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Midwest Ski Resort Film -- Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan

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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10

Hello NS community,


I am a senior at Loras College in Dubuque Iowa, and I'm currently an intern with ABC in NY. In order for me to graduate in May I need to create a project that has a massive production value, and summarizes all that I have learned over the past 4 years. Please read the below email that I am sending to prospective resorts to see if your interested, if you are, please read further for what I’m asking of NS members

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To whom it may concern:

My name is Marcus Soukup and I'm a senior media studies major at Loras College in Dubuque Iowa. In order to graduate from Loras I have to create a final project that summarizes my studies in a major media project. The project that I would like to tackle is a Midwest Ski Resort television show; a singular episode that takes a look at the major resorts in the Midwest in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. This project is in its infant stages, but I am just testing the waters between all the resorts to see what the participation level will be.

My ideal projection for this project would be a spotlight on each resort with accompanied with a montage of clips of the area's best skiing and snowboarding talent, with possibly a local band's original music.

With the spotlight we would cover the brief history of the resort, why people should come to the resort, the different areas the resort has to offer, a tour of the runs, possibly even some behind the scene footage of your snowmaking ability or some other portion of your resort that you would like to spotlight.

With the montage if you would happen to know of some of the best talent in the area that I could get in contact with for the shoot. It would be ideal to line this up ahead of time with the local talent, but if not we'll be bringing a few of our own skiers, but would prefer the local edge.

The overall aim of this piece is to tell the viewers that although CO is the mecca of skiing in N. America, that they don't have to go the distance to get an amazing ski/snowboard experience at their local resorts. With these spotlights, I would project an increased interest of these local ski resorts across the Midwest. As I said this project is in its preliminary stages, but the end goal would be distributing this program in all the states involved to the local cable stations, as well as any broadcasting station that would air it.

Our timeline for the shoot will follow as such:  my internship will be over in the middle of January, which I'll then head out to CO with my friends family for a ski vacation for the rest of the month. During this time I'll be getting shots of CO from the various resorts and possibly having talent lined up to be there as well to shoot an intro about how CO is so amazing, but why travel all this way when you have so many hidden gems so close to home. Then when I come back for the semester starting on the 28th of January, I expect that following week and every weekend after that until the snow melts, that we will kick it into full gear and film as much as possible at all the resorts.

The only necessary monetary contribution from the resorts would be lift tickets and ski rentals for the crew on the day of the shoot. Some of us, including myself do have our own skis, but some do not. If you could contribute any more to help cover the cost of video equipment rental, tapes, gas, hotel accommodations (for those resorts that are many hours away). If you would happen to know if your sponsors are willing to fund such a project, or know of any businesses in the area that would be willing to contribute, that would be a great help.

If you're a little leery about a student doing a project on this scale, I am not your usual student. I am currently in NY because I was accepted as an intern with ABC for the show, Good Morning America. When I'm at home I freelance for the production company, Metro Studios(www.metrostudios.com), as well as Mediacom, the local cable company for the local access programming. Up until my leave for my current internship I directed our campus sports show, SportsZONE, which recently won the award for best college program in the Midwest. I have also participated in multiple projects/commercials which have one state and national awards.

This project will determine if I graduate or not, so trust me when I say, that I will put my heart and soul into the project. I am a avid skier and media student, and to combine my two passions into a project, such as this, will mean great things for those involved.

I hope you can find time to consider this project, I know I'm getting excited with the snow falling, my co-workers who live out in Jersey tell me about the 3inches on the ground they just received, and it's making me jealous!

I hope to be in contact with you soon .

Thank you.
Marcus Soukup
Namic56@GMail.com
(c) 319.202.0191

Loras College
1450 Alta Vista St.
Dubuque IA, 52001

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OKAY! So, if your on board, I’m looking for some on-camera talent that can kick some ass on the slopes, and be composed while in front of the camera. I’m also looking for local talent who can tear it up on their local hill and be filmed. ALSO if you have a band and some original music that you would like in the movie, I would love to hear it. This project is in its infant stages, but as I already see resorts in the Midwest opening up, it’s time to start planning my project. I am in NY until the beginning of Jan. which I’ll then be going to CO for two weeks or so, in which I will be getting some footage of the views up there for broll in the film.

Now some of you might be thinking, wtf is Loras College? Loras has an amazing media program, we have access to HD cameras, a stedicam, a 15’ jib, and we have an Apple Mac lab of 15 new desktop macs, which are backed by our 9TB SAN. We’ve won multiple awards across the state/Midwest and even a few of us have won some national awards. I hope that you take this as a serious request, and if you would like to participate, please let me know!

Also, if you happen to be a local company who would like their name attached to this film in exchange for financial support, please contact me as well.

Thank you all for your attention, I look forward to this ski season!

Oct 31 2008 3:15PM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
lol, yes I haven't sent it out officially yet, I'm just anxious to start, and as I wait for my professor to send me back an edited version, I thought I'd post my draft of the letter to just get feedback from the masses.
Nov 1 2008 1:08PM
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paulbunyan
Posts: 3106 - Karma: 94
im with allen
Nov 1 2008 6:44PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
i think the music idea is pretty sweet. in welch you could go to hob goblin in red wing and get like some celtic music and in duluth horner works with those guys making their music videos im sure they would be down.
Nov 2 2008 2:53PM
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RussellK141
Posts: 810 - Karma: 63
marcus, for some original sundown music, talk to ben haggarty. hes in a band called Old Men, Dead Dogs.
Nov 2 2008 11:42PM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I just want to clarify -- The focus of the piece isn't the talents of the locals, but reality that you don't need to go all the way out to CO for a good time, that there are plenty of resorts in your backyard. So there would be interviews with the staff at each location, tour of the facilities, etc. Don't get me wrong, as I said there will be a song and dance portion where the local talent, both abilities on the hill and with musical instruments. I want to marry both your typical ski video with a marketing piece on the resorts of the area.

Thanks guys for the suggestions --- keep em coming!
Nov 2 2008 11:50PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
i think the skiing community is what makes it more fun here. i mean we basically know everyone. out in colorado you know no one.
Nov 3 2008 12:28AM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
i think the community of people at these resorts would enhance their ski/snowboard experience.  
Nov 3 2008 12:45AM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
I'm lovin this new feedback!

ALSO keep in mind, that nothing is set in stone -- This is all a theory, and can be changed.

The reason I brought up the last point, is my professor would never allow me to do your typical ski video with music. He needs high quality production value, so that means well lit interviews, creative shooting, using multiple equipment situations, such as the jib, dolly, steadicam, etc..

Now if I were a student in CO -- then your skiing with music could work for my professor because it deals with a great deal of producing and production value to get up to those peaks to shoot. But since I am geographically located in the midwest next semester, the production value for video taping you guys tear it up on the local hill, just isn't enough. Unless there is some crazy story out there about one of you who was on the brink of death, but then skiing saved your life or something --- then I could do a documentary.

But anyways, things can always change --- keep the feedback coming!
Nov 3 2008 12:50AM
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travis_halverson
Posts: 1012 - Karma: 359
Do you have a list of ski areas you plan to go to or is that still up in the air?

Because like daveb said, there are very few ski areas in the midwest that can actually compare in anyway shape or form to resorts out west.  But its not like you could go to all of them anyways.  How many ski areas were you thinking?
Nov 3 2008 12:58AM
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scratchproteen
Posts: 5173 - Karma: 286
pachaderm studios is in the country by my house...lots of people go their to record...thats where nirvana made their cd's
Nov 3 2008 1:02AM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
Here is the link to the Good Morning America: NOW piece.

This is the segment that was produced 100% by me! It has Lynsey Dyer and Seth Wescott being interview with GMA: NOW along with footage from Warren Miller's new film, Children of Winter --- I've seen it like 5 times over this past month - it's awesome!!

So anyways, here it is!!!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6167166
Nov 3 2008 10:55AM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
I wouldnt say that.  On any given day, I know at least half the skiers in the keystone park, and I missed 4 months last season.  It's not as big and filled with pros as you think.
Nov 3 2008 7:17PM
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JPSchuss
Posts: 46 - Karma: 19
undefined   Ideas Ive thought of...   there is a college program in Ironwood, MI that has a Ski Area Management Program..   Many intresting ideas there.....   Student run ski hill, 'ski bum life-in-training', maybe a follow up of past grads in/out of the industry. .....   I like youre idea of behind the scene of a ski hill.... I could write a book of all the crazy things, people and stuff ive seen in the industry. .......  History of the midwest.. things like how Fred Pasbt started the midwest skiing movement in the 30's, the perfection of snowmaking and how it started here, the SMI Snowgun factory in Midland, MI,,,,  the Ski Hall of Fame in Ish-pa-tucky...... the mom and pop ops that still make it today in the age of newer and better, and their life long dreams of skiing in the heartland......  2 am ski sessions in the metro areas, who's out  at that hour,.... ski seasons in Cincinnatti as long as seasons in Detroit, and how they do it,,,, death of the surface lift, and how they created what we have now....
Nov 6 2008 11:27PM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
That's some great suggestions! I didn't know about the snow gun factory in MI -- thats going on my must have stops for this project! I didn't know about Fred Pabst either, could be a brief history lesson for the piece.....I didn't know about the museum either..........interesting

I'd like to pick your brain some more
Nov 7 2008 4:12PM
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Hard
Posts: 457 - Karma: 653
i think your best interview you will have is Mr. dreads at spirit mt i think he has the most to say
Nov 8 2008 9:39AM
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Wundy
Posts: 371 - Karma: 22
The majority of the Park Crew at Wild mountain is made of skiers. and management is pretty stoked on us this year so if you were interested in Wild we could probably help you work with them to make something happen.
Nov 8 2008 1:40PM
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Inbred_Redneck
Posts: 2776 - Karma: 28
Sounds pretty sweet, me and some buddies down in Iowa City hit up Sundown every weekend.  Hit us up if you need any clips.
Nov 9 2008 8:53PM
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Namic56
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
My home is in Fairfax by Cedar Rapids -- are you originally from the IC area, or just go to UofI?
Nov 11 2008 2:23PM
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SkiMQT
Posts: 576 - Karma: 118
IDEAS:

1.   Marquette Mountain will do pretty much anything you need for your filming:  Crazy good riders, with a HUGE park, Back county cliffs in bounds and real powder days, especially around when you plan on shooting.     Vern (GM) and Myself Brandon Croney, are also graduates of the SKI AREA MANAGEMENT program from Ironwood that was spoken of a few topics ago.    I pretty much have anything you need from Snowcat avaliblity to beautiful scenery of Lake Superior, and I can set up any photo shoot I want, at any time.   

2.    SKI AREA MANAGEMENT  (SAM program)  is a very good Idea, I am a graduate about 8 years ago and now I own my own ski store.  But many kids from that 2 year program end up staying out west after thier interns, and others are now General Managers of resorts, my best friend  & (SAM)is now the GM @ Crothed Mtn, NH
IRONWOOD Community College         JIM VANDERSPOOL   906.932.4231  ext. 269

3.   I am BRANDON CRONEY  I just open a Twin tip Specific ski shop called THE COMPOUND, I have been the freestyle coordinator at Marq Mtn for events like MIDWEST SUPERPARK and the MM Affiliates youth freestyle team.  Marquette is a  very chill scene and I truely beleive andmany would agree that Marquette is one of the best places in the Midwest for a lot of things.
I can help you with many things for your story please feel free to call.   (906) 360-7262     or store number (906) 228-SNOW     or email     bcroney@gmail.com

4.  MT BOHEMIA.  2 hours north of Marquette      THE ONLY brand new ski area in the midwest in the last 20 years.  "Backcountry ONLY"  they don't even own a groomer.."THE ALTA of the MIDWEST"
Lonnie the owner is awesome and would totally be helpful to you.

5. THE PORKIES    "CAT skiing"  with an old LMC touring cat, also owned by the bohemia owner Lonnie.   I am not going to give Lonnies info out online, but you an call me and I will help with that info.


Well thats some ideas for you an if you wish to call me I can help you maybe organize your trip around the midwest, I know more GM and employees of other mountians, but it would take al night to type.


Peace-
BRANDON CRONEY
The COMPOUND
(906)360-7262
bcroney@gmail.com
Nov 11 2008 9:27PM
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Inbred_Redneck
Posts: 2776 - Karma: 28
I've been living here for four years, I'm 17 so no college yet.  Our crew consists of like 5 or 6 boarders and me as pretty much the only skier.  But we spend alot of time up at sundown and will probably be filming or looking for someone to film with this winter.
Nov 12 2008 6:20PM
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