Beagle Boogie Babe

'Child' Reunion Gig!

2011-12-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody,

Mark your calendars, Child is having a reunion on February 18th at the Rockspot in West Seattle! It's going to be a great show! Child was one of Seattle's best, if not the best, bands during the 70's. Some of their songs are in Beagle Boogie Babe.

Below are the details:

OK, the "Child" reunion gig has been confirmed !!
February 18th, Rocksport in West Seattle.
Advance tickets will be available soon @ www.ticketweb.com
Special guests to be announced in the near future. Stay tuned !

Rain City Cinema's website is up and running!

2011-12-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Just thought I'd let you know that Rain City Cinema now has a website! The address is: raincitycinema.com

You know longer need to go to the blogs, and will be redirected to the website if you do.

Please check often for updates.

Beagle Boogie Babe Bumper Stickers!

2011-11-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

We now have Beagle Boogie Babe bumper stickers and are handing them out. They are available at Scarecrow Video and Northwest Film Forum in Seattle.

New Website And Facebook For Rain City Cinema!

2011-11-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

We now have Facebook pages for Rain City Cinema and Beagle Boogie Babe, and are in the process of creating a website for Rain City Cinema. You can now Twitter us too @raincitycinema.

The blogs for Beagle Boogie Babe and Broken Frame will be changing, and may be going away. We will let you know the details when it's all up and running.

Film Festivals Here We Come!

2011-11-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

We are gearing up for a run at 22 film festivals so far. More updates coming soon!

In the meantime, please "Like" us on our Facebook pages for Rain City Cinema and Beagle Boogie Babe. It really will show the festivals that we have fans.

Beagle Boogie Babe scores fantastic marks!

2011-10-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

The results are in and Beagle Boogie Babe is a big hit! After test screenings in Seattle and at Lost Prairie the surveys we handed out have been tallied and more than 80% of the respondents said they would recommend the film to a friend, and gave it a 3.7 out of 5. These scores are amazing! Thank you for participating in the test screenings and for coming to the invitation only screening on October 22 where we had an overflow audience.

The Screening at Lost Prairie, Montana

2011-08-22T10:52:00.001-07:00

About a year ago I made a commitment to screen Beagle Boogie Babe at Lost Prairie's 44th boogie, with a special tribute showing, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Joan Carson who died in a skydiving accident at Lost Prairie.

I feel satisfied to have accomplished that goal, and honored to be telling Joan's story. Actually, I didn't tell her tory, she told it. Her story unfolded on its own in a manner that amazed and surprised us. We have presented it in the film in the same order in which it unfolded for us so the audience can experience the story as we experienced it.

Before we made the film I made the decision to not pre-screen the interviewees because I wanted the story to be an adventure and to be fresh for the crew, interviewees, and me.

Also, I was on a quest to answer a personal question about my experiences with Joan in 1973 and did not want to bias the interviews in any way. So, other than the brief amount of time I had spent with Joan, the only other knowledge I had about her came from a Medford, Oregon skydiver who provided a brief outline of Joan's whereabouts. Even my contact with Joan's brother and sister were kept to a minimum prior to their interviews.

Beagle Boogie Babe is first hand, refreshing, honest and is from Joan, not me. I acted as a conduit as I pursued her story. The result is a thought provoking and unique film.

My experiences with Joan are reflected in the film. They were the inspiration for making it and provide the emotional foundation for the narration and conflict in the story.

The movie is based entirely on true and actual events. We learned that Joan was a complex person with many sides to her.

The making of Beagle Boogie Babe provided me with a better understanding of what drove Joan Carson to take up skydiving and continue on after suffering two serious accidents, and the allure that the sport has on others.

Paul Gorman
Writer/Producer/Director of Beagle Boogie Babe

Beagle Boogie Babe has arrived at Lost Prairie!

2011-07-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

We arrived at Lost Prairie around 5:00 PM. Our cars are covered in dust about an inch thick due to the Montana Outback short cut we took...which consisted of 35 miles of dirt road. We won't try that route again.

A lot of changes have occured at Lost Prairie this year, but there are still a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. Isn't that what Lost Prairie is supposed to be all about.

Joan Carson's dream was to create a place where skydivers could live and congregrate and enjoy skydiving and each other's company. That hasn't changed. Everywhere we looked there was a smiling face, handshakes, high fives, hugs and the sound of laughter. Joan's dream lives on even 30 years after her death.

The film "Beagle Boogie Babe" is Joan Carson's story, and will be screening on July 31) at 11:00 AM. Let's celebrate Joan Carson's life and enjoy the legacy she left.

The above photos are as follows:

1. New LP camping area

2. Grip, Evan Anderson

3. Interviewer Susan Gorman is ready to boogie

4. Closed LP Lounge

Screening Update!!!

2011-06-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody.

Beagle Boogie Babe is currently in post production at Clatter and Din in Seattle and will be completed in time for two special tribute screenings at Lost Prairie.

The first screening will be held on July 29th, 2011 at Lake McGregor Resort from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. This event is invitation only for cast and crew and family and friends. Click here for directions.

The 2nd screening will be held at Lost Prairie (Meadow Peak Skydiving) and is open to those attending the boogie. This screening will be on Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 11:00 am.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Joan Carson's passing so let's celebrate Joan's life!

Paul Gorman
Writer/Producer/Director of Beagle Boogie Babe

P.S. For those attending the private screening on July 29th, please RSVP by July 15th so we can make sure there is enough food for everybody!

Special tribute screening of "Beagle Boogie Babe"!

2011-05-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hope everybody is getting ready for summer and planning on being at Lost Prairie for this year's boogie. Not only will it be the 44th annual boogie at Lost Prairie, but it will also mark the 30th anniversary of Joan Carson's passing. "Beagle Boogie Babe" is nearing completion and will be screened at Lost Prairie twice as a tribute to Joan. The first screening will be an invitation only event for cast and crew, and family and friends. It will be held on July 29, 2011. The second screening will be for everybody attending the boogie and will be held on July 30, 2011. Details of these two events are still being worked out, so please check back soon for further information.

Click here to see one last clip from the film. Hope you enjoy it, and hope to see you at Lost Prairie.

Paul Gorman
Rain City Cinema

Montage of re-enactment scenes

2011-03-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

The above montage is from re-enactment scenes filmed in Seattle on March 20, 2011. The actors are Megan Ann Jones (Joan) and Jesse Lee Keeter (Paul). Remember their names because you are going to be seeing a lot more of them in the future.

Click here to check out the trailer on Youtube.

Check out these two, new, hot Beagle Boogie Babe clips!

2011-02-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

The Beagle Boogie Station is on the air with two new hot clips! So, turn off your tube, and tune in to the BEAGLE BOOGIE BABE network and get some REAL action with these two new clips! Click here, to view the first clip, and here to view the second clip.

New Beagle Boogie Babe Clip!

2010-10-18T13:54:00.002-07:00

Click here to see an extended trailer for Beagle Boogie Babe. The clip is in High Definition and is hosted by invitation only on Youtube. It includes all of the interviewees, thus far, and was filmed in Lost Prairie, Montana, Medford, Oregon and San Francisco. At this stage we have completed a rough edit of the film, but plan to shoot some B-Roll footage and several scene re-enactments, which will then be added to the rough edit. Presently, the rough edit is about 2-1/2 hours, so we've got some cutting to do. We expect to wrap up filming soon and then focus on the final edit, sound mix and color correcting. Look for the premier in August, 2011. In the meantime, enjoy the clip and check back for more updates!

San Francisco here we come!

2010-09-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Medford had been hospitable and good to us. We hated to say goodbye to George Holberton and the Beagle Sky Ranch where Joan had become the first Beagle Boogie Babe, but we had an interview the following afternoon with her brother in San Francisco.

We departed Medford around 10:00am and were soon climbing the Siskyous. A short time later we were in California. Along the way, the temperature hit 104 degrees in Corning and I kept my fingers crossed that neither of our two vehicles would breadown.

Fortunately, we made it to San Francisco without any car problems.

It seemed fitting to wind up our interviews in the city that Joan loved so much and where I had gotten to know her.

A sister of mine lives in the city and offered to put us up. After almost a week of being on the road, it was great to be in a home again where we could eat something other than burgers or sub sandwiches.

We spent the following morning filming the places Joan and I had visited 37 years ago.

Later that day, we interviewed Joan's brother at his office in Fremont.

The following day we headed home to Seattle, buoyed by the wonderful people we had met and incredible interviews we had gotten. Beagle Boogie Babe had a life of its own, surprising us on this road trip beyond anything we could have imagined.

The drive home seemed to fly by. I have a hard time remembering any of its details.

Next up: We return to Lost Prairie to film some in-air skydiving in 3D.

Medford, Oregon

2010-09-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

The photos above are from our visit to the Beagle Sky Ranch where Joan became a Beagle Boogie Babe. We had an amazing time there, inspite of the 100 plus degree heat and a flat tire, and got some great interviews and aerial footage.

The Beagle Sky Ranch was started in the late sixties by George Holberton, but has recently shut down operation due to hard times. George still lives there and dreams of getting a new plane and starting up the skydiving center again. At 68 he still jumps occassionally so he just might. In any event, the spirit and warmth and legacy of the place still lives on.

Photos from top to bottom:
1.) Original Beagle Boogie Boys sign
2.) Mark takes off
3.) Mark lands
4.) Mark in plane
5.) George Holberton (founder of Beagle Sky Ranch) with babes in his hangar
6.) Mickey set lights
7.) Beagle Sky Ranch entrance
8.) Beagles parachuting
9.) Susan interviewing
10.) Scott Rogers getting ready for interview
11.) Debra being interviewed

Heading south

2010-08-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Wrapped up interviews in Lost Prairie and are heading to Beagle Sky Ranch in Medford where Joan skydived and got her nickname. We'll be interviewing more people who knew her there to add to the treasure trove we already have. We have a long drive ahead of us and are tired, but it's all been worth it. Will keep you posted. - Paul

On the Road Again

2010-08-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Below is an update from my wife Susan on our second visit to Lost Prairie to conduct interviews:

Beagle Boogie Babe is on the road again. Drove back to Lost Prairie yesterday and arrived as the sun was setting... on a drop zone filled with grazing cows! Where there was a buzz of action, sounds of planes, skydiving and drinking there is now the chirp of crickets and wind in the pines. Maybe the weekend will bring back more activity . Will keep you posted.

The photos above are as follows (from bottom to top)

9. Entering Montana on Hwy 2

8. Arriving at Lost Prairie

7. Joan's handmade flag

6. Joan (center) and friends

5. Joan breaking ground at Lost Prairie

4. Lost Prairie Lounge sign

3. Empty Lost Prairie Lounge

2. Lost Prairie Lounge's only customer

1. Joan's memorial

Various images from the Lost Prairie Boogie

2010-08-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

From top to bottom:

1. Mark filming landings
2. Mickey watches the overhead action
3. Setting up for interviews
4. Paul at Lost Prairie
5. Skydiver coming in for a landing
6. Memorial for fallen skydivers
7. Loading up a plane
8. More skydivers board a plane
9. Sunset at Lost Prairie
10. Mark explains shooting in 3D to Susan and the amazing Canon 5D Camera
11. Mark and Susan check out the action
12. Loading up another plane
13. Waiting for a plane
14. Finally boarding a plane
15. Lost Prairie Road sign
16. Joan's memorial
17. Landing at dusk
18. Dirt diving
19. Paul watches skydivers

Beagle Boogie Babe Update

2010-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

At 5:30 am on July 28 my wife Susan and I left our home in Redmond, WA and met our Director of Photography, Mark Anderson, at a Shell Station alongside I-90. 10 hours later we picked up our L.A. sound man, Mickey McMullen at the Missoula airport and headed for our hotel in Kalispell. We checked in and then drove out to Lost Prairie to scout the location and to introduce ourselves.

An oasis nestled deep in the wilderness about 50 miles west of Kalispell, Lost Prairie resembles an ancient Kootenai village and is a beehive of skydiving activity, characters and community. During the course of the next 3 days we would get some spellbinding interviews, stunning footage and get to know some of the people whose passion for skydiving has bonded them into a family for more than 30 years.

Joan Carson helped found Lost Prairie. Her dream was to live amongst fellow skydivers. Unfortunately, her time was cut short, but her legacy lives on. Almost everyone we talked with had a favorite 'Joanie' story.

Today, Joan's dream has grown into a thriving enterprise and a tight knit community, some of whom still live side by side, along with many others who return year after year for the annual week long boogie. When the first boogies started at Lost Prairie, they would get about 60 skydivers who would jump out of single-engined Beechcrafts. Today they attract 300 - 500 skydivers from all over the world who jump out of Dehavilland Twin Otters.

Admittedly, before we arrived in Lost Prairie I was concerned as to whether there would be enough of a story to make a film about Joan and skydiving, but Lost Prairie far exceeded my expectations. It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me and the crew. I am now convinced more than ever that Beagle Boogie Babe is going to be a great film.

The notes below are from my wife Susan's journal:

Day one of filming is over. Exhausting, but such great stories in our interviews. I'm learning more about skydiving than I ever thought possible.

Day 2 is done! More intriguing interviews, more passionate skydivers, rain and sun and lightening all blended with breathtaking jumps. No, I'm not that brave. Haven't tried a jump yet, but watched lots of them. An amazing sport!

We had a safe adventure, but it wasn't without its tragedies. There was a fatality the day we arrived, then a young woman broke her shoulder when she landed and another suffered a compound fracture of her femur needing to be airlifted out. What a crazy sport. Still trying to understand the appeal. Should provide for some interesting discussions, though, when Paul's movie is finished.

Stay tuned for updates as we return to Lost Prairie and then head to Medford and San Francisco for more filming.

Mojo Hand clip

2010-07-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

The above clip features Mojo Hand in an outdoor concert at Seward Park from the summer of 1973. The recording quality and sound mix are horrible, but the brilliance and raw energy of the band survives.

Lead singer/songwriter Michael Silversmith was way ahead of his time sporting a punk haircut, makeup and singing pre-rap lyrics. He also cuts loose with a scorching lead guitar riff near the end of the song.

Bassist Mark Seidenverg and drummer Darryl Siquenza would later go on to form the band TKO, putting out three albums, including the album "Let it Roll", which hit the top 100 for the year.

Guitarist Perry Johnson died in the late 70's from a brain tumor.

Darryl Siguenza performs in a band called Cat's Meow, and can be seen here belting out a song.

I am hoping that better audio recordings of the band survive which can be used in the film, but this is the only video that was taken. Too bad.

Vintage Skydiving

2010-07-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

Thought all of you old timers would enjoy this skydiving film. It was shot in the early 70's by my brother-in-law, Mike, while a student at the University of Minnesota. He's been kind enough to let me use it for Beagle Boogie Babe. Funny thing is, I had no idea he used to be a skydiver until he told me at a party several months ago.

2010-07-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

The above clip is a rough sketch of me cold-reading the script, and experimenting with various visual and editing techniques. None of this footage will be used in the actual film. Tom Petty seemed like a good stand-in, but I plan on using original Mojo Hand footage and music in the actual film. At this point it's still in the embryonic stage, but I'm excited about it. Hope you enjoy it.

Kalispell, Montana here we come!

2010-07-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that shooting for Beagle Boogie Babe will commence during the last week of July in Kalispell, Montana.

I am also pleased that longtime friend and collaborator Mark Anderson will be DP, and Mickey McMullen will do the production sound.

You can learn more about Mark here, while Mickey's profile can be found here.

Paul

Welcome to the blog for Beagle Boogie Babe.

2010-06-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

In 1981 Joan Carson died in a skydiving accident on a prairie in Montana. She was 30.

In his second feature length film, Paul Gorman reconstructs Joan's past in his attempt to understand what drove her to continue skydiving after suffering two serious accidents.

Joan was a friend of Paul's, so for him it is a personal quest to deal with a death that has haunted and perplexed him for many years. He also hopes the film will explain the mystery and events that led up to that fateful day, and provide the audience with a better understanding of why people skydive and take part in extreme sports.

Filming begins this summer in Kalispell, Montana, and then it's on to Medford and San Francisco with a final wrap in Seattle.

Stay tuned for more details.

Photo of Joan Carson

2010-06-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

This photo of Joan Carson was taken in Medford, Oregon sometime in the mid-seventies.