DOC: Art of the Bag - a Speed Bag Story

ZazaCast

ZazaCast

Major Contributor
Fellow DVXUsers, I guess it's my turn for a Kickstarter go-around. A bunch of you know me here and I hope that counts for something. For the last year, I've been really getting into the Speed Bag as an addition to my regular workout routine. It has become an addiction. I kid you not, if you try it, you will get addicted! I've also found a large community of others that have the same addiction. Through that community, I've gotten to know the 'Speed Bag King", Alan Kahn, author of "The Speed Bag Bible" (http://www.speedbagcentral.com/) and the man that started it all. He is a wizard on the speed bag and a mentor for pretty much every modern speed bagger....and a heck of a nice guy. He has been promoting the speed bag as not only a great workout, but a rehabilitation tool that has help paraplegics and people fighting Parkinson's Disease (http://www.rocksteadyboxing.org/).

Then there's his 'Punchdrumming(TM)', which is hitting the bag to music and improvising like a drummer or percussionist....really cool stuff!

So you can see there's a lot of very interesting angles here and I'd like to explore them in a short documentary. Alan Kahn is on-board as well as many other prominent speed baggers; Zach Ruffo (aka SpeedBag Skunk, Everlast), Tim Platt (owner of the Speedbagforum.com)...and even Brian Tichy (Whitesnake drummer http://www.briantichy.com/)!

Please take a look and if you can (before spending all your cash on that BMC Camera) find it in your heart to help support the film, click one of those pledge buttons. Every $1.00 counts and is most appreciated! I'm not looking for much, it's mostly for travel so I can get to these people.

Even if you can't kick-in, please feel free to "Post & Pass" the link to anyone and everyone that might be interested.... 'like' the Facebook page... you guys/gals know what to do.

Thanks in advance for taking a look. - Zaza

Art of the Bag - a Speed Bag Story


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zazacast/art-of-the-bag-a-speed-bag-story

http://www.facebook.com/artofthebag

Official web site: http://www.artofthebag.com/

 
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Brian Tichy, Whitesnake's drummer and speed bagger extraordinaire, now has a custom speed bag platform that is part of his drum kit. He has incorporated the speed bag into his drumming!
You can check it out on a few current episodes of VH1's "That Metal Show".
http://www.vh1.com/video/that-metal...ce-cooper-jack-russell/1682659/playlist.jhtml

I can't wait to interview him for this film...
BrianTichy.jpg


If you haven't already, please checkout the kickstarter page and show your support.
Ever $1.00 helps.
Art of the Bag - a Speed Bag Story
 
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What a great community of filmmakers helping fellow filmmakers create their vision....thanks to all for the generous pledges!
It's always good to be reminded of what DVXUser is all about.
:thumbsup:
 
As the funding drive continues....I'm gearing-up for the SPEED B.A.G. III gathering in July.
If you're interested in this activity at all, you should check it out....all the best will be there.



If you haven't already, please be sure to checkout the Kickstarter Campaign
 
Update:
I've been talking to Zach Ruffo (aka Speed Bag Skunk) from Everlast and he's totally on-board. Again, as I speak to these guys, I'm always surprized as to how passionate & more then willing they are to share any information and promote this healthy addiction. I've been noticing more & more that we are a country that is getting 'bigger' and more sedentary, it's all over the news. Our kids may be in trouble if they don't get off their computers and cell phones, start eating right and get moving. I feel my generation (and as a parent) is kind of responsible too. I, like many of us, has had a battle with my genetics all my life...this has been passed down to my children. I really don't want them to have to struggle as I have.

This is another aspect of this project... to help promote a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle. Like we've all heard, "find your passion...something you like to do as a career and you'll never have to work a day in your life.". I think this should apply to all aspects of our life...and we'd all be the better for it. It's taken me all these years for the lightbulb to go off! Speed bagging is something I really enjoy doing so it doesn't seem your exercising and it's a great workout!

Checkout Zach on the Speed bag... and a regular workout... it's really amazing to see the strength and agility the human body is capable of...all human bodies, yours & mine included! [well... maybe not mine at the moment...but I'm working on it! :huh:]



WOW... just WOW!

Please take a look (if you haven't already) and pledge...remember, with Kickstarter, if you don't reach your goal, no one is charged a penny.
Any level is MOST appreciated. Please help me make this film.

Best,
-Za
 
....contacted Everlast, Title Boxing & Ringside Boxing...they have interest! Fingers-crossed they might come through.

14 days to go on the campaign, man these are a LOT of work. Would love to see more support from fellow filmmakers.

Onward...
Cheers!
 
Tip of the hat to DVXUser (and mighty fine actor) Tom Marshall.... Thanks Tom for the generous pledge! :thumbsup::beer:
 
TITLE Boxing has offered their support to the film! ....and a whole bunch of great equipment.
Thank you TITLE for believing in the project.

titleboxing_2211_68313927.jpg


If you're looking for great equipment visit TITLE Boxing (they support indie filmmakers).
http://www.titleboxing.com/

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Despite my best efforts....and with 3 days to go.... the Kickstarter looks like a fail....
BUT, thanks to a bunch of dedicated "pledgers" and the kind generosity of TITLE Boxing, the film will still be made!

Learned a lot about people, filmmakers and running a Kickstarter campaign, so there is that.
1. It's a LOT of work (and unless you have a hugh fanbase or are a social media butterfly, crowdfunding might not be for you)
2. Times are tight and so are most people (unless you're talking about a new camera, lenses or some other goodies you just have to have)
3. $1.00 pledges (just as a show of support) aren't even worth posting. Most of my pledges were in the $100.00 range (interesting)
4. It looks like Kickstarters for a product (pre-sales if you will) are the most successful.

I'd recommend a few well placed & pitched emails or phone calls... you might be surprized on the funds you can gather quickly, allowing you
to spent all that other time on preproduction for the film.
 
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Well... back from 4 long days of shooting at SPEED B.A.G. III in Keyport, NJ....and it's looking like I got a bunch of good stuff!
(22 hours of footage to go through and organize).

I thought some of you might be interested in my little interview set-up? Since it was just me, I needed to keep it light, easy to move and hopefully get a good look for the film.
I rented a suite so I'd have a little room for the interviews, as you may know, speed bagging is NOT a quiet activity!

All I brought were a couple clip-on work lights with CF bulbs, a diffuser gel to tape on the front one, 2 boom mic stands, my reflector (jammed in the side of the couch cushion for bounce), my Senn. 416, the Senn G3 lav. and of course the AF100 (Nikon 18-105mm) on a tripod. I used a Title banner as a backdrop.

These are just grabs right from the camera....no CC or anything yet.

Alan_sm.jpg
Dee_sm.jpg


Skunk_sm.jpg
Tim_sm.jpg


Here's what it looked like
ZazaFilmingjpg.jpg


Had to be careful with the angle of the shots, if the person was framed too far off to the right, the banner would read "TIT BOX" (Title Boxing) behind them ... couldn't have that! :)
I shot from different angles and had them answer question...and tell their story multiple times. I found with each take, they were more at ease with me & the camera.
 
More interviews in the can! Headed down to Stamford, CT to meet up with Brian Tichy (drummer: Whitesnake.... filling in for Foreigner). Great guy and a true speed bag addict.
Just back from Kingston, MA and the Jeet Kune Do Academy of Martial Arts for an interview with Sifu George Hajnasr and how the speed bag is being used in martial arts & MMA training.
You would not believe how fast this man's hands are!

On a side note... you can see McKayla didn't seem too impressed with "Speed Bag Skunk"...
Notimpressed.jpg


:)
 
This all sounds really interesting. I never really gave the speedbag much thought, this puts in its own light.

And another side note, that pic is just begging for more comments, but we'll leave it.

a
 
Here's an example of what is called "Punchdrumming"...not your average boxing workout on the bag (Holy Sh*t!).
Truely amazing!

 
This was an awesome piece, I love documentaries that educate, or art form you never knew existed. I always thought it was only boxers that used speed bags. The production value was also very good. Great work man!!

I cant say i have ever been a speedbagger, But I can't deny that I have been a teabagger:)
 
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Dude!! How have I been missing all of this?? You've got some pretty spectacular stuff going on. That workout was awesome. Makes me want a speed bag for real. That Ali video was amazing. Did it way where that was at?
 
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Marlon Ladd said:
Dude!! How have I been missing all of this?? You've got some pretty spectacular stuff going on. That workout was awesome. Makes me want a speed bag for real. That Ali video was amazing. Did it way where that was at?
Click to expand...

Thanks Marlon...and you should start speed bagging...it's a blast! (and works out aggressions)
I don't know where that Ali piece was done, just found the video & thought it was cool.

Checkout my production blog for current & past updates and more video!
http://artofthebag.zazacast.com/?page_id=2
 
SCORE!

With a little help from good friends (and fellow speed baggers) I have been able to secure the rights to use footage from VH1's "That Metal Show" featuring Brian Tichy "DrumBaggin'"!
This is the first time...EVER... that a speed bag has been incorporated with a drum set & seen on national TV.
Just got the footage and man, does it ever look good! It would be so nice to have a studio, with all that great lighting & gear. They sent me two complete episodes (mixed) and a bunch of other camera angles and crane shots.

I can't say enough about how nice & supportive the Viacom people have been to a simple, indie guy like me. They have gone above & beyond...and for that, I thank them!

In case you didn't catch it earlier in the thread, Brian Tichy is Whitesnake's drummer, but the list of people he's played with reads like a who's who of popular bands.
He just played a gig with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler & Joe Perry! (doesn't get any better then that in MY book)
Brian is a great guy and one hell of a drummer & bagger.... check him out.

Back to the edit & trying to secure the rights to some 1940's Paramount Pictures footage of Champion Bag Puncher Doris DeGreen. I can get it, it's just a matter of raising the funds.

Regular production updates can be found on the production blog: http://artofthebag.zazacast.com/
 
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