Wild and Scenic Film Festival - A Walk In The Park – the Teewinot Picnic
49 mi bike + 3 mi swim + 6000’ vertical climb (in under 24 hours with no support) = a walk in the park with Kelly Halpin.
Interview with Director Galen Knowles
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Kelly Halpin is a good friend of ours in Jackson. I remember the day after she did her first Picnic, we ran into her in town and were just dumbstruck when she explained yesterday’s adventure. It’s a 65+ mile round trip triathlon totally unsanctioned and totally human powered. After we heard her story, it was inspiring to us right off the bat and evident that this story needed to be shared. We made this film - A Walk In The Park - because we want to inspire others to push their limits and push out of their comfort zone to see what they’re really capable of.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think in every corner of our lives we are capable of more than we think. Sometimes it’s seeing someone else, who reminds you a little bit of yourself, push the boundaries and that can spark a drive to conquer bigger challenges. When you do surprise yourself, it’s an infectious feeling that translates into work, relationships, or lifestyle goals.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
So Kelly is an artist, inspired by the natural surroundings in Wyoming, and the universal theme is: Life is short, so why not try something new?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
We threw a lot of ideas around about how to demonstrate the process or introduce the mountains’ point of view - but in the end, Kelly’s voice and drive is what we found to be the most interesting and boiled it down to that.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
You know, at this point the film hasn’t been released to the public so I’m very excited/open to all kinds of feedback.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I sincerely hope it does :)
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I believe the more we share our process and work, the more people respond and that’s how collaboration thrives. Filmmaking is a team effort and stories are brought to life only when people feel like they can share with you.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
This project was supported by the Wyoming Office of Tourism and REI Co-Op. Anyone hoping to share the message is encouraged to reach out and become a part of the team!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
One reason the film is 10 mins long is because we felt it important to include multiple aspects of Kelly’s story and therefore give different people the opportunity to connect with this film. So whatever you are, an artist, a runner, a skier, a weekend warrior, or a girl trying to break through the glass ceiling, I hope Kelly’s story can give you the extra push it takes to step out of your comfort zone and combine that with a burning passion to test your potential.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How can we (with no impact on the environment) use the natural resources around us to better co-exist with nature and explore big outdoor goals on entirely human powered missions?
Would you like to add anything else?
Consider that Kelly biked 45+ miles, swam 3, and climbed 6000 vertical feet in just one day entirely on her own with no support...Yes we, the camera crew, ran along side her, but offered no physical support. Just being a witness to this led me to start trail running and discover a whole new way of experiencing the outdoors. Kelly is an animal and yet she’s also just a normal human being. I think we’re all capable of more than we imagine. Sometimes it takes a little extra creativity or imagination. To quote Kelly herself, “I’d like to thank cheeseburgers...because that might be the only reason I finished, was for a beer and a cheeseburger at the end.”
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Right now WZRD is developing a feature-length doc to shed light on the threat to our Public Lands and a few other pieces with the mission of inspiring people from all walks of life to be the best person they can.
Interview: January 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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A Walk In The Park – the Teewinot Picnic
49 mi bike + 3 mi swim + 6000’ vertical climb (in under 24 hours with no support) = a walk in the park with Kelly Halpin.
Length: 9’49”
Director: Galen Knowles
Producer: Phil Hessler and Zeppelin Zeerip
About the writer, director and producer:
WZRD is a cast of characters and directors who named the company loosely off the idea that “We Zeroed in on the Realities of our Dreams”. We say loosely because we find ourselves asking daily What is Zeppelin Really Doing. We sold Playstations to pay for cameras, then again for more expensive cameras. Two of us know how to read maps, the others don’t. Our stories have been told on seven continents, and outer space if you count the fact that the International Space Station has access to internet. Contact WZRD at info@wzrdmedia.com
Key cast: Kelly Halpin, Rob Kingwill, Tristen Greszko
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Film festivals and journalists
Funders: The Wyoming Office of Tourism & REI Co-Op
Made in association with: REI