 |
The making of a documentary...
John Fitch and Chris Szwedo |
An Inspiring Tale For All...
Experience a real adventure in the American West. Witness
living history when 87-year old American racing legend John
Fitch takes to the Bonneville Salt Flats with his signature
Mercedes Gullwing in this highly textured portrait of a man
with deep history and convictions…a man who refuses
to give into the years, and who can never back away from the
challenge of speed.
Director Chris Szwedo is currently putting the finishing
touches on his follow up film to his highly successful 2001
effort Lime Rock Park: The Secret Valley of Racing.
Not quite ready to exit the vast subject of speed, Szwedo
has recently tackled a tale of living history in the form
of racing legend John C. Fitch. His unusual new documentary,
part historical and part modern day, is set for a 2005 broadcast
and DVD release. It’s called A Gullwing
at Twilight: The Bonneville Ride of John Fitch.
This one is gorgeous and evocative, compliments of the splendid
light and scenery of extreme Western Utah, with its vast white
distances and rugged Mountain backdrops. Enter a classic yet
seemingly out of place 1955 Mercedes Gullwing, a passionate
racing crew, and a living legend who is nearly ninety, and
you’ll have a formula for a modern day journey into
the pride of a man’s past, with a lesson that its okay
to forego any retirement plans. Although there’s plenty
of awesome machinery streaking across the desert to absorb,
there’s the more important message in the pride of taking
on new challenges, and never giving up. The barriers here
are not necessarily ones of speed, but more the notion of
old age. At the end of this one, men and women might want
to think twice about the virtues of chasing that little white
ball in Florida. - Tony Merola January 2005 |
|
What gave you the idea
to do this project? (Merola)
(Chris Szwedo) My experiences in making the
documentary about Lime Rock Park were good ones, and out of
that came new ideas and relationships. Once you’ve told
one story you feel compelled to keep telling them. The Fitch
concept came out of working on a special short BMW Tribute
to John, which ran at the 2003 Vintage Festival at Lime Rock
Park. We followed Fitch out to the Salt Flats that year and
were blown away by this alien setting with all of those fantastic
machines. The Mercedes Gullwing looked spectacular. And to
see a man of his experience in life giving it one more try
was very emotional to witness. When I heard that he was going
back to run again I made the commitment to create this new
extended piece that might capture his essence in a unique
way.
Is the new film anything like the last one?
Well, in a way. I suppose there’s a style in
there. It’s abstract, yet emotional, with wonderful
scenery, and certainly more exotic. There’s also a sense
of exclusivity to it.
Does it deal with the human side of racing out there?
This is far more personal, in spite of this huge
physical backdrop. I tried very much to bring out the human
element in Lime Rock and I think that I succeeded. This time,
it’s easy to zero in on it because it stands out. People
stand out. Everyone is quite nice during Speedweek. Bonneville
Nationals people, everybody. In the end it’s all a throwback,
a very old-school kind of place. The last great amateur gathering
in motorsports. But what I really like is just the way the
whole thing actually looks and sounds, and thus I’m
very attracted to it.
What’s it like out there in August, to make
a film like this?
It’s not easy. It can be so hot—over
a 100 degrees. You can easily de-hydrate or become ill, and
things move real slow and at a pace that you have to keenly
detect in order to get what you need. The key in this is to
actually pretend that you’re not there, that you’re
not in the way. You are after all making a documentary that’s
out of your control. The more things you loosen up on the
more things happen in return. So you operate on instinct.
But it was tough. We had a very small crew, and lot’s
of water. What really spurs you on is this amazing backdrop
that brings out the best in you—or it spits you out,
or cooks you.
Is it as big as it looks?
Oh yeah. It goes on forever. It can be raining hard
on one end of the course and sunny on the other. You feel
insignificant, and yet you also feel inspired. The canvass
just keeps asking. And the late afternoon light—that
makes up for the pain of other parts of the day.
How did John Fitch handle it?
Like everyone else. Although he is the VIP when it
comes to relaxing in an air conditioned SUV, he’s the
guy whose forced into three layers of NOMEX, HANS devices,
wrist straps,and so many other things. What’s so apparent
is that this guy handles everything with so much grace. It’s
tough for him, but it’s fun too. He actually undergoes
a transformation once he gets into that racing uniform…
subtract 15 years. Put on the helmet and you subtract another
30. It’s very cool to see that kind of adrenaline kick
in.
Who else appears in The Gullwing at Twilight?
I’m very pleased that Sam Posey gave some time
for his thoughts and words. Sam’s known John since the
late 1950’s and his ability to articulate so gracefully
really helps me. John’s wife Elizabeth also chips in
with that insider view. It’s rare to see her speak about
her husband, and she does with quite a lot of humor. She’s
great. Also, we have the Gullwing owner Bob Sirna, and his
crew. Bob’s a kind of everyman who knows enough to be
dangerous, yet his passion and his heart is huge.
What does the title mean?
Well, John is up there in age, but perhaps it’s
more about mystery, and the mystique of the car, and John
with the car. So many years have passed his way. This is John’s
50th Anniversary of his great 1955 Mille Miglia run. Perhaps
It’s about a place and a time where you think something
great may or may not be going on. It’s a mood thing.
The car is also a kind of character. Maybe the most beautiful
car ever—especially the way it gives off that weird
silvery glow in the desert when it’s getting dark. It’s
unusual to see.
What’s the message of the film?
Well, first off… Retirement, or the dream of
it, the notion of it…may be a dangerous myth. I see
Mr. Fitch for the strength of keeping at it. By continuing
to invent new products and dream new ideas, and participating
in racing, he’s managed to stay a highly vital person
whose totally in charge of his life. He’s very free-market,
very self-driven and self-determining. In a way it’s
contagious. It’s inspiring and it makes you yourself
try harder. When he gets in the race car, it’s not an
old timers day game with Mickey Mantle hitting up a meatball.
He’s actually trying to go faster in that thing than
anyone has ever gone. He means business.
What does he think of this project?
He’s, well… a bit of a scientist. He’s
fact driven, especially as an inventor. He may not understand
my experimental angle. I don’t have to make him heroic.
He already is. His main concern is with the future. I like
the idea of capturing a moment, and showing people, and letting
them determine something for themselves that in the end is
timeless in any direction. In the end I think that John and
I respect each other very much.
What are your plans for the projects release?
My first film ran on many American Public Television
stations, and perhaps that was lucky—but it did speak
to folks, and it will be great to repeat that… and of
course, it will be available on DVD. There are, after four
years, so many more venues for broadcast. What I like is the
lack of breaking it up. Enjoy the story, the craft, and the
message. In the end it’s a financial and creative experiment
for me too, and a swing at life. The real audience—those
passionate over a good story or another tale about their sport--
they always seem to find what they’re looking for, and
it’s my goal to be honest about it and not let them
down.
|
