Coastal Dreams – Making Waves by Riding Them
Environmental Adventure Documentary
Timothy S. Kessler Project Director
tk@coastaldreams.org
(530) 386- 2449
www.coastaldreams.org
1820 Law St. San Diego CA 92109
Amy Williamson
Project Director/ Videographer
amyw@fluidmotionpictures.com
(858) 361-4755
www.fluidmotionpictures.com
Table of Contents
I. Objective: Page 3
II. Project Description: Page 3
III. Video Development Process Overview: Page 3
IV. Cutting Edge ‘Reality’ Movie Making: Page 4
V. The Coastal Dreams Team (CDT): Page 5
VI. The Expedition: Page 5
VII. Celebrities, Athletes, Surfers, Popular Music: Page 5
VIII. Bridging Popular culture and the Environment Page 6
IX. Experts, Education, Environmental Controversy: Page 6
X. Website and Press Promotion: Page 6
XI. Distributor/Sponsor Appeal: Page 7
XII. The Opportunity: Page 7
XIII. Biography
Tim Kessler Page 8
Kevin Eslinger Page 9
Jamie Mitchell Page 10
Justin Mitchell Page 11
XVI. Appendix page 12
I. Objective:
To produce a documentary film about the once in a lifetime adventure of the Coastal Dreams Paddling Expedition. “The ultimate goal in undertaking this demanding and potentially dangerous journey is to bridge the divide between popular culture, and the need to educate the general public about the environmental choices we are making as a society on a daily basis.” – Tim Kessler
II. Project Description:
Coastal Dreams will be a cutting-edge, high-energy surfing adventure with a powerful and timely message: our ocean is rapidly approaching what the scientific community refers to as “the tipping point,” the point at which mankind’s destructive imprint will become irreversible. For this reason, the Coastal Dreams Team (CDT) has embarked upon a quest to expose this global calamity to the world. The story follows a group of four brave and talented surfers as they battle Mother Nature and the powerful Pacific Ocean while paddling and surfing the entire length of the California coastline, from Humboldt Bay in Southern Oregon to Tijuana, Mexico in Baja California, an 1100 mile journey in total. This film will also dramatize concern for the environmental health of the California coastline in order to raise public awareness as to:
The deteriorating quality of our coastal waters
The harm sustained by fish and wildlife that inhabit these waters
The increasingly common ill-health effects experienced by humans who play in and live near these waters
III. Video Development Process Overview:
Phase One: Preparation
Campaign along the California coast in order to educate, network and receive contributions
Interview with local, regional, national and international media outlets
Conduct meetings with non-profit groups, celebrities, surf teams, professional surfers, schools, volunteers and anyone interested in supporting our cause
Perform informational seminars about the expedition and offer some examples of the crisis we are upon to bring public awareness and support of our project
Assemble a mobile land-based public relations team who will coordinate meetings with press and affiliates in conjunction with the arrival dates in each location
Develop lesson plans for educators to utilize in the classroom setting so that students can follow the expedition via the Coastal Dreams Web site.
Phase Two: Production
Document all phases of the expedition team from a support boat via water and land
Juxtapose beauty and destruction
Conduct extensive interviews
Document challenges, triumphs, fears, surfing, public opinions, questions, and concerns
Phase Three: Post Production
A complete story about the expedition will be assembled. The end result will be approximately a 60-minute movie for television/DVD release. Our sponsors will be highlighted via credits, banners, logos on our boat, equipment and clothing, plus, product placement within the feature.
Phase Four: Mastering and Distribution
We will use a distribution company for television and DVD sales. Currently interested parties include The Ocean Channel. The feature will also be pitched to the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, PBS, Fuel TV, the Travel Channel and HBO.
Production Timeline:
February 2007- Phase One begins
September- November 2007- Phase Two begins and completes
December 2007- Phase Three begins
IV. Cutting Edge ‘Reality’ Movie Making:
This film will be a trend-setting montage of an adventure expedition, surfing, music, science, education, nature and popular culture. By its very nature, this is reality movie making at its best – the cameras will be focused on the team day in and day out, capturing candid conversations, unexpected developments and unfolding drama over a period of at least two-months. The story promises to be fun for all ages and guarantees to occasionally shock the unsuspecting. However, in the end, this film will be nothing short of a testament to the power and dedication of the human spirit, as the team strives to overcome physical and personal obstacles in order to educate, enlighten, and ultimately make a difference to everyone who participates. At every opportunity, the film will show how anyone, in very simple ways, can become an active participant in keeping our beaches and oceans safe for future generations, and in the process, discover and live our own coastal dreams.
V. The Coastal Dreams Team (CDT):
The team consists of five dedicated and well-respected water enthusiasts:
Jamie Mitchell (current and 5-time World Paddleboard Champion)
Justin Mitchell (brother and biggest contender to Jaime, an internationally ranked paddler)
Tim Kessler (ocean activist and team leader)
Kevin “Tarzan” Eslinger (extreme waterman, elite long distance paddler and coach)
Skip Frye (legendary surfer, shaper, and environmental activist).
By the CDT exposing themselves to the natural and unnatural elements over the course of the expedition, they will act as both observers and, in effect, guinea pigs, exploring the real time damage being sustained by coastal eco-systems, wildlife, fish, and human beings, as a result of current social policies and lack of firsthand awareness. (Individual bios attached)
VI. The Expedition:
This is not simply a journey; it is a once in a lifetime adventure! Like modern day explorers, the CDT will find themselves charting new territory, paddling through the shark infested waters of the infamous Red Triangle, battling major offshore currents, facing giant swells, unrelenting winds, bone-chilling temperatures, and at times, blinding fogs. Not to be overshadowed by the obvious risk is the inherent reward of having two months to literally surf the days away. The team will take advantage of every point break, reef and sand bar they venture upon, including some of the world’s best surf spots such as Mavericks, Santa Cruz Steamer Lane, Morro Bay, The Ranch, Malibu Pier, Huntington Beach, Rincon, Dana Point, Trestles, Blacks, Windan’Sea and Big Rock.
VII. Celebrities, Athletes, Surfers, Popular Music:
Buoyed by an eclectic sound track, featuring popular rock, folk, rap, blues and jazz groups, the film will chronicle this expedition from start to finish, following our four heroes in search of the life-changing lessons for young and old alike. The team will be joined on various segments of their journey by well-know television and movie celebrities, professional big name surfers, athletes, journalists, and anyone else who paddles out to meet them along the way.
VIII. A Bridge between Popular Culture and Current Environmental Issues:
The film will have broader appeal than previous environmental films, because this film will be a combination of an adventure-filled expedition, in a ‘reality’ type setting, and
contain the allure of top named surfers and celebrities, the controversial coastal pollution issues, and educational insights as to how we can all make a difference. This film targets a global audience that will appeal to demographic segments including but not limited to teenagers, adults, athletes, parents, educators, and children alike.
IX. Experts, Education, Environmental Controversy:
Coastal Dreams includes points of view from prominent experts throughout the world: scientists, biologists, oceanographers, environmentalists, sustainable development advocates, coastal farmers, agricultural business organizations, politicians, Native Americans, fishermen, surfers, divers, and various other ocean enthusiasts. It will contrast the majestic natural beauty of the California coastline with the manmade cityscapes of California’s burgeoning urban areas and ever increasing population. The story will further relate the current statistics regarding sewage treatment and release procedures, the increasing amounts of toxins occurring in our coastal marine life, the significance of increasing methyl mercury levels in humans, the disappearance of coastal marshes and wetlands, the dumping of waste products in the open ocean, levels of bacteria measured near popular beaches, and opposing points of view by featuring interviews with corporate builders, developers, politicians and agricultural lobbyists.
X. Web site and Press Promotion:
A Web site will be launched and promoted prior to the beginning of the expedition. As the film follows the progress of the expedition team, the website will keep the general public abreast of new developments on a daily basis, including:
The results of daily testing of water samples for bacteria levels
Info on any visiting guest paddlers/surfers/celebrities
Updated photos
Podcasts/interviews that can be downloaded and emailed (film teasers)
Screensaver-quality photos
Links to information and tools
A live web cam
XI. Distributor/Sponsor Appeal:
A distributor is currently being sought for the film. Our goal is to find a distributor that will gear the release towards nationwide and possibly worldwide audiences. Another
goal is for the project to air at Sundance Film Festival. The growing worldwide concern for environmental issues is the key to the film’s ultimate cross-audience appeal.
Corporate advertising based upon green issues is appearing on an increasing basis, as the recently released An Inconvenient Truth (an environmental documentary) has become the highest grossing documentary film of all time! We have also seen worldwide appeal in surfing as seen in films such as Stacey Peralta’s Riding Giants and Dana Brown’s Step into Liquid, which were highly successful in theatres around the country as well as home DVD sales.
With that being said, there is a need for a cutting-edge film that bridges the gap between popular entertainment and the need for information on current environmental issues; and urban runoff pollution is a high profile issue that has been surrounded by controversy. Citizens around the country are becoming more involved in grass roots issues that relate to the health and well being of our communities; and whether these citizens live on the west coast or elsewhere in the United States, they feel a loss at the destruction of our coastal environments and the contamination of our beaches; they seek information as to what they can do to help, and our goal is to encourage the public to take a proactive role in coastal conservation, and ultimately, empower them with the motivation to make a difference.
XII. The Opportunity:
We encourage you to be a part of this once in a lifetime journey – to embrace this opportunity to stand up and speak the truth. We are currently accepting donations and applications for sponsorship.
For distribution or acquisition inquiries, please contact Tim Kessler at tk@coastaldreams.org
“The old story of man versus nature... historically, that is where we seek the thrill, but it is also where we find the answer. We are one in the same, man and nature, and until we respect that connection, there will be a battle that nobody wins.” - Tim Kessler
XIII. Biography
Tim Kessler
Coastal Dreams Creator/ Visionary
Project Director/ Team Paddler
Waterman/ Surfer
Started surfing at age 10, under the wings of Skip Frye
Member of the Windan’Sea Surf Club at age 13
Competitive paddleboarder
Environmental Activist
Former Commercial Fisherman
Writer
Kevin “Tarzan” Eslinger
Extreme Waterman
Competitive Swimmer
Renowned Paddleboarder
Open Water Coach
Avid Surfer
Competitive swimmer
from age 9- 20
Covina Aquatics & USC
Paddleboard
1st in the “Bay 2 Bay” on homemade board- 1997
1st in “San Clemente Triathlon” -2000
1st “Catalina Classic”- 2000
2nd (by 24sec) “Catalina Race”-2001
Finished “San Clemente Island Paddle” (70m-14h 10m)- Oct.28th, 2002
Paddled “Catalina Race” on 50-year old/50lb Peterson Kookbox Paddleboard-2005
Paddled “Santa Barbara Island Paddle to Ocean Beach (101 nautical miles)” 29hrs.,31min.-Sept. 23rd 2005
Jamie Mitchell
Waterman
Professional Paddleboarder
Lifeguard
Water-Patrolman
Tow-In Surfer
Sponsored by Quicksilver
Currently ranked #1 in international paddleboarding
Winner Molokai to Oahu (32 miles) Paddleboard Race- Hawaii
Winner Hennesey’s International Paddleboard Race (8 miles)- Hawaii
Winner Quiksilver Australian Open Paddleboard Race
Winner 20k Waterman’s Challenge-Australia
Member #1 ranked Outrigger Australia OC-6 Canoe Team
Winner Hennessey’s U.S. Paddleboarding Championships (11 miles)
Winner Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race (32 miles)
Justin Mitchell
Brother of Jamie Mitchell
Waterman
Professional Paddleboarder
International Competitive Paddleboard Racer
APPENDIX
Non-Profits
WildCoast
Surfrider Foundation
Coast Keeper
Heal the Ocean
Media
The Ocean Channel
The Swift Movement
Yousurftubes.com
Action Sports Group-Media
VIP’s
Jeff Bridges
Actor/Narrator- (Wish list)
Skip Frye
Legendary Surfer/ Shaper/ Environmentalist
Donna Frye
San Diego City Council Member/ Environmentalist
Dr. John McCosker
Director of the Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Scripps Institute
Oceanographic Institute
Glenn Henning
Co-Created Surfrider Foundation/ Groundswell Society/Rocket Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ryan Condor
High Fashion Designer
Mark Massara
Attorney/ Ocean Activist/ Director of Sierra Clubs “Great Coastal Places” Campaign
Elizabeth Pepin
Producer at KQED San Francisco/ Documentary Filmmaker
Himaya Sunscreen
Bird Rock Yoga
Bareback Grill
Professional Surfers
Brad Gerlach
Rob Machado
Allan Sarlo
Malloy Brothers