As Scene On TV
  

  My Local has a TV show now.  It seems like only yesterday, but it was actually near 5 years ago that my buddy, Casto shared with me his lofty dream to reach the riding public through the wonder of television.  We talked while watching friends play in a softball game.  The team, “Rookies & Cream” won the game and they kicked Casto and I out of the stadium and into the parking lot, where we discussed ABATE, motorcycle issues, freedom, rider demographics and where we went wrong in life, well into the night.  Casto was thoroughly convinced that we needed to get some television exposure.  He’d always had a deep interest in the public access television thing, figuring that if Wayne ’s World could make it, we could at least jump that high.  The idea for “Biker Nation, the Public Access Television Show” was officially conceived.

 

   We continued to pay lip service to the idea for years. He’d called the local cable television company and they told him about the hours and hours of classes we’d have to complete before getting our big bad certification.  It scared the hell outta us.  First off, none of us had the time, and secondly, we needed at least six other people to join us to qualify for a class.  So, for years the idea remained on the back burner. Then, last summer, Casto dusted off the dream and set out to finally make it happen. He asked for volunteers at a monthly meeting, and magically, a great group of people signed up. Near the Thanksgiving Holiday, eight of us showed up for our first class. We were apprehensive, yes, but we knew the importance of what we were about to do; change things.

 

   I was impressed with the people who showed up to become our “Certified Public Access Producers”, some of our best and brightest people, from all walks of life.  We had a lot of fun playing with $20,000 dollar cameras and messing up all the knobs in the cutting room.  Then, an epiphany struck. Casto happened to notice that the optics in my personal digital video camera were similar to those in the $20,000 camera we’d get to “borrow.” Moreover, both machines used the exact same Mini DV format.  Turns out, we didn’t need their fancy schmancy video equipment, or to schedule studio time at all, because technologically has progressed to the point where we were able to produce the entire program with store bought video cameras and a home computer downloaded with editing software! I went to Target and got a box of malted milk balls, Whoppers, and poured ‘em into a bowl and ate ‘em as I cut up their cardboard carton into a microphone thingy just like they have on the evening news.  Such professionalism!

 

   And it worked! We went to a couple runs, filmed a couple personal member bios and made Casto’s dream a reality.  We got our friend Keenan from the band, Johnny Voodoo to give us some copyrighted music and Lunar Larry did up a Biker Nation re-mix to play over the credits. We went on the air a couple weeks ago and had a small celebration at a local watering hole where everyone got to see us up there on the TV, interviewing the Local 19 crew at their Toy Run.  We showed a few of our Business Members. We talked about the Motorcycle Awareness Rally in Sacto. We talked about the importance of rider training. We showed a scene from the West Coast Thunder Memorial Day Run. We included some bloopers. And we dedicated our first show to the memory of Pastor Tom “Big Dog” Rietveld.

 

   A lot of people put in a lot of time to turn things around for motorcycle riders in California . Mike, Bob, Oscar, Kayvon, Rockey, Rich, Casto and Groovy did more to change our “public perception” than I could EVER do with a couple years worth of meetings and press releases.  They made us look really good, really fast. Interesting stories, cool vintage photos, and viewers actually learned about ABATE while being entertained.  It really hit me when I learned more about an ABATE member in a two minute interview than I’d ever known about him after 12 years of being friends.   

 

   My life has gotten crazy with projects in the last few months. Everything seems to be happening all at once and I’m close to having a serious meltdown.  Needless to say, my butt miles are way down these days, as I spend all my time exchanging emails and writing these fool columns.  Our public access instructor, Gary, said that a good editor could take crap footage and splice together an award winning scene. Our editor, Groovy, did just that. She took a bunch of “test footage” that Casto, Boots and I filmed while riding one day. (Yes, I film while I ride, don’t try this at home, I’m a skilled professional.) She took pieces of various snippets and put together an incredible riding sequence, a “Biker Nation Ride-Along” then topped it off with a really good Johnny Voodoo 100% blues approved riff, and I’m tellin’ you, it was like magic! We’re talkin’ dream sequence quality. It sent shivers to my soul and reminded me why we make the sacrifices we do. The scene reminded me that it’s all about the ride and the preservation of that awe inspiring freedom to get into the wind.  This simple 2 minute segment, “Racing the Rain” reminded me that I need to get out and ride more often.  You can do the same in your hometown.  Contact your local cable company, take the class, get a video camera and start a public access show in your neighborhood. If we get enough Locals to do it, we can swap footage and make a statewide program to be shown in all markets, and soon enough, we’ll ALL be able to educate folks as we share incredible rides.  ABATE, as scene on TV.  Or, visit www.bikernation.tv.