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Rochester resident Blake Wink has a dream that may just turn him into the next Forrest Gump. This coming April, the 24-year-old director and a team of fellow dreamers will embark on a six-month journey in which they'll walk from New York City to Los Angeles and film everything along the way.
In Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks ran across America for "no particular reason," but Wink and company have lofty goals. They plan to interview the people they meet about their own dreams, with the end goal of creating a documentary called Walk the Dream. Once in Los Angeles, they will pitch the film to movie studios in hopes of getting a distribution deal, which Wink feels could boost the Rochester film scene and serve as inspiration for dreamers nationwide.
The idea for Walk the Dream began in September when Wink presented it to members of Rochester Movie Makers, a group of aspiring filmmakers, actors and writers that meets each month. Among those inspired was Rochester resident Brett Benson, 22, who, along with Wink, worked as a crew member on the locally shot film Cherry Crush in 2005. Benson will produce the Walk the Dream, along with Tim Schroth, 24, (an employee of Tinseltown in Gates and a freelance production assistant) and Holly Nickeson, 20, a Monroe Community College student who admits that her parents "think the idea is crazy."
The trio of producers will drive for most of the trip, setting up interviews along the way with people like a 60-plus-year-old Colorado resident who is fulfilling his life's dream of building a castle. Joining Wink in the walking journey will be camera operators Josh VanBuskirk, 20, and Dan Petracca, 21, and photographer Sara Klem, 27, who plans to create a photo book of the trip once it's over.
As of now there is no firm path for the journey, although stops will include Chicago and Colorado. The trip won't begin until April 11 (give or take a few days, depending on the weather), but word already is spreading. In recent weeks the crew has appeared on WHAM-TV (Channel 13) and been interviewed by a radio station in Cleveland and several press outlets in Colorado. And in just a few months, Walk the Dream's Facebook page has attracted nearly 2,500 fans.
"It's a novel idea," says Stan Main, local movie director and founder of Rochester Movie Makers. "Walk the Dream taps into the idea of freedom and being young, when sky's the limit with possibilities. It also taps into the voyeuristic part of people. It's a great fantasy they can latch onto."
Wink says crew members are routinely contacted by fans who want to participate in the trip. But people wishing to Walk the Dream will have a lot of work ahead of them. Wink, Klem, VanBuskirk and Petracca already have begun cardio and weight training at Downtown Fitness Club, one of the project's latest sponsors.They also spend three to four days a week walking along the Erie Canal with 30 pound backpacks.
As of mid-November they were up to 15 miles per hike. Yet, the physical aspect is only half of it. Each member of the Walk the Dream team has dedicated most of his or her daily life to the project. Because of the amount of time Wink's been putting in, he says he had to quit his job and is now living on personal savings.
One thing that takes up much of his — and other members' — time is finding ways to finance Walk the Dream. The trip depends on fundraising and sponsorships, which will pay for things such as food, camera equipment rental, first-aid kits, water and more. Companies like Clarks shoes, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Thule car racks and Naneu Pro camera bags already are on board.
Wink says he initially estimated the trip's budget at $30,000 but that it has since grown by "a huge amount," though he wouldn't say how much, exactly. Financial struggles aside, the team welcomes the pressure that comes with such a huge endeavor, especially because it promotes the Rochester film community.
"We're from Rochester," says Schroth. "Who knows about Rochester if you're not from New York? If we can make this happen, maybe we can bring money and other projects to Rochester and make it into a film city."
Local film producer Rich Angell worked with several of the Walk the Dream members during the making of Sophomore. The film was shot locally with more than $1 million behind it, but has yet to be released. Angell knows the struggles of making films in Rochester but says he's confident in the team behind Walk the Dream.
"I think they're doing exactly the right things," Angell says. "They're showing some business acumen, and they shouldn't have any problems getting the project off the ground. Do I think they can get a lot of exposure and help Rochester get on the map? Yes."
The Walk the Dream crew knows it's in a unique position. The members aren't just shooting a film, they're inviting people to follow along and become a part of the journey.
"Even if the film itself isn't a huge breakthrough, I think this whole process is the experience of a lifetime," Klem says. "Obviously, our goal is to push it all the way to its limits, but just going through all of this equals a success to me."
