American Chopper Fantasy Bike

A few weeks ago this summer as I was watching my stories, err... my show, American Chopper, an add came on. This was an add for a contest that if you won, you would appear on an episode of American Chopper and they will build you, your very own custom Bike. How cool is that? I had about a little over a week to get an application in (I didn't hear when the deadline was until it came on the TV). I took a little bit of time out of work (only a little) and some time out at home to go through the application of personal information and short answer essay questions, e.g. What is your favorite bike and why?

I pretty much had that all wrapped up, but I still needed a 3 minute video in order to complete the application package. I borrowed a video camera from beej (thanks again Brian) and set it up in my room in my own makeshift studio with the American flag behind me. Unfortunately, this looked terrible. When I filmed it, I was a foot away from the camera, i.e. I was huge, and I was tired and stressed when I made it. You know in Office Space when Tom is talking with the Bob's and practically yelling at them that he is a people person? I felt kind of like that except I was saying very seriously that I was a funny person, can't you people see that I'm funny?

It just wasn't working. With only a day to spare. I took off half a day of work and had Gerrit and Catherine help make a decent video, one that had more me come through. We were lucky to have such a nice day at CMU.

First of all, the battery on Brian's camera didn't work so we had to plug it in wherever we went. This meant bringing 30 feet of multiple extension cords with us. We made due. Basically, we made stops around CFA looking towards Pitt and from the fence looking towards the UC and Forbes. I got several shots of the American flag waving in the background...oh yeah.

If you've talked to anyone who has seen the video (I haven't even see it), they'll probably tell you their favorite part was the flying baby. The sequence started with me talking on campus at the Clock and then cutting back to the house.

CONNOR: ...I feel that even in the most stressful situations, I feel like I can be the person who can always say the right thing to mediate the situation.

<cut to house with GERRIT standing next to CATHERINE who is sitting on the couch holding a baby. They are both next to a window and behind them is the entrance to the sun room>

GERRIT: Quiet the baby down, it's too loud.

CATHERINE: Quiet baby, quiet, etc.

GERRIT: Quiet that baby down, it's too loud!

<out of the sun room, CONNOR rolls in front of the door>

CONNOR: Shut it!

<GERRIT grabs the baby, panics and throws it out the window. Cut back to CONNOR at the Clock>

CONNOR: I also feel that I always seem to be in the right place at the right time.

<Cut to in front of house looking down driveway. The baby is seen flying over the camera and is caught by CONNOR, looking confused, as he walks by the house.* Cut to CATHERINE sitting on the steps crying about her baby. CONNOR walks up and hands CATHERINE her baby. Cut back to the clock.>

GERRIT: (off camera) Another thing about Connor is, he has really good time management skills.

<CONNOR in front of clock then looks at his watch.>

Scene.

*At this point, it was supposed to go back to me at the clock and I was going to say that like OCC, I like to give back to the community as well, but that didn’t make it in.


As we were throwing the baby around, my parents showed up, confused. I had to leave to go on a mini-vacation with them to see Laurel Caverns and Falling Waters. Many thanks to Gerrit with the help of beej, edited the video and then Gerrit also put together my application. I couldn’t have done this with out my friends, that’s for sure. Plus, it was a million times better. I doubt I’ll make it in, but I figure it’s worth a shot. It is my favorite show after all.

ROFLCOPTER, I don’t care, just GET IT DONE!