Iron Pig resto documentary "Steel Soul" shooting this weekend.

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Elyse LC

Elyse LC

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This Memorial Day weekend I'm flying from California to Colorado to shoot the third installment of the documentary I am making on the full body restoration of a '73 FJ55. It will all be happening at Jason Brownhill's place in Severance (see Project Moviestar thread) on Saturday and Sunday. I am hoping to entice any fellow pig-owners and their pigs to join us and be interviewed on camera about their personal experience and viewpoints regarding these noble beasts.

It's no big fancy movie shoot with a crew or anything. Just me and a camera.

Why? Besides being an experienced filmmaker (google my name and imdb), I am also a 22-year pig-owner. While to some my devotion to my vehicle has led to talk of a psych evaluation, I have enough creative objectivity to see that the mythology surrounding the Toyota Landcruiser FJ55 and the mysteriously powerful attachment between owner and pig is a fascinating subject for a film. Add to that Jason Brownhill's unique viewpoint and formidable skill in restoring cars that would lead lesser men to run screaming into the night, and you have all the makings of a pretty damn cool film.

Sunday we'll be putting the body on the chassis so any help would also be most welcome. But the main goal is getting a few knowledgeable people together to share opinions, experiences, and insights on the joys (and sorrows) of the Iron Pig.

I know this is a big holiday weekend but hopefully for some it can work out. Hope to hear from you soon.

-
Elyse Couvillion
Elyse LC

ecouv@yahoo.com
 
Elyse...wish I'd know a little earlier. We're headed to Crested Butte for the weekend and Severance is a little out of the way! Though a potential stop at Bruce's Bar for some "oysters" is enticing. We do need to get our Pigs together, expecially since the chassis and running gear on mine are from the parts rig that supplied the roof and rear corners to yours and you'll be enjoying the interior panels that originally came with the body to mine. Half brothers (or sisters) I guess.
Sorry...
 
I know Jim and sincerely apologize for the late notice. Jason's new job and my family obligations have been wrecking havoc with the scheduling of this shoot,

The good news is that hopefully in the fall when the vehicle is done I will be back to film the final segment. I should be able to provide better advance notice for that session and coordinate schedules with anyone interested..

So as far as this weekend goes having some pig owners in attendance would be a perfect time to get personal impressions and thoughts, especially in context of the body restoration work being essentially completed. Wether or not that happens is up to the fates.

Just had to run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes.
 
We could drive a pair of Pigs...if we knew an address maybe, and a good time to be there.
 
Iron Pig Doc Shoot TIME and PLACE

(Yo pighead - I just PM'd you.)

TIME:
I am double-checking all this with Jason but here are some time slots - pick the one that works best for you:


SATURDAY - 3-7
SUNDAY - anytime from 10am-4 when I have to leave to make a flight home.
(If no other times are good I may be able to shoot Friday afternoon 2 until 5)

I can set a time frame like say Sunday from 10-4 if it's easier, but if everyone can come at about the same time, more or less that would be ideal.

I know it's right smack in the middle of the holiday weekend and for those with wheeling plans it might not work out, but maybe if we can have a meeting of the minds and synchronize our watches for those who have a little flexibility, it should work out. FYI I will be putting together another shoot (with better advance notice) in the fall when the car is back from paint and back together.

Just remember this is no big movie shoot AT ALL. It's me, a camera, Jason, Jason's wonderful family, and my pig, currently in pieces. So ya'll have to bring your own hair and makeup artists :p

WHERE:
Jason's house is 7.8 miles east of highway 25, take exit 265 East Harmony Road/Co 38, make right. The 38 turns into the 74 after about 2.5miles. Stay on the 74 for 4.7 miles and turn right onto Mahogany Way:

1939 Mahogany Way
Severance, California 80546

My number is (323) 646-7108

A little more detail for whoever's interested:
This film is a personal project, production-wise, a really lo-key affair. After several big expensive complicated and tiring Hollywood-style projects, I just wanted to keep it simple.

Basically it's two-films-in-one. a) A film documenting in detail the process and procedures that Jason Brownhill takes when doing a vintage car restoration, and b) A story about saving a car thought to be unsalvageable and the mysterious appeal of the FJ55 Toyota Landcruiser. It stars Jason and my 73 pig, with his family and (hopefully) members of the Iron Pig community in supporting roles.

After driving my rust-ridden pig from Los Angeles to Severance in the summer of 2009, the following I returned to shot the "before" segment right after the body came back from sandblasting. I followed Jason with the camera as he did a detailed walkaround, identifying each rust-damaged area and describing his plan and procedure to restore the metal. We also took side-trips to a local boneyard, exploring the strong attachment many humans have for their vehicles.

This weekend I will be shooting the "after" segment, revisiting the same trouble spots with Jason telling the story of each repair and how things went, or wouldn't go, according to plan. This footage will be intercut together with the "before" footage along with Jason's many still photos from his Project Moviestar Ih8mud thread.

It's important to show how much of Jason's skill and creativity went into saving this rust-ridden pig, but that material can't help but be relatively dry and procedural. What's really interesting to me as a filmmaker/storyteller is profiling Jason's overall approach and philosophy to this project and similar restorations he's done in the past. This brings up the intriguing question of caring for and maintaining a car like the fj55 deep into old age, despite its 10mpg and negligible investment value. It seems to me that the illogic of the endeavor points to something noble, complex, and deeply human. To me, exploring these questions is where the heart of this movie lies: "What's so special about this particular vehicle anyway?" "Why do we invest our energy, time, and money in this vehicle and not another?" "Do the reasons even matter?"

Looking forward to this weekend at Jason's - hope to see you there.
 
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We're up for either, just read Sunday and figured that was it. Sat am,I hope to get the 80 thru e test, the we figured we'd meet up with some folk s running slaughter house, an endeavor I'm far from attached to, but I need out of town. Sunday is apossible run up Jenny creek,but only a possibility...I'd like to make that,but both of us agree pig event over snow busting
 
PabloCruise said:
Jason had PM'd me about Sunday AM, so that is the timeframe I was envisioning.
I think 10 AM sounds reasonable.
I think Ige and Pighead are planning on Sunday as well.
Click to expand...

If Jason says Sunday AM and you guys can make it work, I'm down with that.

Like I mentioned to pighead, it has been over 2 years since I have even seen a pig in the metal. Unfortunately watching Land of the Lost, 50 First Dates, and The Mist does not count.

This is going to be so totally super cool.
 
uncle ben says jenny creek is less a possiblity now, he was thinking of the kelly flats run with horsetooth...i'm working on getting bob to change that run to monday instead, so slaughterhouse sat/pig gathering sun/kelly flats mon.....yeah, i'm liking that.:steer:
 
"watching Land of the Lost, 50 First Dates, and The Mist does not count."

That is hilarious, I never even thought about a pig until I saw the one from "Land of the lost" After that all thought of my 60 went out the window.
 
Oh yes, Lost Boys too.

The best pig performance is the surreal last act of The Mist. I would describe it but that would spoil the ending for you if you haven't seen it. First time I saw it I seriously thought I was dreaming.

OK, back to topic.

Sunday. Jason's. 10ish to ?

Be there!
 
nuclearlemon said:
this is low....we coloradoans take great offense to this :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
As do the (formerly) male bovine quadrapeds who gave their all for the "oysters" at Bruce's Bar in aptly-named Severance, COLORADO.
 
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