Ice: The Documentary

The City of Brotherly Love

Just got back from yet another super quick trip... this time to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had a great time hanging out with Peter Slavin of Fear No Ice & Kevin Gregory of Ice Concepts. They both took really good care of me on this trip and for that I am forever grateful.

I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for this documentary. I still have a few more trips planned within the next few months.

the Big Apple

I'm back home from a super quick/exhausting trip to NYC...

I had the pleasure to spend some time with Takeo & Shintaro of Okamoto Studios.

These guys offer up yet another unique perspective to the current/future US ice industry.

As with every sculptor I've taped... It was an honor to watch Takeo perform his craft.

Thanks guys for accommodating to my super tight schedule. I cant wait to revisit.

I also want to thank my good friend Rick for helping me out with this tough trip.

Fear No....

Once again Im falling behind on updating this blog....

A little over a month ago, I got a chance to fly out to Seattle for a second interview with Kevin Rosco of Cascade Crystal Ice & Fear No Ice. As expected we got some great material for the documentary. Kevin was a great host... there is no possible way the trip would have happened without all his help.

Kevin is also a great chef (no surprise)

Thanks Kevin!! I hope to visit you again some time in the future.

NICA 2009 National Championship

Below are a few images that my brother & I took during the competition in Downers Grove, IL. I will upload more soon. Thanks for everyone from NICA for making our visit happen.

Congratulations to all the winners!

The calm before the ice storm...

Today was a pretty laid-back day for us. Most of the day was spent on the road.... below is a time lapse of our drive from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Downers Grove, Illinois.

We also got to document the registration/pre-meeting for the NICA Nationals. The competition starts early tomorrow morning. Be on the look out for updates on footage & interviews of this yearly event.

The Ice Gurus

Just had a great day with Randy Finch & Derek Maxfield of Ice Sculptures Ltd. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What a creative bunch.... They were very accommodating and their wonderful staff had no issues working around us as we took up every working area they had.

Being from Texas, I am definitely not used to this weather..... Especially when the temperature inside the freezer is actually warmer than it is outside. But, I am enjoying every minute of this exhausting trip.

I must thank my brother Michael for helping me out with everything, from helping with production, taking these awesome photos & just making me laugh... the trip would not be the same without my big brother by my side.

Next stop: Chicago, Illinois!

Back on track

Started the day off in Texas with an early morning flight to Chicago for an interview with Jim Nadeau of Nadeau's Ice Sculptures Inc. Yet another great interview to add to the documentary. He gave us a tour of his company based in Forest Park, Illinois.

After leaving Chicago and driving through a blizzard... what really topped the day off was making new friends with the Michigan Highway Patrol. My brother/assistant & I got pulled over near Holland, Michigan for failing to signal while changing lanes (which is something they take pretty serious up here). At least they weren't concerned that we were going way over 70 mph. During our brief road side visit, the officers seem to show some interest in this project... Looks like we possibly have some new fans outside of the ice industry!! All in all is was a very productive/entertaining/scary day.

No ticket issued :)

Update

Hello all.

I just want to apologize for not keeping up with the blog. I have still been shooting interviews and staying in contact with the ice sculpting world. Although production of the documentary has slowed down some, I still plan on finishing the project. My original goal was to have it completed for submission to Sundance 2010 Film Festival this September, but I will probably not be done shooting interviews & b-roll footage by then. Therefore, I will continue until the project is done as I see fit.

I greatly appreciate all the emails, phone calls & offers of help.

Next stop Chicago for the NICA Nationals!! Look for updates soon!
Thanks,
Alex Luster

Texas Snow

Who says it doesnt snow in Texas? I'm sure they havent met Reverend Butter yet.

I got a chance to see him in action at the annual 'Orange Show Gala' in downtown Houston, Texas this past weekend. His performance consisted of two blocks of ice, 4 chainsaws, 1 rock band & 1 dj.

A special thanks to the DLG staff, the Orange Show & everyone @ the David Addicks studio.

The Insite!

Here's an excerpt from a story on The Insite about my current projex...

ALEX LUSTER IS A TRUE ONE MAN BAND!

FOLLOWING ICE AND WHEAT PASTING AROUND THE COUNTRY!

It's rare in the television business that you'll find someone who can do it all and do it well. I have found that person. That guy is Alex Luster. He's an Emmy Award winning promo producer for FOX 26. Luster also shoots, edits, and write documentaries. His latest projects are quite interesting. Alex is working on a piece that focuses on ice sculpting around the country. He says it's a documentary that has taken him from Houston to Los Angeles and into the midwest. He recently stopped by the Insite's desk to...go to THE INSITE to read more...

Thanks Isiah!!

More goodies

I received another shipment of goodies yesterday! This time, Julian Bayley of Ice Culture in Hensall, Ontario sent me a copy of his 'Ideas That Work(ed)' book and several video dvds featuring his company's latest work.

Thanks Julian!

The good word of ice

Finally got an interview in my own city!!

Because of conflicting schedules, we could never set an on-camera interview date in stone... until a last minute call from the 'Reverend' himself. Rolando De La Garza (aka Reverend Butter of DLG Ice Factory) in Houston, Texas brings a new light to this ever-growing project. I've been told of some wild tales about this character, and now I have an interview that lives up to those stories. I hope to re-visit with Butter later this year.

Special thanks to my brother Michael for coming out to help on short notice! ANd for taking these awesome photos!!

Some web love.

This blog has been getting some increased attention thanks to Dawson List & Jeff Petercsak.
IceCarvingSecrets.com is featuring a blog about my blog! So now, Im writing about his blog.

IceCarvingSecrets.com

NICA.org has the blog featured on its home page!

NICA.org
Thanks guys!

A bump in the road...

Well, I'm back in Texas from the NICA convention in Florida. The camera I'm using for this project records the HD footage onto several small media cards instead of tape. So, in order for me to record so much material, I must periodically transfer video to an external drive. Turns out the drive I transfered to has some issues. As of right now I am unable to access some of my footage. I'm trying several different file salvage programs before I take it a pro-recovery company.

Wish me luck.

NICA day 3

Final day of convention in Boca Raton Florida! More great interviews from every aspect of ice.

I want to thank everyone at NICA for accommodating my visit to the convention. I'm sure I will forget a name or two so I wont say any. You know who you are :)

Gregg Butauski

Jeff Petercsak

Glen Motley

Ben Rand

Dean Carlson

Stephan Koch

Alice Connelly

Michael A. Jasa

All photography by Brenda Rosas

NICA day 2

Another very productive day at the NICA convention in Boca Raton, Florida. I got the privilege to see some workshops and talk to some more major players in the ice sculpting industry.

Gregg Butauski

Aaron Costic

Kevin Roscoe

Julian Bayley

Dean Carlson

Peter Fogarty

Photos taken by Brenda

NICA day 1

Last night there was a pre-registration/reception for the attendees of this year NICA convention @ the Boca Raton resort. I actually got some time to meet and greet with some of the people I have been reading about in different Ice related literature.

I only got two sit down interviews... but, they were great sources of information. The 1st one was with Mike Clinebell of Clinebell Equipment Company, the leading manufacturer of eqipment and supplies for the ice sculptor. My second interview was with Chad Hartson of Ice Creations & the First Vice-President of NICA.

I'm about to pack up my equipment & head back to the resort to continue the project. Im really looking forward to talking with Julian Bayley of Ice Culture, Kevin Roscoe of Fear No Ice, the rest of the NICA family & the many carvers/sculpors attending the event.
Thanks again to Brenda for helping me figure out ways to use all my broken equipment in different ways & of course for your still photography expertise.

1st interview in Florida

Just finished interviewing ice sculptor Lazaro aka Laz of Nice Work Ice Sculptures @ Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Florida. He provided a very animated & interesting explanation of the 'ice game'. Thanks Laz!

Thanks to Brenda for these great pics and all the help... She rocks!

Next up: NICA Convention/Workshops @ the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton. Florida.

n'Ice suprise

In the midst of cleaning up after Hurricane Ike destroyed my backyard, I received a UPS package from Grand Rapids Michigan. I anxiously opened it up and realized it was some ice related books from Randy Finch & Derek Maxfield of Ice Sculptures LTD. I've been talking with Randy to arrange a trip up north to visit their shop before the end of the year. Thanks guys! Now I have something to read on my plane trip to Florida next week.

Non-ice related post

Just wanted to share this time lapse I shot as Hurricane Ike approached the Galveston coast. Fortunately we are all alive & well but we did get some damage to our house plus we've been without power since the storm hit Houston. I'm actually writing this blog from work...

I hope all my Gulf coast readers are safe.

Fire meets ice.

For my first Texas interview, I headed down to McAllen, Texas a few miles north of the Mexican border. Rudy Sanchez of Texas Ice Carving is the only full-time ice sculpting business down there. He talked to me a little bit about how being the only ice guy in town can have it's advantages and disadvantages. Last night he showed off his ice carving talents with a performance(live demo) at one of his favorite local nightclubs.

Thanks to my 'brutha from anotha mutha' for taking the great photos!!
Eastwood Photography

Bad timing...

Due to a mishap at a client's event in Palm Springs, Ice Bulb once again had to post-pone the interview. I really want to get this interview on tape because they offer a very distinct side to the ice distributing business. Hopefully we can make it happen on the next trip to Cali. Aside from that, this has been a very productive trip. Can't wait for the big N.I.C.A. event in September.

Cali trip #2 coming to an end...

You'd think that all ice sculpting businesses are run the same... not the case so far. Every shop that I have visited has it's own unique way of doing everything from freezing to sculpting and even delivering. Symphony on Ice in North Hollywood has a totally different way of getting sculptures done.... you'll see how when the doc is done. I would like to thank Joanne, Sam, Rita, Kurt, Jimmy for making me feel at home and feeding me so much great food.... much appreciated :)

Finally a female perspective.

I drove up to Camarillo, California to tape an interview with Dominique Colell of Images in Ice. She obviously provides a different point of view. Her interview was short, simple but very entertaining.

My first delivery.

I finally got to go out on a delivery with Gavin of Carving Ice. But, since I didn't get clearance from the hotel... I couldn't tape the setup. Guess I need to think about that next time. Thanks Gavin for the great talk.

The interview I was told I would NOT get...

I have heard a lot of things about Mark Daukas... some good, some bad. I was told by several sculptors that I would not get this interview and if I did, he would not be very open or kind. Well, I got the interview and guess what? He was totally kind & very open. Mark's interview was by far the most interesting as far as ice history. We spent a few hours shooting while his wife & son went to DisneyLand. I got some pretty interesting perspectives on certain people in the ice community... but you will have to wait for the documentary release to know who/what he said.

Thank you Daukas family for your valuable time!

Going back to Cali...

Heading back to southern California in two weeks. I have an interview setup with Ice Bulb, Symphony in Ice, Images in Ice and hopefully with Mark Daukas. I will post updates soon!

On my way back home...

Unfortunately, no luck on getting the interview with Shelby Russell of Ice Bulb. Our hectic schedules wouldn't allow this one to happen. I still feel that I got some great material & information from James, Rex, Roland & Paul. Hopefully I can catch Ice Bulb on the next trip. Flying home to Texas later today to sleep in my own bed :)

Gettin' schooled on ice!

Paul and his wife Robin Germain graciously ended there boating trip early for this interview. Based in Fresno California, Paul Germain is the owner/sculptor/teacher of the Academy of Ice Carving and Design. Yet another great interview for the doc.
So far it's been great to see so many different aspects of the 'ice biz'
Thank you Paul & Robin for much needed lunch!

Next stop, Los Angeles for an interview with Ice Bulb... can't wait!!