Vote for our trailer!
Saludos amigunan! We have entered our trailer into the International Movie Trailer Festival. Please take a few moments to vote and help us to win the People’s Choice Award. All you have to do is CLICK HERE and type “Children of the Wind” where it says title. Then click “Vote for this trailer.” We are in 4th place now out of hundreds of trailers! With just a few more votes we can win. Please pass along to friends and family. We really appreciate your support. Cheers!
The new trailer is here
The new trailer is finally finished after two months of non-stop logging and editing here in New York, culminating with a fantastic session at Postworks where colorist Sean Smith worked his magic for five hours alongside Daphne Schmon (Director) and Alex Lage (Executive Producer). Peter Robertson (Director of Photography) also sent detailed notes from the UK. Our biggest challenge going in was to match the Canon 5D footage with the Panasonic Varicam 2700 in both contrast and color. We also tried to find an antique look for the archival footage, that would set it apart from present day. Sean did a fantastic job and we couldn’t be happier with the result. Take a look at this snap shot from inside the Postworks studio:
Daphne Schmon (left) and Sean Smith (right)
We also have to thank Gunther Romer who spent countless hours helping us to translate the interviews in Papiamento and Dutch. Gunther is a native of Curacao who now lives in New York. His help extended far beyond mere translation, as he also offered wonderful insight into the Dutch Antillean culture and people. We are very lucky to have met him. Here is a photo of Daphne and Gunther at work:
Now at last here is the new trailer. Spread the word and share with friends and family. If you haven’t already, please join us on facebook as well. Enjoy!
Children of the Wind – New Trailer from Seek Films on Vimeo.
Old stills
As we sort through the 110 DV tapes of archival footage going back as early as 1997, we’ve come across some priceless moments. Below are a few stills we’ve extracted to give you an idea.
“The innocence and pure enthusiasm for windsurfing that came from these kids… it was infectious, everyone was so pumped up… and they proceeded to win places in every event that they entered. There are sometimes when all stars align and something really special happens and we were watching it right in front of us.” –Tinho Dornellas speaking about the Bonaire Kids at 2001 Calema Midwinters
11 year old Kiri Thode with Matt Pritchard (then World Freestyle Champion) at 2001 Calema Midwinters
9 year old Bjorn Saragoza at 2001 Calema Midwinters
13 year old Choko Frans at 2001 Calema Midwinters
Young Tonky getting psyched for the competition.
Tonky smiles after landing a solid forward loop.
Taty rigging up in the cold weather at 2001 Calema Midwinters.
An emotional Tonky hugs his family just after winning 1st place at the 2002 PWA King of the Caribbean competition in Bonaire.
“It starts raining… there’s no wind… it’s cold… everyone’s scattered towards the shop… and as I was running through the rain, I stopped for a moment and saw there was one person out on the water… one skinny little kid in a wet suit that didn’t quite fit right… and that was Kiri. And at that moment, I said that’s what it takes to be a world champion.” -Dasher
Boeboe and his grandson Kiri run through the rain at the 2001 Calema Midwinters.
A weekend in Florida
Bob and Daphne recently made a trip down to Florida to interview two key players in the story of our documentary. Our first stop was in West Palm beach to meet with well known windsurfing guru, filmmaker and international instructor Charles Dasher, known as simply DASHER. Dasher spent many years filming the Bonaire kids in the late 90s and early millenium, including monumental events such as King of the Caribbean, Aruba Hi-Winds and Calema Midwinters. Dasher’s experiences filming alongside the Bonaire kids paired with his wonderful sense of humor made for a fantastic interview. It was great to finally meet the man who taught us how to master the planing jibe.
The next stop was Tinho in Merritt Island. Tinho Dornellas and his wife Susie have ran the Calema Midwinters Windsurfing Championship since 1985 in Merritt Island, Florida. It was at the Midwinters competition in 2001 that the Bonaire kids first competed internationally, bringing home 20 awards. Long time friends of Elvis and Patun, Tinho had wonderful stories about visiting them in Bonaire and watching the local kids grow into champions. It was Tinho’s kids’ camps that inspired Elvis to start similar programs with the Bonaire children.
The other huge reward of the trip was the treasure trove of archival footage that Tinho and Dasher lent us from over the years. We brought back to New York over 110 DV tapes, which include footage of Tonky beating Matt Pritchard (then world freestyle champion), and Ricardo Campello (future world freestyle champion) to win the King of the Caribbean – an event that Tonky said changed his life. We also have priceless footage of the kids sailing on Donald Duck sails back when they were first learning, riding in the van with Elvis, returning from Calema Midwinters in 2001 to over 800 people cheering in the airport – and much more! Huge thanks to Tinho and Dasher for lending us these tapes. There is no doubt this old footage will be very important in the documentary.
Here are some photos from the trip…
Interview with Dasher, filmed in his home with his new stand-up paddle boards in the background.
Interview with Tinho, filmed just off the beach at Calema Windsurfing. The Tiki Man in the background was carved by Tinho himself!
While at Calema, we had the pleasure of meeting young Puerto Rican windsurfer Alejandro. At 16 years old, Alejandro competed for the first time at the 2010 Calema Midwinters. His results blew everyone away, and he was nominated as the Puerto Rican representative for the upcoming Junior Olympics. Tinho was so impressed by this boy’s talent that he is now coaching him full-time. ABOVE (left to right): Alejandro, Daphne, Tinho, and Bob
Outside the office at Calema. Unfortunately there was hardly any wind while we were there, otherwise we would have been very tempted to go for a sail. The site is fantastic!
Ayo Bonaire…
As we headed to the airport Sunday morning at 4am, our team was speechless. Partly because we hadn’t slept at all the night before, but mainly because we all were thinking back to the remarkable three weeks behind us. They were certainly intense with only one day off, but the incredible footage we captured in the end makes up for all the bumps along the road! At the closing party Saturday night, Roger said it was like winning the lottery to have us on the island. In reality, it was our team that won the lottery ticket to have such strong support, trust and generosity from the island’s people and the chance to tell their story. It was truly the experience of a lifetime. On behalf of our entire team, we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped us over the past three weeks in Bonaire. We’d like to especially recognize those few who were there with us almost every day on Bonaire and went above and beyond to support this project:
Elvis Martinus from Bonaire Windsurf Place
Jacqueline & Roger from Sonrisa Boutique Hotel
Patun & Licetha Saragoza
Tonky and Taty Frans
Kiri Thode
Caesar Finies
Maggie & Robert from Bobbejan’s
Nancy, Edwin, Amado and Chanel Vrieswijk
Gerrald Victorina from Total Car Rental
Our sincere thanks also to:
Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes
Cedric Jonis
Bert Foks
Martin from Windsurf Beach Bar
Sara Matera from Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino
Olivia Heerenveen from Insel Air
Miriam from KonTiki
Oliverio from El Mundo
DAE
Thanks to the entire staff at Bonaire Windsurf Place and the Beach Bar … to all the kids … and to all those that we interviewed! We miss everyone a lot and can’t wait to return to Bonaire for the film’s premiere!
Take a look at these stunning photos by our stills photographer Richard Schmon. To view more of Richard’s portfolio from our final days, visit his BLOG.
Alex and Pete filming aerials over Lac Bay. Many thanks to pilot Bert Foks as well as Maggie & Robert from Bobbejan’s, who sponsored this flight.
Kiri and Leppi
Tonky
Sunset over a ship taken on our last night.
The group at our closing party.
Though principal photography has been completed in Bonaire, we are planning to travel with the Pros to Fuerteventura in the Canaries this July. So keep checking in! This is just the end of the beginning.
AYO…
Final week on the island
Alex films the first steadicam shot of the film with Arthur Sealy at the Slave Huts. We were told this was the first steadicam ever to be used on Bonaire!
Alex slates the sunset shot at the slave huts.
The crew films one of the old beacons on the island, originally used to guide ships toward the port.
Leppi and Chardo dancing between takes.
We spent the day with Elvis on Ismael’s fishing boat, Etienne. Here is a remarkable photo by Richard of the old sails soaring in the sky.
Daphne and Elvis with the catch of the day!
The team relaxes by the truck after a long day in the park, chasing flamingos and donkeys.
Caesar plays around on his BMX bike, demonstrating the moves that inspired his creation of Flowstyle with windsurfing.
Amber works hard on a quiz during our visit to the local school.
Alex and Pete with Bert Foks, the pilot who took them up into his plane for aerial shots. Many thanks to Robert and Maggie from BOBBEJANS Grill for organizing and sponsoring this flight!
Steadicam shot following Tonky through the neighborhood where he grew up.
Tonky and his million dollar smile.
Tonky sits with his grandparents on their balcony.
Many thanks to INSEL AIR for sponsoring our flight to Curacao!
Even though the wind didn’t cooperate for our night windsurfing event, we had a lot of fun hanging out and barbecuing. Here Stepherd chats with Nancy and Amado on the beach.
With a full moon but non-existent wind, we decided to try wake boarding on a windsurfing board. Here is Daphne giving it a go.
The team filming at sunset.
Lifestyle shoot of all the kids hanging out in town.
Taty Frans
The Saragoza Kunuku (“Farm”)
Our team spent a day filming at the Saragoza family Kunuku (“farm”) up in the hills – eating iguana stew, cutting cactus, and LOTS of dancing! Without a doubt, it was one of the best days of our trip, and a chance for us all to experience the heart of Bonairean culture.
Patun and his son Bjorn with the iguana they caught earlier that day.
Bob tries Iguana stew for the first time. Here he is eating the tail – traditionally known to carry power, as it is the part of the body which the Iguana uses to strike away enemies.
Jurgen learns from his grandmother how to find and cut the kadushi cactus.
The Saragoza Family which includes two ProKids champions, an olympic windsurfer, and a vivacious mom.
Pete gets into the groove by trying a shot of the local rum.
Leppi teaches Patun the dance from which he got his nickname. Amazingly, he got it on his first try!
Patun and his wife Licetha show off their moves to the Rincon Boyz soundtrack.
The young twins feed the chickens in traditional attire.
The sound man gracefully side-steps the bushes as we film Bjorn releasing the iguana back into the bush.
Stunning photo of Patun by my cousin Richard Schmon, taken just after his interview.
Fire jumping late in the evening.
Billy Jean in the Kunuku from Seek Films on Vimeo.
Stills from Filming
Interview with Butchy Frans, grandfather to Tonky & Taty, at his 80th birthday.
Taty and Choko Frans at their grandfather’s birthday.
Amber Jasperse speaks with our team about being being a female windsurfer, balancing school, and life on Bonaire.
Kids from around the world (including Canada and Columbia) came to compete in the Kopa Julia at Lac Bay, a competition named after Elvis Martinus daughter.
Taty Frans judges youth freestyle from the tower at the Kopa Julia.
A proud grandfather, Boeboe Thode speaks with us in the home where he raised Tonky, Taty and Kiri. As you can see in the background, the walls were covered with trophies that the boys have won over the years.
Filming a segment about Tonky Frans’ childhood with a young look-alike in the neighborhood where he grew up.
Recreation of the moment when Elvis first taught Tonky how to windsurf.
Taty Frans with his girlfriend Daisy at a local awards’ presentation recognizing Taty for his 1st place win at the PWA Freestyle competition in Austria.
Waiting in Curacao for our bags to pass customs after a painless 15-min plane ride from Bonaire (generously sponsored by INSEL AIR).
Interview with Roy Bottse in his stunning home in Curacao. Roy started the first ever professional windsurfing events in the Caribbean, and was largely influential in helping Elvis organize windsurfing in Bonaire.
Behind the scenes
After long 14 hour days since we arrived, our team decided to take the morning off on Thursday. While we sorted out some equipment issues back at Sonrisa, Richard took advantage of the time by taking stunning portrait shots of the kids. See more of this beautiful series on his blog.
The kids loved the clapper board!
Filming Stepherd’s interview
Stepherd Gustowski
Taty Frans, PWA Podersdorf World Champion
Day 2 of shooting
After a long production meeting in the morning, Pete went off to look at the caves for a filming session next week. In the afternoon – since the wind was low again – we caught some great interviews with the Frans brothers and the kids. These photos are all taken from moving footage, so please excuse the occasional blur. Here they are…
The slate.
Interview with Stepherd Gustowski
All the windsurfing kids hanging out with the Frans brothers.
Interview with Tonky and Taty Frans.
