Eastern European Facebook Fans

69 Facebook fans from Serbia.  Is lawn mower racing that popular in the Balkans?

Interviewed Huntington's disease advocates

On Thursday I was on Capitol Hill to interview several Huntington's disease advocates after they lobbied Senator Mark Warner from Virginia.  They are trying to get a member of the Senate to introduce a version of The Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2009 which is HR 678. 

On Saturday I will be filming the keynote speaker at the Huntington's disease symposium in Baltimore.

Congressman Peter Hoekstra Supports HR 678

Recently I made my third trip to Western Michigan to film a meeting between the Mikula family who use lawn mower racing to raise funding for the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) and their congressman Peter Hoekstra. Congressman Hoekstra was extremely generous with his time taking about 45 minutes to get to know the Mikulas and Huntington's disease. Congressman Hoekstra recently agreed to cosponsor the Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2009 which was introduced by congressmen Filner and Bilbray both of California. Congressman Hoekstra listened intently as Jim Mikula explained how Huntington's disease has affected his family and how the family hosts a United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) national points race in Sparta, Michigan to raise awareness of the disease and funding for its research. Hoekstra then explained on camera how he learned about the bill and why it is important for it to become law.

I will be interviewing Dr. Karen Anderson at the University of Maryland in Baltimore on November 2 in order to provide a further clinical definition of Huntington's disease. I have already interviewed doctors Tim O'Neil and Carol Manning both of Virginia. I am hoping to be granted permission to film the keynote speaker at an upcoming Huntington's disease symposium to be held in Baltimore in November.

With most of the filming completed I am sending out resumes in hope of returning to the life of a telecommunications/network technician. If I can raise the $250 needed to buy a Mac mini I will begin transferring the 100 plus hours of footage to a hard drive in preparation for editing. With the help of Shaun Wright of Towson University I expect to have the film's trailer recut in November to include the narrative of how lawn mower racing is taking an active role in the battle against Huntington's disease.

Mike Ratel to be interviewed on the Outdoor Channel on 10/5

Hey all,
I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the Outdoor Channel during the Sta Bil Keeps Gas Fresh Finals in Delaware, Mowhio Labor Day weekend. The show will be called Motor Mania and will air 4p, 7p, and 1:30a edt I am assuming. As always, check your local listings.
www.outdoorchannel.com.

Working on the new trailer on Monday 9/28

I will be working with Shaun Wright from Towson University to recut the trailer of my documentary on the sport of lawn mower racing on Monday 9/28. Keep your eyes on http://www.mowermovie.com for the latest news.

Mucic needed for lawn mower racing documentary trailer

I am recutting the trailer for my documentary on lawn mower racing. The narrative is about a family in Michigan who have lost five members to Huntington's disease and use the sport to raise funding and awareness of the disease. I am looking for instrumental music that I can use for the new version of the trailer. For mow details go to http://www.mowermovie.com.

Docs in Progress Screening
September 15, 2009 I had the opportunity to screen the current trailer for my film for an audience at a Docs in Progress screening in Bethesda, Md. The screening went very well and they are interested in screening a rough cut of the film when I get to that stage. After the trailer's screening I entertained questions and comments from the audience. On September 20 I will begin the process of recutting the film's trailer to reveal the narrative of how the sport of lawn mower racing is on the "cutting edge" in the war against Huntington's disease.

Docs in Progress Screening 9/15

As part of their documentary trailer night Docs In Progress will screen the trailer of On Your Mark, Get Set, MOW! - A tale of hope, redemption, and lawn mower racing.  During the course of the evening five filmmakers will have the opportunity to screen their trailers, discuss their projects, and receive audience feedback.  The event will take place at 7pm on September 15 at the Writers Center in Bethesda, MD located at 4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815. 

On Your Mark, Get Set, MOW! Is the documentary about the sport of lawn mower racing and how one Michigan family uses the sport to raise money for and bring attention to Huntington's disease.    Every year in Sparta, MI the family hosts a United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) national points race to raise awareness of the disease and money for the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA).   Huntington's disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder which 200,000 Americans are at risk for.  Part of the film explores the Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2009 and how it will help those suffering from the terminal disease if passed and made into law.

DC Shorts Film Festival

DC Shorts Film Festival

How it all started

I grew up in New Jersey and as a result have no knowledge of motor sports at all.  I could not tell the difference between a carborhydrate or a carborator.  One day a friend and I were driving back from a Richmond Braves game and he mentioned to me that people raced lawn mowers.  I accused him of lying as no one would ever race a lawn mower.  He said that he saw it on TV and therefore it must be the truth.  A year or two went by when I found myself sitting in front of my computer at work and thought to google "lawn mower racing".  Much to my surprise not only did it exist but it appeared to be well organized.  I bought a cheap consumer camcorder and started attending races.  After meeting the racers I found them to be among the most friendliest people I have ever met in my life.