UPDOG BLOG.
MARCH 28, 2007
What can I say... I am a total slacker. I have not kept up with this blog for close to 3 months!!! That goes to show you how busy I have been editing the movie. I have not been to sleep before 3 AM since September when I first stated doing preliminary edits on Updog. I shipped the finished film off to the replicators on Friday, so it looks like it will hit stores in time for 4-20!!! I am so pumped on the way it turned out. Truthfully, it has been a serious love/hate relationship with this project- just ask my wife or good friends. Let me just say this... NO VIDEO SHOULD EVER BE WATCHED 12,000,000 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD! However, the feedback I have received from those who have peeped it absolutely love it and have had tons of encouraging things to say about it. That makes me feel good- so I hope the video makes YOU feel good. I can tell you this- the one thing it makes me wanna do more than anything is RIDE!!! I am pumped that the weather is finally warming up and I can get back out on the water!!!

Wake N Skate Boardhouse will be premiering the video on 4-20 at The Lift in Omaha and I will also be premiering the film the weekend of Wake Games in Orlando on April 28th at The Social. The party will be in conjunction w/ the Wake Games-Rip It Party so it should be alot of fun and have a great turnout! I will also have a booth at Wake Games on Thursday thru Sunday. Me and the WN crew will be selling videos and handing out some really cool promo posters that the riders will be signing at the booth throughout the weekend.

I appreciate everybody who has pre-ordered the video thus far. After you get it... if you like it, the biggest compliment you can give me is to tell people. Get on the forums, tell your local shops, tell your friends... Also, I would love to hear from you personally. You can always email me direct at ronnie@wakeboardnebraska.com if you wanna chat about the movie or wakeboarding in general. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT. For those of you that have seen my other films, I strongly encourage you to check out Updog. SNAFU and DWP were both great projects that I learned ALOT from. It took that learning to bring you UPDOG. I think you will agree that 3rd time IS a charm! Hope to see you all at one of the premieres coming up. Introduce yourself to me... I'd love to talk.

Finally, if any shops, clubs, etc. would like to do a premiere in your area... hit me up. I can provide you with promo materials for a fun and successful party! It's a great way to kick off the spring season!

December 29, 2006
Probably my last entry of 2006. Everything is moving right along. I was in Orlando again last week finishing up some shooting with Chad, Rusty, Watson, Ruck, and the Kyle's. I have been getting some really good stuff shot with Chad Sharpe so I have decided to include him on Rusty's section and do a sort of Canadian tribute section back to back with Rattray's section. I keep saying alot of these sections are done, but I am constantly tweaking them, even the one's I say are done. Kyle Albert's section is now complete. Weatherall's is complete. Lyman's is complete. And Watson's is complete. I am almost finished with Darin's section and have been laying a few others out. I still have 4 months to finish with this, but there is still alot of work!!! Watch out for next month's issue of Wakeboarding Mag... they are doing an article on Updog and the Mexico trip. There will also be an article in SBC Wakeboard Mag out of Canada. The vid is getting alot of good press and great reviews from those that have peeped it so far. Props go out to David Cervenka- he has been critiquing each section VERY hard but it is allowing for a kick ass vid!!! Show him some love and pick up a copy of his latest venture- The Chick Flick (thechickflick.com). Anyways... happy holidays to you all. You will hear from me again in '07!

December 11, 2006
Congrats to the UPDOG riders who killed it at Gravity Games in Australia this past weekend. Jeff Weatherall, Trevor Hansen, Kyle Rattray, and Rusty Malinoski all made it to the 8 man finals on Sunday. In the end, Trevor and Rusty ended up in a tie for 3rd place. Congrats to all of you!!!

I'm heading back to Orlando this weekend to finish up some filming... how many times have I said that. Murray will be in town, so we are going to get started filming our rider intro skits. Should be alot of fun!!!

Ronn Seidenglanz from Sidewayz Films has given me the okay to use footage from some of their earlier "classic vids" such as Switch, Switch 22, Six Pack, 12 Honkeys, etc. for Darin's section. Darin and I have decided that since this will be his last section EVER in a wake film, let's make it a tribute section. I have selected the clips that I want to use and now it's time to make them work in the section. You will see classic Shapiro tricks like the Iron Cross, Speedball, Huge front to Blinds, Giant Double Ups, and more. There will also be some directional board footage that he rides 100 times better than you or I will ever ride our twin tips!!! Should be a super fun section.

Updog shirts will finally be in stock this week. Get one ordered... they are tight!

December 2, 2006
First off, Happy Birthday, Dad! I'm on a plane delay on my way back home, so I thought it'd be a good time for my update. Another great QUICK trip to O town. Shot with Rusty, Kyle R, Trevor, Corey Bradley, Ruck, Kyle A, Watson, & Chad Sharpe. Mostly filmed tube sets with everyone, but did get some chase and rail stuff shot, too. Friday we went out to O Dub with Ruck and Trevor. The idea was to get some shots of Ruck on the Roam riding WITH him on a double line. Let's just say the idea sounded a lot easier. After two laps and a practically torn rotator cuff (and of course unusable footage), Trevor relieved me of my camera duties and filmed the session with Erik and ended up getting a couple shots that turned out pretty cool. I didn't feel too bad, though, because he wasn't having the easiest of times out there, either. But he got the shots I couldn't, so THANKS TREVOR! Even got a couple sets of bowling filmed with Trevor. That was a helluva lotta fun, since it's been about 10 years since I've hucked a ball. 130, not bad. Oh yea, did I mention I got a super tight shot of him doing a TS BS 5 (on axis) off the wake??? Word. I was talking w/ Chad & Watson and the idea has been thrown out there to build some sort of pool gap, so I will be heading back to Orlando here in two weeks to try to get this idea put together and filmed. Wow... this video is REALLY coming together. I can't tell you how pumped I am about the project. And the cool thing is the riders seem to be just a spumped about it and I think that is what it takes to put out a kick ass video... if EVERYONE IS INTO IT they work extra hard to get the best stuff we can.

November 28, 2006
Watson's section is DONE! I like it alot and I think you will, as well. Really chill and laid back and showcases his laid back style really well. Although he does ride pretty damn hard in this- huge spins 9's, 7's, 5's and 3's- all big, lots of Ole' stuff, and a few surf shots ... Jeff's section is coming along great... I'm just waiting to get some footage from Ogio of Jeff pullin' a backflip on his dirtbike out at Pastrana's. I guess there's some pretty gnarly crashes, too. Can't wait to check it out- so I am putting his section on hold til I get the footy!!!
I'm headin to Orlando tomorrow. Couldn't come at a better time since it's suppossed to snow on Wed. Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather, low winds, and good light!!!

November 22, 2006
The official launch of the website/myspace page was a great success. I really appreciate everyone's support so far. It's kinda funny, I think everybody is more excited for the premier party than for the video itself!!! :) Rest assurred, the premiere will be off the hook, but right now my focus is on getting the video completed!!! I am heading to Orlando next week to film w/ Rusty, Rattray, Trevor, and Ruck. I'm hoping this is my final shoot, so I can really concentrate on finalizing sections. Lyman's new section is DONE and I am super pumped with it. I am about halfway through with Jeff's section and it is going to be a great closing section. "Are You With Me" is a great song to edit to... lotta fun! Help me promote Updog... put the banners on your myspace sites, comments your friends with 'em. Help me get the word out. SBC Wakeboarding Mag out of Canada contacted me and wants to do an article on the making of Updog. Wakeboarding Mag also contacted me and wants to do a "Pulse" article on the film, as well. That'll be some great press!!! I am really pumped that people are getting excited about the film. I know I am.

November 12, 2006
Let me just start off by saying- I never want to develop another website AGAIN!!! Yea right... but what a frustrating weekend it has been. I have switched servers 3 times over the weekend! Again, all of this stuff you could probably care less about, since by the time you read this it'll be on the right server. Let's just say, E-Commerce is a bitch! But that's good, cuz if security were easy, I guess it wouldn't be that secure now would it! This whole website has been MUCH more of a project than I ever wanted to take on- but unfortunately the ideas just keep comin' and I think "oh that'd be cool..." so I re-do something! Hoping to have the shopping cart completed in the next day or two so I can officially launch the site and let the world get introduced to the disease that will now be known as UPDOG.! I'm pumped to hear what you all think so far- send me an email or post a comment on the myspace site. Believe me, your support goes a long way!!! Especially in the frustrating times!

November 9, 2006
TEASER IS DONE!!! The official MYSPACE site is complete. I need to finish the shopping cart and I am ready to release UPDOG on the world!!! Hopefully I am less than a week away! Rough edits are complete for Jeff, Rattray, Ruck, & Trevor. I won't start editing any of those sections until I get back from Orlando at the end of November. In the mean time I will finish Keith's NEW section- new song is Grind by Swollen Members. I found out that the song I had edited his section to was going to be WAY too expensive to license. I'm bummed because I was really pumped w/ his section. Oh well... time to make er bigger and better! It sucks when there really isnt a budget for making a video. However, I have still planned out a great soundtrack. Here is what I have set so far- more than likely, Darin will be riding to one of his own tracks, Jeff- Are You With Me by Vaux, Kyle A.- Everything Automatic by First Wave Hello, Kyle Rattray- Massacre by Swollen Members, Watson- Try by Sweatshop Union, Ruck- Portable People by First Wave Hello, Trevor- Don't Wait by Vaux.

November 1, 2006
I'm back from Florida. What a trip. Shot tons of great footage and had a great time. Filmed with a bunch of riders- more than I was expecting, but it was all good! I had the pleasure of filming Rusty Malinoski while I was there- enough that I think I am going to be able to get a section from him. Will need to finish up filming with him when I head back to O Town at the end of the month- am gonna be praying that I get a 10 with him for the vid!!!. I also had the chance to film a set with Tino Santori. It was amazing- that dude KILLS it. He took one set and here is what he did: switch BS 5 AND 7, HS 7, TS 9, an ole' heel mobe, & Crow 5. Looks like I am gonna have a bunch of footage for bonus sections from riders like Tino, Ike, Corey Bradley, Clay Fletcher, Mikey Marsh, Jack Blodgett, & Nick Weinacker. I filmed mostly with Trevor, the two Kyle's and Rusty. I filmed one day over at Ruck's place. Had a great rail sesh- the light sucked but the rail he has is awesome. Lyman, Ruck, & Trevor killed it on the rail. I was also planning on filming the intro skits with Shaun Murray while I was in town, but the day we were suppossed to film the skits he got knocked out on a backside 5 (or 450 as he says). Sorry Shaun. Hope all is well- take care of that noggin, man! Shaun Keeler went down with me and got some great snaps of the guys. You can see many of these shots in the photo gallery section of the site. The teaser is coming together well. Hoping to have it launched here in the next week or two! It was alot to pack into 3 1/2 days- my boy Tyson and I even had time to head over to Disney to see his buddy Buzz Lightyear! Good times. Looking forward to heading back there on teh 28th of November!

October 25, 2006
David with DPC FIlms lent his tech geek expertise once again to UPDOGTHEMOVIE.COM. You can thank him that you are not having to scroll down a really long web page to read this blog. Thanks Dave!!! Go order THE CHICK FLICK!!! We are leaving this afternoon to head to O-Town. Will be shooting with Ruck, Trevor, and Kyle Rattray tomorrow AM out at The Boarding School. Kyle Alberts has officially LEFT NEBRASKA and as of today has moved in with Darin Shapiro for a couple months. Get ready for that kid to BLOW UP!!!

October 23, 2006
Started working on rough edits for the teaser and for Darin, Jeff, and Kyle A's sections. Darin is doing his own music for his section and the song is really tight. Really laid back and chill which is so NOT what you are used to seeing Darin ride to in a video. I think it's gonna work out well. Jeff is gonna get the closing section to the video and I am using a Vaux song- "Are You With Me" for his section. It fits his style very well. Super high energy. If you haven't checked out Vaux yet, I suggest you do so... these guys are TIGHT. They are also on Itunes, so you can check out their music there! Lastly, the Huskers lost a GREAT game to Texas this weekend. Even though I felt like we were in the Arctic, it was one of the funnest games I've been to in awhile!

October 20, 2006
Been working all week on updogthemovie.com. Haven't edited at all this week. I'm hoping to have the official web site release (if you are reading this then it has already released) the first week or two in November. I am holding off on putting a teaser together for the video until I get back from Orlando (in case I get some crazy footage that NEEDS to be in the teaser), but again by the time you are reading this you will probably be watching the teaser in anticipation for the real thing (I hope). My buddy, Shawn Keeler, will be going to Orlando with me as the photographer that will feature alot of the shots you see here on updogthemovie.com. All of the shots that you see on the site from Mexico were taken by our friends Sasha and Dima (The Russian Connection), as well as Jeff & Darin. I just got an email from Wakeboarding Magazine that they want to do a Pulse article on our Mexico film trip and the film in general in their next issue- plus feature the teaser on their home page! Cool.

October 14, 2006
Edit 1 (of about 5 or 6) is done for both Keith Lyman and Shawn Watson's sections. Got music from Swollen Members and Sweatshop Union to use for these sections. I am still waiting for my late October trip to Orlando to finish up with some rail footage of both Keith and Shawn. I have burned a couple test DVD's of Edit 1 just to check the quality when viewed on a regular TV. WOW! All I can say about the Panasonic AG-HVX200 it's clarity is INCREDIBLE. When I viewed the footage on a standard 4X3 TV it looked good, but when viewed on a widescreen HDTV it looked absolutely beautiful. The detail leval and color saturation of that camera is awesome! Plus it's a sick workflow not having to capture any tapes- it's all recorded to removable hard drives! This camera is definietly the future of filmmaking.

September 25, 2006
Rough edits for UPDOG have started. Been working hard to find the right music that will flow with the film. First Wave Hello and VAUX are the first bands to sign on. Wait until you hear their music- it is GREAT and is a perfect fit for the energy of the video! Just from the rough edits I have done so far, I can already tell this vid is gonna be off the hook! Just booked tickets for a late October film trip to Orlando to shoot with the guys!

September 10, 2006
Well we just got back from Acapulco, Mexico on a film trip with Jeff Weatherall, Darin Shapiro, Kyle Alberts, Shawn Watson, & Keith Lyman. The place we stayed at (acapulcogetaways.com) was insane. It was 100 feet from the ocean, and on the backside of the property there was a fresh water lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains, palm trees, and cliffs. Needless to say the footage that I got down there was AWESOME. The colors were unreal and the water was like glass. Everybody killed it, too. It was my first time ever shooting with Jeff, and let me just say, working with him is a filmmakers dream. He is always down to ride and is one of the most consistent riders I've ever seen. He was doing tricks that made everyone say- what the hell was that??? Wait til you see his toeside front to blind where he lands wrapped and grabs stale the ENTIRE time! Kyle Alberts learned 5 new tricks on the trip which included slim chance, moby dick, hs 7 off the wake, off axis BS 7 off the double, and a switch TS 9! Keith rode HUGE and STYLISH as he always does and futhered my thoughts