There’s nothing quite so awe-inspiring as watching classic wooden boats slice through the windswept waters of the San Francisco Bay.
Why am I producing this documentary?
Since the moment I walked aboard the tall ship Balclutha, at the age of twelve, classic boats have fascinated me. As I grew older, it was their stories that captivated me. “Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection” is my homage to the Classic Wooden Sailboats that have become such an important part of San Francisco’s history and culture.
I am excited to be at the helm of this project that will be hosted by legendary yachtsman and America’s Cup winner Gary Jobson.
Carl Nolte’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle journalist Carl Nolte just published an article about classic wooden boats—and the documentary.
Click on the photo below to read the article on the San Francisco Chronicle website.
Have classic wooden sailboats played a role in your life?
How to Become a Hollywood Producer (and Get a Tax Deduction)!
I’m covering six events this year and looking for people who would like to see their name on the big screen as a major donor on a film about preserving classic wooden boats for the future.
As Executive Producer, you are funding specific footage for the film. Your donation of $6,322 covers the full cost of producing one day of shooting at the following events.
Pick your day to Executive Produce:
- Master Mariners Benevolent Association Regatta – May
- Corinthian Yacht Club Wooden Boat Show – June
- San Francisco Yacht Club Belvedere Classic – August
- Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club – September (two consecutive days)
- St. Francis Yacht Club Jessica Cup – October
Your name, credited as Executive Producer, will appear on one of the first screens of the video for the event you choose. Step up and choose your event!
You’ll also receive credit as Co-Executive Producer in the final documentary.
Call me and let’s talk. (510) 504-2605. You can get a tax deduction and be a producer of a documentary film.
It’s not often that you get a chance to be a part of history. This is a chance to make sure the history of these matrons of the sea can live on into the future.
Is Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizing Documentary Filmmaking?
From inception, artificial intelligence (AI) helped in the planning of this documentary.
The planning journey began with the simple notion that AI might help chart the journey—in the form of a rough, one-page outline of the most crucial elements. After an hour of rigorous prompt refinement to clarify the essential project components, I had a solid working outline.
That was the starting point for the project. Then, I started doing preliminary interviews to find people who had good stories to tell and who were also good storytellers. Quickly, it became clear that the narrative I was discovering in conversation with the caretakers of these classic boats was far more captivating than the AI-generated outline. Yet it was also clear that AI had provided a valuable starting point.
After conducting 40+ preliminary interviews, I came back to AI with transcripts from those interviews. I spent a couple of hours of working with the transcripts and writing various AI prompts, which proved fruitful. The result was a three-act structure populated with genuine content.
Listen to Jon Leland and I discuss how AI came into the documentary—on his podcast, Video Mojo. The episode is called, “How Google AI is Revolutionizing Documentary Filmmaking!”
