences of three individuals as they attempted marathon swims across the Santa Barbara Channel in 2012.
Tagged:
Comments
loneswimmer.com
Marathon swimmers often wonder how our sport can reach a wider audience - how our friends can better understand what it is that we do. Marathon swimmers often despair about how to do this without selling out to the wetsuit companies or engaging in circus-like P.R. tactics. In other words - how to promote our sport with integrity.
This film is one answer.
Will you help?
http://www.indiegogo.com/driventhemovie
I donated, and upped my post on this subj in my blog. They still need donations!!! Come on guys, donate whatever you can afford! Donate in your favorite swimmer's name as a Christmas gift!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Anyone in here know? I cannot wait to see it!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
<blockquote>Greetings fans and supporters!
I just wanted to provide an update on the film. After a somewhat extended holiday hiatus, we are up and running again and making progress on the project. In January we did some follow-up filming with Cherie, and we’ll be doing the same next week with Evan. The big news is that after a fair amount of anticipation (and procrastination) we’ve taken the plunge into the monumental and ominous process that is editing. With countless hours of footage and an eight page outline we developed at the outset, we’re now putting together the puzzle pieces that will assemble into the film Driven. Instead, in this case it’s kind of like the puzzle pieces are buried in hours and hours of footage that we must sift through, like needles in a digital haystack… and instead of building a puzzle, its more like sculpting or molding clay into a shape we find appealing… with puzzle pieces poking out of it. And, we can’t actually access the haystack, to search for the pieces, until my three year old son goes to bed. It’s pretty much exactly like that, or something.
Once this initial editing process is complete, we’ll be able to make a list of gaps we need to fill. Once we have that list, we’ll be able to completely panic, remind ourselves how far we’ve come already, regain our composure, and carry on with incrementally greater confidence and determination. By then we’ll be knee deep in developing music… but #@&!, lets not worry about music just yet. One step at a time.
In any case, please rest assured that we are moving forward, and I will try to be much better about posting updates as we continue to make progress. Hopefully next time I’ll have some new screenshots for you or something more fun.
Hope everyone is well, and stay tuned!
-ben</blockquote>
Hi Evan. This is a great project, congrats. The fact that they are in post-production means that the fund raising phase is finished or is it still ongoing? I'd like to donate if it's still relevant.
I saw this thread and wanted to let people know that contributions can still be made to post-production expenses at www.marathonswimmovie.com. There is a PayPal button that accepts credit cards at the bottom of the page.
We raised a good bit of money through our Indiegogo campaign, but there is no doubt that we'll need to continue fundraising as we fell short of our budget goal. In the meantime, we're moving forward with the project as best we can. Our bigger expenses shouldn't come into play until later down the line.
In any case, thanks for the continued interest and support! I can't tell you how encouraging its been getting support from so many people.
-ben
This project is very much alive.
World premiere scheduled for next month in Carpinteria, California.
How cool would it be to set up a double-feature, alongside The Other Shore ?? haha
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
On another note, I understand the producers are still about $2,000 short of their $30K goal. If anyone has an extra $25, $50 or $100 they would like to donate, I know the producers would be very grateful. Their website is http://www.marathonswimmovie.com
Thank you.
Scott Zornig
SBCSA
And thanks for the info regarding donations, I'll visit and pass the word!
<blockquote>Big News!
We are pleased to announce that we have an official release date!!
Driven will premier on October 19th at the Plaza Playhouse Theater in Carpinteria, CA. The event will be a not-for-profit fundraiser to benefit a local swimming related program (details still to be determined).
We are thrilled to be completing this project and to be at a point where we can share this film with the world! We've poured our heart and souls into this film and have strived to make it something that the open water swimming community can be proud of. I daresay, I think we succeeded. This film actually isn't half bad.
What does this premier date mean exactly?
We'll it means we are inviting EVERYONE who cares to travel to Carpinteria, CA to join us for a fantastic evening to watch the film and celebrate it's release.
It also means that (fingers-crossed) we PLAN to have our website updated, upgraded, and running by then for people to purchase DVDs or digital downloads of the film.
If you are a fundraising campaign contributor and we owe you a digital download or DVD copy of the film we will work to get these to you as soon as possible, following the premier. We are hoping to provide a coupon code that people can use to redeem their digital download online immediately. DVDs will likely take 1 - 2 weeks to package and ship.
More details regarding the release will be coming soon. Tickets will be available for pre-purchase and we HIGHLY recommend anyone interested in attending to do so. We will provide you with a way to pre-purchase online AS SOON as its available.
Thank you, Thank you to everyone for your patience and support!</blockquote>
As in past years, the SBCSA is holding our annual awards and recognition banquet on the same day as the CCSF which allows marathon swimmers to attend both banquets. The CCSF banquet will be in the morning while the SBCSA will have an evening dinner. There will be a fun, social swim between the two banquets.
CCSF banquet - 10am to 2pm
Open Water Social Swim (Cabrillo Beach) – 3pm to 4pm
SBCSA banquet 5:30pm – 8pm (includes private screening of the marathon swim movie called “Driven”)
The SBCSA is pleased to provide a private screening of the marathon swim movie called “Driven.” If you are a marathon, open water or pool swimmer, you will want to see this independent documentary film by Element 8 Productions. The movie chronicles the experiences of three individuals, each with their own goals and motivations, as they test their mental and physical limits by attempting to swim across the Santa Barbara Channel.
The SBCSA banquet and movie screening will be held at Raffaello Ristorante in San Pedro, California. The cost for both is only $25.00 per person (no host bar) or $18.75 for SBCSA lifetime members. If you plan to attend, please includes the names of the guests in your party and send a check made payable to the SBCSA by October 31st to:
Please mail checks to:
SBCSA % Scott Zornig
1 Rockrose Court
Coto de Caza, CA 92679
Restaurant address:
Raffaello Ristorante
400 S. Pacific Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
http://www.plazatheatercarpinteria.com/#/calendar/1019-driven
As Scott said, there will be another showing at the SBCSA banquet in November.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Dan Boyle
Patrick Brundage
Kimberley Chambers
Bart Cobb
David Conners
Cathy Delneo
Suzie Dods
Cherie Edborg
Gary Emich
Marta Gaughen
Joshua Green
Gordon Gridley
Niek Kloots
Lynn Kubasek
Michael Leake
Tony Lillios
Paul Lundgren
Tanya MacLean
Glenn Mills
Jim Neitz
Kent Nicholas
Jamie Patrick
Courtney Paulk
Julian Rusinek
Paul Saab
Charlotte Samuels
Sir Sharko
Brandon Sullivan
David Yudovin
Scott Zornig
Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
NOTE: I got these names from the Indiegogo page. If I somehow missed your name or failed to recognize you, I apologize - please let me know so I can add it here. Thanks also to the many anonymous contributors.
Sorry I won't make this first curtain call for "Driven" in my hometown of Carpinteria...many fond memories in Carp where I graduated from the original High School on Carpinteria Avenue (now the jr high) in 1967...and can you believe it El Sharko was a reefer smoking student body president!!! and local beach lifeguard at Carp State beach...please express my love for Carp and friends in the audience as there are probably going to be a few or my former classmates at the showing. Looking forward to seeing "it" soon...congratualtions on being driven and getting to the other side!!!
Sharko
"I never met a shark I didn't like"
I appreciate your comment about "getting to the other side." I didn't truly understand what this meant until the swim documented in this film. Nothing else mattered!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
It was excellent.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Beautifully filmed, the movie does an excellent job of documenting the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of marathon swimming. Ben's narrative, interviews with the swimmers, and footage of their swims create an experience both intense and inspirational ~ there was more than one instance of spontaneous applause, cheering, and shout-outs from the audience!
Additional commentary by Scott Zornig, Ned Denison, and David Yudovin, serve to complete the picture of what a Channel swimmer encounters on their journey.
Last night I watched the DVD with a group of friends and family...mostly non-swimmers. They were as impressed with the movie as was the audience at the premiere.
This is a documentary you and your friends (yes, even non-swimming friends) can look forward to seeing!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
<))><
@rxleakem, Vermont? But that's farther than CA to VA, certainly! I hope mine is in the mailbox when I get home!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
"I never met a shark I didn't like"
And the sections w/ Ned, Scott, and my guardian swim angel David.
These are my people. Sooo glad this got made.
Got mine last night but can't watch it till this weekend.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
And, when are we doing a screening at SERC?
http://www.marathonswimmovie.com/blog-journal/
Can't wait for it to arrive :-)
I watched it today, a great look into our sport and the unique aspects of it. Wonderful storyline for the three main swimmers, with excellent additional material from the guests. Just awesome!
<))><
Speaking of support crews... did anyone notice the unsung hero of the entire movie? @AquaRob! The bearded gentleman was everywhere, even some of the secondary scenes. It could be a drinking game...
If there's one niggling criticism I have, it's the lack of emphasis on support crew. Rob was on 2/3 of the crossings... would have been interesting to hear his perspective. One of my other crew was the first American Olympic open water swimmer... would have been interesting to hear his perspective.
But I know there's always great stuff left on the cutting room floor, and that's how this game works. All considered I was pretty blown away with the finished product.
Btw, I've been showing the movie to friends and family and they all dig it. I think it helps them understand what I'm up to all summer a little better
Thanks
Checked in here recently and very much appreciating the feedback on the film.
A couple notes about DVDs and downloads:
DVDs are currently formatted to NTSC Region 0 (worldwide/unformatted) and should play worldwide on NTSC compatible DVD players. We recommend, however, that you confirm that your DVD player is NTSC compatible before purchasing. My understanding is that most modern (European) DVD players come NTSC/PAL/SECAM compatible.
Also, apologies for not having digital downloading up and running yet. What can I say... excuses excuses. But I'll be working on it this week, and hope to have something up for everyone by next weekend.
Thanks everyone!
ben