Blog : Film Updates

Meet Korby Lenker, more than a “Medium Hero”

Meet Korby Lenker, more than a “Medium Hero”

Korby with typewriter
Korby Lenker, deep in the writing zone.

Can you think of a song that immediately brings back a special memory? Have you ever noticed how quickly the first few notes can put you in a totally different place or stir up a strong emotional feeling?

The power of music has always intrigued me and drawn me in. As a visual storyteller I have a great appreciation for the significant roll the right music can play in truly enhancing and conveying the emotion and impact of a film.

When we first set out to produce this documentary, Joe and I often talked about our deep connection to music and how it plays such a major role in our lives. For Joe this was especially important throughout the course of his rehab and recovery. In many ways music actually can actually become the soundtrack for our lives, allowing us to replay memories and change our emotions in an instant.

As we near completion of the film, one of the last aspects of a production is creating the soundtrack and score. This is such a special time because of the incredible relationship between the story, the sounds, the music and the visual imagery. Everything has to work together to create the right emotional experience. To help us make that happen we are thrilled to announce that Korby Lenker has joined the It’s Raining, So What production team as our music director, composer and supervising producer.

MEET KORBY LENKER

Korby LenkerOriginally from Twin Falls, Idaho, Korby now makes his home in Nashville, TN. As a well established indie singer, songwriter, performing artist, author, and multi instrumentalist, Korby approaches songwriting with a unique  sense of curiosity, as if each time he writes a song he is journeying into unknown territory, never really sure where it will lead. That sense of adventure, simplicity, and spirit of pushing up against the boundaries of his comfort zone to write meaningful emotion filled songs is one of the many things that led us to him as a great fit for our film.

“I like it simple,” says Lenker. “I just do. As soon as there’s a weird chord, I’m like, ‘Why? That’s all been done. Who cares?’ What’s really hard is to hit people in the heart and to reach them. That’s what I’m trying to do: make music that’s easily likeable, but with a kind of secret sophistication. I’m always trying to write a song that you can hum along with on the first listen. You’re like, ‘Yeah, I’d like to hear that again.’ Then maybe you hear it 20 times and you’re like, ‘Damn, that’s actually something I’m going to think about now.'”

Going back to his roots in Idaho
Going back to his roots in Idaho

But there’s a lot more than that to his instinctual, unorthodox journey from being brought up as a mortician’s son in rural Idaho to being recognized as one of the more innovative voices in Nashville’s current music scene. Korby has recently returned from touring in Europe, and has opened for artists like Chris Isaak, Willie Nelson, Ray LaMontagne, Nickel Creek, Keith Urban, Susan Tedeschi and Tristan Prettyman, and others. He is currently working on his seventh studio album “Thousand Springs” and just got his book “Medium Hero” published.

Over the years he has developed a great network of passionate and talented musicians, songwriters and artists and we will be collaborating with some of them as we create the soundtrack and score for the film.

I recently had the great pleasure of recording a podcast with Korby talking about his background, life experiences, and his creative approach to songwriting, film scoring, his latest book release “Medium Hero” and much more. We invite you take a listen to it and share it if you know someone who may also enjoy it!

Through my conversations with Korby we discovered how the same concept of running up against “perceived limitations” is very much present in the world of creative artists as well. I was fascinated to learn about some of the times Korby runs up against obstacles in the songwriting process, and what he does to acknowledge them, push through them, or go around them rather than giving in to them. This has led Korby to ultimately write and release songs that have had a significant impact on so many other people, thereby becoming a part of the soundtrack of their lives.

One such song which is very much a part of my soundtrack and definitely many others as well, is Korby’s song My Little Life. Check it out and see what you think!

The most exciting part of all of this is that we are getting very close to releasing this film with a very special emotion filled soundtrack! Additionally we are working on producing a soundtrack album which will feature music from, and inspired by the film It’s Raining, So What. We are happy to have you with us on this journey and we will be sharing more about some of the artist who will be featured in the film and on the soundtrack album as we work on it. So stay tuned.

In closing I have to share this quote from Korby, which I felt was so perfect for this blog post

“One of my favorite musicians in the world, bassist and composer Edgar Meyer once said in an interview ‘The boundaries of music have been and always should be limitless.’ I couldn’t agree more.”

What song brings back a significant memory for you?  We would love to know. Feel free to let us know in the comments below!

You can check out Korby’s website www.korbylenker.com where you can find his albums and other super cool merchandise, as well as his touring schedule and some other fun surprises.

Medium HeroYou can follow him at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KorbyLenker

Instagram: https://instagram.com/korbykorby/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/korbykorby

Look for Korby’s book “Medium Hero” coming December 1st from Turner Publishing.

Available for pre-order now on Amazon.com

A powerful story of the human spirit!

Joe Stone

Against all odds, Joe Stone sets his sights on becoming the first wheelchair using quadriplegic to complete an IRONMAN inspiring many on this amazing journey.

Following Joe Stone’s and other peoples’ incredible life-changing journeys, the documentary “It’s Raining, So What” will change the way we perceive options in our lives.

This powerful film shares how individuals facing adversity can push through boundaries of perceived limitations to find out what is truly possible.

A true story of the human spirit overcoming everything that tries to hold us back.

Our website is currently undergoing a redesign. Thank you for your patience. We are excited to share this incredible story with you as the film is being completed. Stay tuned for updates, behind the scenes videos, photos and posts. Thanks very much for your support!

A rolling Stone on Otter Slide

Come Join Joe Stone, our film crew and other special guests at WYDAHO RENDEZVOUS 2014 in Teton Valley Idaho.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

This past Labor Day weekend 2013, we had the great opportunity to travel to Teton Valley Idaho and take part in the 4th annual Wydaho Rendezvous Mountain Bike Festival hosted by Grand Targhee Resort. Joe loaded all of his IRONMAN gear and an off road hand cycle into a trailer, and along with this trusty companion Henry Dog, he embarked on one of his first solo long distance drives from Missoula to Driggs, ID.

IMG_0790While at the event we teamed up with the Kurt, Ryan and Michael from Teton Adaptive Sports to help spread the word about adaptive outdoor recreation and demonstrate some of the equipment Joe will be using for IRONMAN Florida. On Saturday the great staff at Grand Targhee Resort, our friends from Teton Adaptive Sports and resident photographer Eric Helgoth, all teamed up to get Joe, his hand cycle, and our film crew on the chairlift to the top of Fred’s Mountain. Once up there, Joe and Ryan did the first ever downhill runs on off road hand cycles at Targhee! It was one of the most incredible experiences for all of us! It also validated the fact that the new trails they are putting in can indeed work for hand cycles.

IMG_0709Sunday our good friend David Treinis introduced us to Geordie Gillett, owner of Grand Targhee Resort. Geordie had heard that we rode Bullwinkle Trail the day before and suggested we might try their newest flow trail called Otter Slide. We loved the idea but realized that it was not yet accessible for hand cycles because started half way down the mountain and was usually accessed from other trails. Not wanting to miss this opportunity to make things work, Geordie offered to get a pick up truck and load Joe, his hand cycle, 5 other riders, our bikes, and our camera gear. He then drove us up the mountain so we could give Otter Slide a try.

Joe Stone on BullwinkleThat is exactly what we did and it was truly one of the greatest highlights of our weekend!

It was a perfect example of the what Joe Stone, as a quadriplegic, is so passionately trying to promote; pushing through the boundaries of perceived limitations to discover what is possible. We all had a great time enjoying outdoor recreation together and learning more about what is possible, no matter what your physical ability or type of gear you use.

We are so appreciative of all the support we got from all of our friends at Wydaho Rendezvous, TVTAP, MBTV , Grand Targhee Resort and Teton Adaptive Sports!

We will definitely be back and we will bring more friends to the Valley! Thanks for your support and commitment to creating more accessible outdoor recreation opportunities!

Till next time! Enjoy the ride down Otter Slide!

A Chance conversation

Paolo Marchesi photo shootThree weeks ago when I was in Missoula for our photo shoot with Paolo Marchesi, I had an amazing conversation with a woman who lived close by to where we took some of our last pictures of Joe.  How this conversation happened and the fact that it did happen  seemed almost ‘providential’ to me, and it also demonstrated how powerful An Ironman’s Journey can be for others.

Seeing Paolo Marchesi work is an amazing thing, and I’m especially grateful to have seen how Paolo works with natural light to capture his signature photographs.  Because lighting is such a crucial element for Paolo’s photography, we scouted locations around Missoula for great sunrise and sunset lighting options.  Our morning locations were easy to find and were perfect for what we wanted, but our team had a difficult time finding where we would shoot our sunset shots.  We needed a Western-facing road, one that was paved so Joe could ride his handcycle on it, with a beautiful Montana backdrop.   Doesn’t sound too hard, right? Wrong.

After driving around Missoula for several hours in the afternoon, racing against time and the sun, we did not find what we were looking for.  Paolo offered to shoot Joe in Bozeman the next day, he knew of a perfect sunset shot location there, if Joe and Amy were able to drive there the next day.  Our team considered this option, but still hoped to finish the shoot that day.  Paolo came up with another idea- he would start driving home to Bozeman, and if he found a spot that was no more than an hour away from Missoula, he would take the pictures.

Kevin and Paolo shooting Joe

Drummond and Danielle

Forty five minutes out from Missoula, tucked in the mountains, we found our location for the shots in Drummond, MT, and it was perfect.  I’m talking ideal- we had found a valley with a stunningly gorgeous view, and it also had a Western-facing paved road.  It was time to start the shoot!

During the shoot, a few cars stopped by to ask us what was going on (‘Is there a celebrity in town? Who is that guy?’) which is when I met a woman named Danielle.  After explaining the project to her and how Joe is training for an Ironman, it was clear that this story struck a chord with her.

It turns out that Danielle’s good friend, a Drummond football coach who lived a street away from where we were, had recently gotten into a motorcycle accident, leaving him paralyzed.  She shared how this tragic accident has deeply affected her community, in addition to changing her friend’s life forever.  Everything was so new and unknown to everyone at the moment, she said.  Not only did seeing Joe on her way home catch her by surprise, but it gave her hope for her friend.

Danielle and Joe chatted after the shoot, and it was amazing to watch Joe explain basics about his life to someone trying to navigate a new reality alongside her friend.  Danielle asked Joe basics like how he gets around on a daily basis or where he got his equipment, and Joe shared some of his experiences of his early stages in physical rehabilitation.

What would have happened if we never made it out to Drummond, MT?  Would Danielle or her friend ever heard of Joe’s story?  These are the moments that make this project so special, and we hope that this journey continues to spread hope and knowledge to friends around us!

-Lauren

Danielle meets Joe Stone
Danielle meets Joe Stone

 

Video wins a Telly Award!

We are very excited to announce that the Telly Awards has named Joe Stone as a Silver winner in the 34th Annual People’s Choice Telly Awards for their piece titled “Joe Stone’s 2012 Adaptive Adventures”. With nearly 11,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, this is truly an honor.

People's Choice Telly Award
People’s Choice Telly Award

This video is a short film about Joe Stone produced by Joe and a team of his friends. In August of 2010, Joe was in a speed flying accident that left him an incomplete C7 quadriplegic. “Even though life is very different now, I have been determined to get my outdoor lifestyle back. This past summer I carried my GoPro HeroHD camera with me while I pushed myself in the outdoors again. This video has white water rafting, fly-fishing, off road hand cycling, road hand cycling, and some freewheel action. All of this footage came from both Minnesota and Montana”.

This video was first premiered in the 2012 G-Technology Driven Creativity Competition, and won first place in the GoPro Adventure category. To learn more about Joe Stone’s story, and his goals for the upcoming IRONMAN Florida Triathlon.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

“The Telly Awards has a mission to honor the very best in film and video,” said Linda Day, Executive Director of the Telly Awards. “Joe Stone’s accomplishment illustrates his creativity, skill, and dedication to the craft and serves as a testament to great film and video production.”

For more information on Joe’s latest pursuit of becoming the first wheelchair-using quadriplegic to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon, and the upcoming documentary IT’S RAINING, SO WHAT, Folwow us on Twitter @rainingsowhat and Like us on Facebook