Morgan: Generation YouTube

Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity? Two weeks from everywhere!

- Brother where art thou."

This blog seems to have become a geographical oddity in that Byrne and I seem to have been slowing down. Which is understandable considering how busy we've been lately. She's waking up at 0430 and I'm going to bed then...just kidding. I don't ever want this to become a chore for either one of us. It should be Fun, Fun, Fun. And it still is.

With no encouragement from me, my son (Christopher) has begun to show an interest in something besides video games. His new found hobby is producing short videos, no doubt inspired by all the idiots on You Tube. Him and his friends have formed a production company Vertical Productions for the purpose of making films.


There first undertaking was a zombie film...Last of the Living Brian Hoeg was the director and editor, Christopher was assistant director on this film. Its about 4 minutes long, very suspenseful and well edited. I was impressed and Christopher seemed to have been bitten by the film bug.

He started researching filming techniques and even wrote a script. He found a video demonstrating the construction of a Track dolly Thats when he asked me for my help. I had been watching his interest and wanted to encourage him to continue...so we started a new project. The Track Dolly. The first thing I made him do was create a material list.













Material List
16 Skateboard wheels
32 Bearings
10 ft of 2" angled aluminium
8 - 4" 1/4 inch bolts
16- 2" 1/4 inch bolts
24-1/4 inch nuts
1 2'x4' piece of Plywood
10 ft of 1 inch PVC Pipe



We than went online and purchased 16 skateboard wheels ($40.00) from the SkateShed I should have just purchased the bearings there...but I overlooked that small fact. When the wheels arrived a few days later we decided to go to the Fairfax Surf Shop in search of bearings. It was a good choice as they had bearings...but not enough. We had to buy 3 different brands to get what we needed (32 bearings - $80.00) I made sure they threw in some cool stickers for free.

With all the materials purchased we began construction...oops. We had forgot to purchase the Angled Aluminum. I remember picking it up at Home Depot....hmmm, I checked the receipt. Damn! No Aluminum. We had to go back. $4.00 for gas. I borrowed a portable saw from next door neighbor Col Collins to cut the aluminum. Using my incredibly accurate graphics eye I calculated where to drill the holes.

Christopher said, "Dad shouldn't you use a tape measure?"
"Naaah." I replied, "I don't need one."

When I was assembling the wheels I realized the bolts were too long and I had to disassemble them all and cut about an inch off every bolt with our hack saw. Cutting 16 Bolts with a hack saw is no easy feat. I finished after two days of hacking. Felt like I was breaking out of jail!

Finally it was time for final construction. I couldn't find the 1/4 inch ratchet so I just hand tighten the nuts on to the frame and finally I attached the wheel frame combo to the plywood...sigh, time to take a break. This was a lot like work. I got to admit I was growing weary of the track dolly.

The next morning Christopher informed me that the Dolly was dragging on the track. What? My my wheels were placed to wide? My gestimate drilling was in error? I didn't want to take the track dolly apart...I thought, I would go back to Home Depot and get bigger PVC pipe. Finally I took the dolly apart again and redrilled the inside track, to much success. The dolly was ready for filming.

The next morning (Saturday) we drove the young Speilbergs (Brian Hoeg, Mike Flynn and Christopher Morgan) to the "filming set". They had a script, props, storyboards and the track dolly. I watched as they filmed their different scenes. Kept my eye out to make sure they didn't get run over as they were filming near a busy street. We got some weird looks, but overall everything went well. I haven't seen the movie...but Im sure it will turn out fine. I'm just glad the boy is doing something creative and not just sitting there playing Guitar Hero. I predict in the next five years, thousands of young film directors will be entering film school inspired by You Tube I wish them all good luck!

"Wall Doctor"


Here is another fun Vertical Production
Hey Video