Update - MIFF Dreams

Hey all - we are in the process of finishing up final editing, adding music and graphics, and we'll be submitting the film to the Maine International Film Festival at the very end of April! We're hoping to have the film accepted so we can have it premiere this July in Waterville! Stay tuned...

Officially Kickstart-ed!

11/15/11

Today marks the launch of the Hardwater fundraiser on Kickstarter! We've been waiting a LONG time to share our trailer with friends and family, and with those who may have never thought about or been particularly interested in ice fishing!

It's exciting to see the names of contributors as they come in - friends, neighbors, colleagues, old basketball teammates, family, and even strangers who have seen our trailer and decided to back our project. It's a remarkable feeling!

Over the next 30+ days, Dan and I will spend a lot of our time networking, sending letters, making phone calls, and updating our film page on Kickstarter.com, and on Facebook. WHEN...that's right, WHEN we reach our goal of $13,000, we will begin the process of finalizing this film and entering it into the Maine International Film Festival. Until then, check our Facebook page, follow us live on Kickstarter (Search "Hardwater") and stay tuned on the blog for updates, photos, videos, famous Hardwater quotes and stories, and other fun stuff!

Join the Hardwater team! Let's make this film a reality!

Thank you in advance!

- Ryan

Hardwater Facebook page

We created a Facebook page for our film, which includes a peak at our new film poster, created by the highly talented Kris Johnsen of Portland, Maine. "Like" it, and share it with your friends!

Hardwater on Facebook!

Low & Clear

I found this trailer on The Drake website [The Drake is by far the highest quality fishing magazine out there right now - check it out]. This film looks beautiful - quirky, intense, funny characters, and amazing cinematography. Not ice fishing, but close...Can't wait to see it!

"It's what you make..." / Inside the edit room

motivation on the door of the Hardwater editing room

We're working towards completing the rough-cut of Hardwater. Our target date for completion is September 1st! Below are a few more photos of the editing cave, where all the magic happens. Stay tuned for more film updates, some (unrelated but) awesome tarpon fishing footage from my recent trip to Florida, as well as a great interview with Danish filmmaker/photographer/scientist Jan Bach Kristensen!

edit.edit.edit.

Dan, posing

our Maine map of shot locations

The Final Shoot

This was my 3rd trip to East Grand Lake near Danforth and the New Brunswick border, fishing with Tim Jackson, Ted Weymouth, and Bob Foster. The fishing was slow (probably due to the full moon).

For those following the film, we've completed our production phase! On to post, and lots of editing! Stay tuned.

Here are some photos from the recent East Grand Lake trip:

another beautiful East Grand sunrise

Tim Jackson with an 8-pound lake trout

Ted with a huge cusk caught on a jig-pole

staring contest

Bob picking up at the end of the day

headed back to camp

looking toward Greenland Cove

the long drive home

Howatt Goes Pike Fishing

Jeff Howatt, avid outdoorsman, math teacher, and registered Maine Guide, is one of our main characters in Hardwater. He's been ice fishing central and western Maine for close to forty years. Prior to this season, Jeff had fished exclusively for cold water species, particularly lake trout and brook trout. Admittedly, Jeff had never even seen a northern pike, even though these invasives have been in Maine waters since the late 70's. He referred to them as "fake fish" and predicted that catching one would be as boring as "shooting a decoy."

Well, he changed his mind pretty quickly after hooking and landing two pike within ten minutes of each other in late January, the second of which was nearly fifteen pounds. He was able to share the moment with one of his good friends and fishing buddies, Roger Bolduc. Below is the 14.7 pounder - the largest freshwater catch of Jeff's life.