I have been down all week with the flu and I still feel pretty rough.
I watched a National Geographic documentary about climbing Mt. Everest, which was interesting. I used to be a huge climbing fan, reading about Sir Edmund Hillary, and Chris Bonington, among others. I also went and saw Lute Jerstad do a slide presentation about his Everest climb. I believe he was the second American to reach the summit.
One of the crazy parts of the documentary was the Death Zone. When you are above 8000 meters you are in what is considered the “Death Zone”. The altitude is above the point which the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time.
The climbers passed through this area and there are bodies lying around of people who didn’t make it. It is considered too dangerous to bring the bodies down from that level so they are left where they fell. A creepy reminder that what you’re doing is pretty damn dangerous.
This is a crazy image, at some points if the weather is good there could be a couple hundred people trying to summit on a single day.
Here is the doc -
Why do I tell you this? Because that night I dreamt I climbed Everest with a group of others and the scenery was amazing. A real Technicolor dream! After I summited, coming back down the mountain, I was annoyed that the Sherpas made a mistake and took my hat, coat, and goggles down the mountain before I was able to descend. So I walked down Everest from 27,000 feet, in sneakers, jeans, and a light fleece top.
When I woke up, I got out of bed to use the bathroom and my right foot was really hurting. Probably from walking across all of those rocks.
Yes, I have weird dreams.
I don’t feel up to writing much more, so how about I show you one of my films?
From back in 1993, one of my most popular short films (7 min) about my old Toyota pick-up being stolen and totaled. I also interviewed 4 other people with their own stolen car stories, including my Father.
Ladies and Gentleman,
I present to you, Stolen Toyota
In case you were wondering, Stolen Toyota has been broadcast on various PBS stations, Canadian, and Australian television in 1996).
It screened at the Aspen and Denver Film Festivals, Virginia Film Festival of American Film, the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, and the Mill Valley Film Festival.
As usual, Thank You for reading, subscribing, and supporting my writing and filmmaking.
Remember, if you don’t like what I’m writing these days then unsubscribe. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Hopefully I’ll feel better next week. Take care all.
A1 Trophy Company
I’m sure most of you had no idea that I did a reading from one of my books in Santa Monica, California in 1965. Opening the T.A.M.I. show, I shared the stage with the Rolling Stones, The Supremes, James Brown, Chuck Berry, and so many more. I was introduced by Jan & Dean. The downside was I was cut from the final film. (The same thing happened to me years later at Woodstock.) Here is that rare footage of me reading a segment from my story about the time I worked running a drill press at a trophy factory. Enjoy!
If you like the story please head over to my website (www.angryfilmmaker.com) and pick up a copy of the book. I would appreciate it.
Don’t let the bastards get to you!
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Check out my books, as well as my films, and Angry Filmmaker merchandise on my site. www.angryfilmmaker.com