The first six weeks of production have been a whirlwind of shooting, driving and trying to keep up on the post-production side.  I’m learning the back roads of Iowa and some simple lessons about shooting wrestling (wear shorts when shooing in a wrestling room during practice).  So, here’s the story so far….

I landed in Marshalltown, IA and got myself into a 1BR apartment for the duration.  Since I left most of my “stuff” back in Ohio, the furnishings are sparse by design.  No TV, no microwave (wouldn’t fit in the car), a table for a desk and a twin-sized bed.  I feel that this keeps me focused on the project.  I can’t complain about the location either, as I have a nearly straight shot out of town in either direction and am a little under two hours away from Creston, Denver & Iowa City.

At this point I’ve spent time with both families and have gotten some initial footage of the home life and pre-season workouts.  The weekends have been off-limits, as both Jake & Brandon are in the middle of college recruiting visits and the NCAA doesn’t allow coverage during that time.  The rest of my time has been spent interviewing past four-time champions and some of the coaches around the state.  These conversations have been great in both research and footage for the project.  Each day, I am learning more about the sport and the dedication it takes to succeed.

I am also amazed with the amount of support this project has received.  The coaches and previous champions have made time in their schedules, opened their homes and even helped move gear.  Both Jake and Brandon’s families have allowed me to tag along on trips, introduced me to their circle of friends and have found places for me to stay overnight while I am there.  I have also received donations for the project from wrestling fans and families.  These little things have added up and make my efforts even more worth the time and energy I am putting into this.

So here’s the tally so far….

2 extended trips to both Creston & Denver.

12 interviews “in the can” with about 15 more to go.

Visited 6 wrestling rooms.

Around 2500 miles in the car.

A road trip to Chicago and Wisconsin next week.

And the first wrestling meet is on the schedule for Nov. 3rd.

More stories later, including a look at the camera gear I am using and how all the footage is being organized.