Motorcycles are outlawed. Gasoline is $20 per gallon. Self-driving cars are taking over. Silicon Valley and the United States Government have collaborated to push society toward a fully-autonomous transportation system. Motorcycles and riders are an easy first target in the drive to ban human-operated vehicles. Impossible, you say? Not so fast.
Genre: drama series
Season: Season 1
Information: In the world of unmanned vehicles motorcyclists are fighting for survival.
n a world of self-driving cars, motorcyclists fight for survival. A new dramatic TV series starring Neil "Morto" Olson.
A summary of the story:
In the world of unmanned vehicles motorcyclists are fighting for survival.
Starring: Neil "Morto" Olson, Rick Bargholz, Tim Huffman, Chris Torma, Eden Atwood, Lewis Bensen, Oscar Benson, Geneva Ristau
Producer: Eric W. Ristau
Written: Eric W. Ristau, Neil "Morto" Olson, Geneva Ristau
Indiegogo Campaign
The Story
The Last Motorcycle on Earth is a dramatic series about a vintage motorcycle collector and bike builder, Conrad Mendel, as he grapples with a new world of technology that threatens to destroy his passion and way of life.
After spending a lifetime collecting, racing, and building motorcycles, Conrad watches as the United States seems poised to turn away from a culture of individual freedom– the right and ability to travel anywhere, anytime– to one where passengers ride in a robot vehicles, trusting in technology to safely carry them to a destination.
After the Supreme Court decides that the Constitution does not guarantee us the right to own private, petroleum-powered vehicles the clock starts ticking toward an outright ban on motorcycles and eventually all human-driven transportation.
This series was devised by looking at authoritarian governments around the world and their real-world actions against motorcycles– banning them inside major Chinese cities, laws against customizing motorcycles in Singapore– and many others. Researching the rapid shift from horse-drawn to motorized transportation in the early 1900s it is clear that a tipping point for long-established forms of transportation– and even entire cultures– can be reached very quickly. The current wave of news about self-driving and autonomous cars is impossible to ignore.
Background (From Writer / Director, Eric Ristau)
Our current youth culture is largely focused on virtual experiences rather than the tangible, physical stuff past generations were drawn to– in this case, motorcycles, cars and expression of personal freedom through travel. More young people than ever are deciding against getting a driver's license and interest in ownership of vehicles by that group is at an all-time low. It is said that the last person to receive a driver's license has already been born.
I love the culture of motorcycles and vintage automobiles- they've been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I see a major cultural shift, maybe even a culture war, on the horizon– as the world's vehicles go electric and autonomous. Is this symbolic of something larger?
The story of The Last Motorcycle on Earth explores what happens if room is not left for motorcycles and vintage vehicles in new transportation systems across the world. What happens to people who have built their lives around motorcycling? What happens when technological and culture shifts are pushed by tech companies, government leaders and court decisions?
Our story– told through the lives of a few characters– look at these issues and many more. We want this series to start a conversation and act as a cautionary tale, reminding us that the things we value can't be taken for granted. Plus, we think its very entertaining. Although we are, of course, partial.
Why We Need You Now
This show is not something that corporate America would back. It's too controversial and too suspicious of the motivations of those who wish to see a fully autonomous world. This is a fully indie effort.
We need your support as we raise funds to produce Season 1 of The Last Motorcycle on Earth. the first episode is complete– nearly an hour long – and sets up the world, the characters, and the basics of the story. We're shooting episodes two and three right now, but we can't finish without this campaign. It's all been out of pocket at this point, with lots of help from lots of people lending a hand.
What We Need & What You Get
We are filmmakers, but we're not visual effects artists, sound mixers, or music composers. Those people are talented and expensive to hire. The budget will be used to pay for all of the various filmmaking line-items that we can't handle ourselves.
Seems like a low budget for a high-production value show? We own a production company with cameras, lighting, sound gear, and most everything needed to shoot a professional film. We have an editing room in our office (which is directly above our kitchen!). Being self-contained in that way makes the actual production side of this project very cheap. We work small and produce great results. Plus, we have the support of our local motorcycling community, and access to places that would cost huge money to build.
We have lots of cools stuff to thank you for your help with The Last Motorcycle on Earth. In the series, Conrad runs a radio show and motorcycle parts business called Motorcycle Mercantile. After we designed the tees and sweatshirts that Conrad's character would wear in the film we decided they were actually something we would wear, too. We've made stickers, patches, shirts, hoodies, etc. with those logos. We've also created some prop shirts that appear in the show that are reactions to self-driving cars. We think these will be in high demand, since giant killer robots (self-driving cars) are now amongst us. Kinda crazy.
We also have some higher-end perks that make it possible for you to appear in the show, be interviewed by phone for the radio program in the show, and come to Montana for a motorcycle tour of the filming locations as well a screening and barbecue with the cast and crew at Mort's Motorcycle Compound, seen in the show. Also, Geneva will make you a double-batch of her famous homemade brownies (they have powdered sugar on top).
The Impact
We hope this series will make people think. Perhaps start a conversation about how the future should look. Decisions are being made now that will impact transportation for generations to come. The first echoes of extinction for petroleum-powered, human-operated vehicles are beginning to be heard.
What if you could not feel the wind whip through an open window as you pushed down on the accelerator? Would you miss that? I would.
Who Are We?
Eric Ristau (Director, co-writer, cinematographer) Eric is a twenty-five year filmmaking and media pro. He is the director, cinematographer and editor of films like The Best Bar in America, Sit Stay Ride: 1 &2, lots of short docs and television commercials. His favorite filmmaking subject is motorcycling and the culture of folks who ride.
Geneva Ristau (co-producer, editor) Geneva is a partner in Air Mail Pictures. She is a writer, photographer and filmmaker with a background in English literature. She co-directed Sit Stay Ride 1 &2, as well as many short docs and commercials. She specializes in our non-profit efforts. Her dream bike is a cream-colored Royal Enfield Bullet and she already owns a scarf to match.
Neil "Morto" Olson (Lead actor, co-producer) Born in Williston North Dakota in the middle of the second half of the 1950s. Mort's father was a farmer /rancher/ dentist and the family pulled up stakes and moved to Missoula Montana in 1969, bringing with a sweet red Honda CL90L that he still has. That's the bike that set the hook and still makes his heart flutter a bit.
A couple of Norton 750s somehow found him and the spiral into motorcycle obsession began with Nortons always in the picture and a 1929 Indian 101 Scout purchased in 1978 led to a nearly equal passion. He worked at a couple of local bike shops with a focus on British made bikes for a while but by 1980 he had three kids and I had joined the Army intending on it being a temporary....
He disliked active duty a good deal (homesick mostly) but ended up loving the Army Reserve, so much so he stuck with it for more than twenty-five years. In 1988 he went to work for the Defense Department as a civilian military technician. Almost thirty years of that and he is officially retired from both federal service and uniformed duties. It was quite a ride.
All through the years, Mort's interest in motorcycles stayed firm and he managed to put together a fair collection of bikes with a few real gems. He prefers the classic bobbers and period correct customs and vintage survivors. He build bikes for himself and Gina, his artist wife of 17 odd-years to run at Bonneville Salt Flats; they even sponsor the motorcycle-only event. And now, happily, his love of film has led to some involvement with this current effort. Full time in the garage and part time in film. Hard to beat that.
The Basics – a Review.
The story centers on a small group of motorcyclists facing down the federal government and the tech industry as society is pushed to ban motorcycles, petroleum and transition to self-driving cars.
Produced by professional indie filmmakers and avid motorcyclists in Missoula, Montana.
This show is being made by the skin of our teeth and the thin tread on our tires.
The first hour-long episode is finished, hours 2 and 3 are partially shot.
We need your help to finish.
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