Ice: The Documentary

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!