A wind-blown, rain-soaked Internet TV series from the hipster

streets of counter-culture Portland, Oregon

Alternative transportation. Alternative lifestyle.

Alternative TV.

www.TheBicyclist.tv

Featured on the front page of The Oregonian…

“Fuse Portland’s thriving cycling scene with its tech-savvy

citizenry and a growing covey of young creatives, including a

burgeoning indie-film scene, and what do you get? How about

a sitcom with an ensemble cast set against PDX’s unchained

bike culture? Sure enough, ‘The Bicyclist’ debuts

on the small screen today.”

Best of the Web TV Guide

MEDIA KIT

Table of Contents

(please use BOOKMARKS for navigation)

• Talking with the Filmmakers

• Portland, Oregon: #1 Cycling City in America

• Synopsis

• The Cast & Characters

• Talking with the Show’s Stars…

Jayme S. Hall Elle Poindexter

Paul Glazier Melissa Goad Jose Ortega

• Filmmakers’ Bios (Carl and Sharon Jameson)

Please visit www.thebicyclist.tv/press.htm for links to news coverage.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lyla Foggia Foggia Public Relations LLC

(503) 622-0232 or lyla@foggiapr.com

Talking with the Filmmakers

“The Bicyclist” is the brainchild of award-winning filmmaker Carl Jameson, who writes, directs, shoots and edits every episode. His wife, Sharon, an accomplished graphics artist and interactive designer with a fine arts degree from the University of Oregon, produces every other aspect of the show – from scouting locations to tracking down costumes and props (or making her own), scheduling shoots and rehearsals, managing the website (which she also designed and coded), and even putting together the grub that will keep the cast energized through an exhausting day’s shoot.

The series debuted on March 1, 2007, and completed its first season with 24 episodes. Among other refinements during the second season, the episodes have doubled to eight

minutes – per fans’ requests. Considering its extraordinary production values and that the standard length of a half-hour sitcom is only 22 minutes, “The Bicyclist” is fast-pedaling its way to the forefront of how the Internet may soon dominate filmed entertainment.

Where did the title come from?

CARL: ‘The Bicyclist’ is the way they always refer to the victim in news stories about bike

accidents. ‘The bicyclist who was run over by the train.’ ‘The bicyclist who got hit by the bus – or

by a car.’ Google it and you’ll see what I mean. In our show, “the bicyclist” is a guy named

Conrad Miller who arrives in Portland from Wisconsin and doesn’t get run over.

What inspired you to create your own web series?

SHARON: We were at that point in our careers where we wanted to create something all our own.

We had been floating a lot of ideas around, and Internet videos were the most logical outlet. Then

one day, Carl went on a bike ride on the old Columbia Gorge highway, and got into an altercation

with a pick-up that came way to close to him.

CARL: It’s a great place to ride, but there’s no shoulder. I was on a long downhill, going about 32

to 35, following the speed limit. And this guy goes to pass me, but there happened to be a car

coming up the hill at the same time. So he almost runs that car off the road, and then comes

within a few feet of me. So I flipped him the one-finger salute, and he stops his vehicle, jumps

out, and starts shouting at me. I said, “Look, you’re the big guy in a truck.” So, I road-runnered

by him down the hill, pulled over and waited on the shoulder, since it was still another half mile to

go down the hill. So I waited, with my back to him, and the next thing I know, he tries to hit me

with his side mirror. I felt the breeze as he drove by. For some reason I didn’t think he’d try to hit

me with my back to him. I guess I’ve watched too many westerns. You just don’t shoot a guy in the

back. He was obviously threatening me. Later I just started having all these fantasies about

“what would a super-hero bike-rider do?” Throw your bike out in front of him? Fly over him and

his truck would explode? And every time I mentioned this to our friends, they’re going, “You

should do this! You should make this into a movie!” Finally, I said, “Well, it’s just a stupid enough

idea, we should pursue it and make a show called ‘The Bicyclist.’

How did you get started?

CARL: We wrote the first three episodes and came up with the characters. The ‘Fish Out of

Water’ story is that Conrad Miller comes to Portland, because of its bike culture – which allowed

us to put together our two loves: biking and Portland.

Tell us how you’re able to pull off such high production values on the Internet.

CARL: I think the reason “The Bicyclist” looks good is because I push the camera to its limits. I

get as good a look as you can get out of a DVX 100. We shoot film-style, so I’m shooting at 24p,

the same as film, to give it a cinematic look. And I design my shoots to look as best as they can,

not too much contrast or tonal range. I go into the camera’s menu on every angle and change

almost every setting on the camera every time. It’s total manual control. Manual focus, too. And

then I have a lot of tricks I’ve developed over the years, plus Jayme is really pretty in the

afternoon light.

What’s the hardest part of making it work?

SHARON: For me, at first, it was trying to figure out the technical side of delivering the series on

the Internet. We started out on 20 sites, all with their own ‘custom designed’ interfaces. One

person would say, ‘You have to get on this site,’ and another person would say ‘No, you have to be

on that site.’ And it ended up being totally different from what everyone said. I got bigger hits on

places that nobody mentioned to me, so I gave up half of them because they weren’t very effective.

The other thing is these sites were all in Beta. So something would get buggy and you would have

to figure out what went wrong.

CARL: Isn’t the proper term in business ‘challenge’? So the question is: What are some of the

challenges of making “The Bicyclist”? There are challenges on every level of creation and

production, but we’re always learning and trying to make some incremental improvement each

episode. So constantly improving the show, or how we produce it is the challenge.

Do you pay the actors?

SHARON: Yes, but not a lot. We have a micro budget, but we do believe everyone should get paid

something. There’s value to everyone’s work and we appreciate all the effort, time and training

our actors have spent on their craft. Paying the actors is not as common in this industry, at least

at the independent level, as you may think.

How did you find the actors?

CARL: We mostly used Craigslist. We advertised in the local newspapers too, but only got

responses from Craigslist. I think we had four casting calls in all. There were different characters

at different times. I don’t remember how many people we had show up, maybe 50 the first time,

something like that. We hold more auditions every time we add a character.

How hard is it to get everyone together to shoot?

SHARON: All of the actors have day jobs, so we only have the weekends to film. And, even then,

they often have plays or independent films to do. So there’s a very limited amount of time that we

can get these people. Scheduling them is one of the hardest parts of my job. I’ve thought so many

times I had everything locked, and then all of a sudden one of the actors will go, ‘Whoops, I said I

was available, but I wasn’t.’ And then I have to start all over. That’s been difficult.

Did you always have rehearsals?

SHARON: When we first started, we worked without rehearsals. We had an acting coach on-set

during some of the early shoots. We had a goal of having quality acting from the get-go, because

we noticed that acting was really iffy on other Web series. So, we started implementing

rehearsals. It made a big difference and the actors really appreciate it. They also appreciate the

constant flow of red wine.

What goes into choosing the wardrobe?

SHARON: What I do is really, really observe the Portland bike culture when I’m riding around.

It’s very diverse and some people put a lot of effort into expressing themselves with their clothing

choices. These people are kind of do-it-yourself vintage recycle types. They buy their clothes at

used clothing stores a lot. It’s not like they’re all going to Target and getting all the same tops.

Some of it’s coming from the 60’s, some of it’s coming from the 70’s, some of it from the 80’s,

some of it’s brand new. And then they layer a lot and are mixing and matching. I will see a

woman wearing a knit top with a mini-skirt with cowboy boots. A lot of them are practical and

wear leggings while they’re riding their bikes. Some, not so much, like wearing high heels and a

mini-skirt on a bike. Just the other day Carl and I saw a man with a business suit and an

umbrella commuting to work.

What has the reaction from the bike community been?

SHARON: The bike culture is constantly promoting itself. By putting videos up, blogging and

sharing their collective desire to get as many people on a bike as possible. It’s in their best interest

to support one another. I think that’s one reason why we’ve gotten so many positive responses to

the show, it’s such a supportive community. Just seeing that we’re exposing the concept of

making the choice to bike, that’s good enough for them. And if it’s something they can relate to

or it’s funny, that’s all the better.

Have you made any money from it yet?

SHARON: We never expected to make a lot. But at first we thought we would get a reasonable

pay from sharing sites such as Revver and Blip, but it turns out that none of them pay much. We

still have hope for sponsorship or being picked up by someone. However, there are many ways to

measure success. Financial rewards is just one of them.

How time consuming has it been?

SHARON: Before we started doing this, between jobs, we could actually go on a hike or get in a

kayak or go on a bike ride or something. [Laughs] Or I would be out gardening. All of that kind

of stuff went by the wayside. Just yesterday we hired some gardeners to come in, because I finally

gave up on the idea that I was actually going to have time to do something. I complain a lot about

being so busy, and stressed, and all that. But there’s been some really amazing stuff that’s

happened that I really value. I have no regrets.

What’s new coming up we can tune into?

CARL: We’ve just added an extras video feature that will debut between each episode to get

viewers to return to our all new and improved website. I’m trying to come up with a name that

encompasses behind-the scenes, actor interviews and mini-docs on the Portland bike scene that’s

hosted by Cassie Skauge. Something pithy like “Roadside Attractions,” but also explains the

premise. How’s “Extra Bicycle Parts” sound?

What wisdom do you think you’ve gained from this?

CARL: I don’t have any more wisdom now; I have less wisdom. [Laughs] I think the main thing

is if anyone out there wants to do something, you should just take an idea and go with it. I am

just amazed at where we’ve come from, where we started. You know, it’s like a really simple idea

we had, let’s just write a show about bike culture, fish out-of-water, and then let’s just keep

writing it and see where it goes. That makes it kind of a pretty fun journey. And I can’t wait to

see where we are going, because I really don’t know either. But I couldn’t imagine not having this

in our life now. It’s a real integral part of our life. So are the people in the show. And if I decided

to stop the show, I’m not sure that anyone would let me, but I’m not done with it yet. I mean, I

will know when I’m done with the show, I will know when it has taught me everything it can teach

me.

Such as what?

CARL: It’s actually knowing that production of filmmaking is just the beginning. The production

issues and the quality overall need to be a given. It’s all of the long-term planning and the process

of making episodic television or Internet series that I had to learn. You’re not just a director, you

have to have the vision of the whole show and keep everyone on board for the long haul. You can

learn all the stuff in film school about cameras and lighting, and angles, and editing, and that

stuff. But if you don’t have the people skills and the vision, you’re not going to go anywhere.

Portland, Oregon:

#1 Cycling City in America

• Bicycling Magazine, the largest in the country, continues to designate PDX as

the leading Mecca for two-wheelers.

“What perennially puts Portland atop our list is that you don't need to know anything

about bike lanes or city planning to see that it is a haven for cyclists. Just hang out in a

coffee shop and look out the window: Bikes and riders of all

stripes are everywhere. City support is important, too. In

response to six fatal car-bike crashes last year, Portland

rushed approval of 14 bike boxes--painted areas in front of

cars at red lights that give bikes priority--at high-risk

intersections, among other safety measures.”

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-1-13-17077-1,00.html

“Urban Treasures: Best overall: Portland, Oregon.

The benefits speak for themselves: Greenhouse gas emissions

have decreased over the last four years to levels lower than in

1990 in Portland, the only major urban area to see a decline while national levels have

risen more than 17 percent; Oregon is the only state whose obesity rate did not rise last

year; and in 2005 alone, traffic congestion in Portland's Eastside Hub (a test area

monitored by the city) dropped 8.6 percent. Is it a coincidence, then, that in the last 10

years the number of cyclists here has tripled? We think not….The growth can be

attributed to a number of things: The city is constantly adding bike lanes (current total:

163 miles), paths (now 66 miles) and bike boulevards (designated low-auto-traffic streets

that are conducive to cycling; now 30 miles); bike parking is ubiquitous; and sprawl is

controlled by an urban-growth boundary that keeps the city compact. But really, it comes

down to momentum. As the streets become more bike friendly, more cyclists take to the

streets, and their numbers inspire others. Pedal around Portland at rush hour, and you

can see it for yourself.” http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-1-13-14593-1,00.html

“The New Best Cities for Cycling. Still the Greatest: Portland, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco & Boulder” http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-2-18-17083-1,00.html

• The website, Virgin Vacations, ranks Portland as #2 of the “11 Most Bike

Friendly Cities in the World” – second only to Amsterdam, where two-wheelers have

been a tradition for a century or more. http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.asp

• The League of American Bicyclists recently made Portland the largest city yet to win

Platinum status, for its bike-friendly community programs.

• And the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2005 American Community Survey confirmed that

Portland leads the country in workers who pedal to the job – approximately 3.5% of

its total workforce compared to the average national average of 0.4%.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/010230.html

According to the Portland Office of Transportation:

• Bicycle ridership has doubled since 1990

• In its first year, Portland’s Bike Central program (a program offering shower and end of trip

facilities) generated 14,600 bicycle trips, resulting in 46,400 fewer vehicle miles traveled and

consequent reductions of 23 tons of carbon dioxide and 360 lbs. of hydrocarbon emissions

• The Downtown, Lloyd District, and PSU sections of Portland have a total of 1,564 short-term

and 1,089 long-term bicycle parking spaces. The City of Portland operates 200 bicycle

lockers downtown with a 90% occupancy rate. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance operates

236 lockers at MAX stations and transit centers.

Plus, such unique amenities as...

• Move By Bike volunteer caravans that actually cart possessions between residences,

something like an old-fashioned barn raising.

http://www.shifttobikes.org/wiki/bikefun:move_x_bike

• A nonprofit Create a Commuter program that provides bikes, locks, helmets, lights and

safety training to low-income adults.

http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/index.php/create-a-commuter-connects-those-in-need/

• Get Lit, which gives free bike lights to anyone who needs them. The program was such a hit

that Portland Police Bureau is giving bike lights – instead of citations – to cyclists riding at

night without them. http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/index.php/programs/get-lit/

• A year-round calendar chocked full of eclectic events like Zoobomb, a notorious Sunday

night ritual in which seemingly-suicidal participants ride children’s bikes at break-neck

speeds down the city’s steep expressways into downtown; Bike to Work Month;

Mocktails on the Hawthorne Bridge; the annual Bike Commute Challenge pitting

businesses against non-profits to see who can get more people into the saddle for their daily

commutes; the month-long Pedalpalooza festival; Chunkathalon, Bunny on a Bike, the

Midnight Mystery Ride, biking jousting, bike polo, and the cyclist-only Breakfast on the

Bridge bike-in gathering. Stay current at Shift to Bikes.org or ORBike.com.

o http://zoobomb.net/ o http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=193725 o http://bikeportland.org/2007/06/05/mocktails-on-hawthorne/ o http://www.bikecommutechallenge.com/oregon o http://www.shifttobikes.org/pedalpalooza/index.shtml o http://bikeportland.org/2005/09/05/chunkathalon-creativity-carnage-chaos/ o http://www.redbatpress.com/bunnyonabikeride.htm o http://bikeportland.org/2007/06/08/midnight-mystery-ride-3/ o http://www.shifttobikes.org/wiki/bikefun:breakfast_on_the_bridges o http://www.shifttobikes.org/cal/ o http://www.orbike.com/servlet/com.gcm.servlet.event.ListEvent?command=createProc

urement&supplierID=369&headerImg=search.gif&searchString=

• A crowd-pleasing all-female synchronized mini-bike dance troupe – called The Sprockettes

– that’s been featured on NPR.

o http://www.sprockettes.org/

o http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5613188

• Cycle Oregon, a 21-year-old tradition in which over a thousand riders fly in from every

corner of the U.S. to endure a tortuous week-long ride that is guaranteed to make even the

fittest cry. http://www.cycleoregon.com/default.htm

• A Blessing of the Bikes by the Parish Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (St. Mary’s)

and the Archdiocese of Portland’s Department of Evangelization to honor those who have

died or sustained injuries while wheeling through Portland streets.

And, not the least, Congress’s foremost biking advocate – veteran peddler Rep. Earl

Blumenauer – who routinely lobbies for such policy changes as tax breaks for cycling

commuters. Per a 2007 Wall Street Journal profile: “Blumenauer’s ‘obsession with bicycling

borders on the interesting’ sniffed TV satirist Stephen Colbert. ‘Bikeman,’ a House colleague from

Oregon calls him. But, Mr. Blumenauer has been a pedal pusher since his days on the Portland

City Council, when he pressed for more bike lanes and set an example by riding around in his suit

and a big bow tie. He arrived in Washington in 1996. Soon he was preaching the benefits of

pedaling. He launched the Congressional Bike Caucus that promotes public investment in cycling.

Money for bike projects has more than doubled during his time in office.”

o http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php?searchword=biking&option=com_search&Itemid=

o http://dcist.com/2005/03/03/tax_breaks_for_.php

Synopsis

Season One

“The Bicyclist” is initially seen through the eyes of Conrad Miller [JAYME S. HALL], a transplant

to Portland from Middleton, Wisconsin. Jobless with an English degree, Conrad sets out to start

a new life. In spite of his very un-bike-friendly antics, he lands a job at a local bike shop. In the

process, he makes a lot of missteps in trying to win the attentions of the female bike mechanic

manager named Steve [ELLE POINDEXTER].

Later that night he finds himself surrounded by a host of eccentrics at a science fiction film party.

The party's surreal atmosphere puts Conrad further out of place. It's Jose's [JOSE ORTEGA] film

and Jose's party. Oh yeah, it's Jose's girlfriend that Conrad's kissing. Jose is having a hard time

hanging onto this luscious Amazon with an insatiable appetite.

As the series continues, Steve is starting to find Conrad's fumbling qualities charming, and a rival

challenges, embarrasses and overall bullies Conrad. This culminates in the ultimate bikers’

challenge — the bike joust. Conrad impresses Steve by nobly winning the challenge, while Zack

[PAUL GLAZIER] decides to go for a different prize, Lissa [MELISSA GOAD]. Jose is not too

happy about that.

In later episodes, Steve and Lissa thwart stoner bike thieves' efforts by living out their Charlie's

Angels fantasies. Zack continues to be embarrassed by Conrad's dorky bike and tries to find him

something more fitting for a self-respecting bike mechanic.

As Conrad pushes, Steve pushes back by tricking him into showing up at a naked bike ride the

wrong night. Expecting to see Steve and her girlfriends naked, he finds himself with only his

banana seat and helmet to show for it.

Upset with losing Lissa to Zack, Jose runs away from the free and easy bike culture life to make

wedding videos. This and Zack's efforts to cool-up Conrad inspire an Easy Rider-like road trip to

bring Jose back into the fold. Out in the country, they run up against the dangerously

unsympathetic Demand SUV.

There's a host of other characters inserting their separate, but sometimes intersecting biking

stories. The DUI Rider shows up at the most inopportune times. He also has an unconventional

relationship with Commuter Guy. The Lady Dive Bombers swoop down and steal Mrs. Weekend

Warrior form the ineffectual Mr. Weekend Warrior.

Season Two (partial)

Steve reluctantly quits her job because of phone calls from The Demon SUV – then her bad day

just keeps getting worse. Conrad wakes up on the side of the street and comes up with a plan to

finally get the girl.

Zack tests Ronald with his bad attitude. Ronald nearly fires Zack, but then lets him have the

weekend off to cool down. Conrad meets up with Steve and helps her showdown The Demon SUV.

Conrad and Steve wake up on the same side of the bed. Lissa transforms herself into the girl of

Zack’s dreams. We met “The Cager” and the girls mellow out in the park with hula-hoops.

In future episodes, you get to meet The Belligerantes (an all-Schwinn bike gang) and The

Sprokettes (a world-famous, all-girl bike dance troupe) – and join in all the bikey fun that is

Portland: like bike parades, big hula hoops and homegrown superheroes.

*

The Belligerantes:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8323734

The Sprokettes: http://www.sprockettes.org/

The Cast & Characters

Jayme Hall as Conrad Miller: He's a few years out of college with

an English degree, a few weeks out of relationship and never had a decent

job or direction until he read about Portland in a magazine – got in his

car and headed west, from Middleton Wisconsin, to become a bike

mechanic.

Elle Poindexter as Steve Jones: A female bike mechanic,

she’s in her mid-twenties, independent, smart and loves to ride her

old Schwinn all around town. She works part-time at a recycled bike

shop called The Recyclery, and designs her own bike clothing line.

Paul Glazier as Zack Dupree is the bike mechanic of his own dreams.

He’s got style, grace, a fixed-gear bike and an attitude. He owns the road and

is always ready to defend his right to ride any road, any time, even if it’s a

dead end.

Melissa Goad as Lissa Valentine owns the

bike-themed creperie, “Tour De Crepes,” changes

her hair color to match her clothes, and dances with the bike dance

troupe, The Sprockettes. She’s flexible and always ready for her close-up.

She won’t underestimate you – so don’t underestimate her, even if you

can’t help staring at her chest.

Jose Ortega as Jose Reyes is a filmmaker who loves bikes and b-

movies. He talks fast, makes movies fast and rides his retro banana seat

Huffy with a dramatic flair. His latest epic: “Bike Girls From Mars” is

currently on hiatus because he’s building a “Flash Gordon” rocket ship

out of recycled bike parts.

John Patrick as DUI Rider: He’s been convicted of driving a car under the influence of

alcohol – so now he rides a bike because he doesn’t have any other choice. Watch out, he could be

behind you right now with a word of common sense or is it just impaired vision?

Don Bellairs as The Demon SUV : The on-road and on-line blogging nemesis of all

bicyclists. No one knows who he is for sure – but he always shows up in unexpected places and at

unusual times. He’s the disembodied voice of intolerance and evil.

Ralph Huntley as Ronald Jordan is the bike shop owner. He’s a large man with great

whiskers and a friendly attitude. He is environmentally-friendly and a generous person who

welcomes all types of bikes and bicyclists into his shop.

Tricia Ferguson as Designer Clothing Store Owner Ariel Flores is not quite sure

she’s located her store in the right part of town, but she’s trying to make the best of it. Thinks

clothes make the woman and riding a bike is for those who can’t afford to lease a car.

Mark Allen Eaton as Mr. Weekend Warrior is always ready to go the extra mile or ten on

his nicely equipped bike, but can he make it? He’s not a commuter; he’s a traveler on the byways

of Oregon.

Kelly Jo Horton as Ms. Weekend Warrior is never ready to ride, always ready to stop –

until she realizes she might just be a better rider than Mr. Weekend Warrior. This biking thing

just might be more fun than she thought.

Talking with JAYME S. HALL His Character: Conrad Miller – who is a few years out of college with an English degree, a few weeks out of a relationship, and has never had a decent job or direction until he reads about Portland in a magazine, gets in his car, and heads west from Middleton, Wisconsin, to become a bike mechanic. Prior to “The Bicyclist”: You can catch him onscreen at upcoming film festivals as one of the three leads in ‘The Iconographer,” and in small parts in “Feast of Love” and “Into the Wild.”

Did you always want to be an actor? Deep down, yes. But I would never admit it. I was afraid. I played music, then got into

screenwriting. Then finally took ‘the leap.’

What made you take the plunge?

I chased dreams of success, and actually caught some of them, only to wake up from those dreams

and realize that I wasn’t chasing happiness. So where did that leave me? Somewhere between the

aftermath of miserable success and the happiness of failure.

So, at the age of 26, stuck in dead-end jobs, I began thinking of stories in my head. Those stories

turned into scenes, scenes turned into long, animated descriptive tales that took two hours to tell.

After a lot of encouragement and constant prodding, I wrote my first script.

Thirty was rapidly approaching, the starting line getting farther and farther away. So I did the

only thing anyone can do when they first discover they’re lost: I panicked! I freaked out! I shaved

my goatee, cut my hair, all fresh and spiked, wrapped my hands around my mortality, and really

started evaluating what it was I wanted out of the time I had left.

So, I was 29, lost, pursuing a promising career in real estate and property management, but

miserably successful. What do I want? I want to have fun! I want to entertain. But, most

importantly, I want to tell these stories that have now consumed my every thought. Writing

alone won’t cut it. It’s fun, and it’s how I get to tell my own stories, but it’s not good enough. So I

couldn’t take the burning question within any longer: do I have what it takes to be what I truly

dream? Am I good enough to be what I truly want to be?

I called my daughter’s talent agent and begged for an audience with them, just to answer my

question, nothing more. I was granted some time. They asked me to prepare a monologue (which

I performed, but to the wall), and when it was all over I got my answer. And Here I Am.

What other jobs have you worked while waiting for your big break?

Real estate, freelance remodeling, and clerical crap.

What’s your day job now?

I work for a heavy machinery company in the service department, just doing miscellaneous office

stuff. I get a lot of time to think about other stories and scripts.

Tell me about your character in the “The Bicyclist”

Conrad’s a lot like me in that we basically just fake our way through life and hope that nobody

notices. He’s a guy who is searching for himself, a guy who can get away with stuff, because of his

personality and good looks. He’s fairly simplistic, but has a little bit of a complicated side to him.

I think he surprises even himself. He’s a lot of fun, always up for anything, not one to back down

from a challenge. And he’s a kind of a hopeless romantic.

We hear you’re into boats. What kind do you have?

A 1979 Bayliner. I changed her name to the “Aglaia” (uh-glay-uh, meaning beauty and splendor),

the youngest of three Charites from Greek mythology. I’ve done a lot of work to it to make it nicer

yet. It’s 30 feet and moored in St. Helens, but I’m looking for a place to moor in Portland, to live

on board. It’s a lot of fun. I love boats, I love the water, always have.

Talking with ELLE POINDEXTER Her Character: Steve Jones – a female bike mechanic. She’s in her mid-twenties, independent, smart and loves to ride her old Schwinn around town. She works part-time at a recycled bike shop called The Recyclery and designs her own bike clothing line. Prior to “The Bicyclist”: After graduating from Winthrop University with a B.A. in Theater Performance with a minor in Women’s Studies, she worked as the assistant to the costume designer at Flat Rock Playhouse and co-owned her own theater company. Since moving to Portland, she has held lead roles in several independent films and appeared in commercials.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in North Carolina and raised in South Carolina. I moved to the Northwest in 2000.

What is your favorite memory of riding a bike?

I had this one bike, once I got to that certain age, then I had that same bike forever. It probably

wasn’t that long, but in kid terms it seemed like forever. I loved it and my parents said, “You can

ride it down to the church and then you have to come back.” The church was maybe a half a mile

away, maybe ¼ mile, it wasn’t that far, but it seemed like it at the time. I would ride to the

church, and then I’d say I’m just going to take it a little further. I just loved it. And I pretended my

bike was my car. We had this long driveway and I would go by the magnolia tree, and I would

pick a leaf and I would pretend like I was filling the bike – “the car” – like the magnolia leaf was

the gas.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?

From a young age, I wanted to be an actor or a fashion designer. I think I was seven when

someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I replied “an actress.” The only

acting I had done at that time was in church and school. I loved every minute of it. I loved being

in front of people and pretending to be someone or something else.

Are you glad you were cast in “The Bicylist”?

I absolutely love working on the series, and I love Carl and Sharon [Jameson, the filmmakers].

It’s been a really neat experience, because it’s been a collaborative effort between them and the

actors. They’ve given us the freedom to guide our characters in a way that we feel they should

move – and at the same time bringing us a lot of options and creative storylines.

What’s it like working in a web series, say as opposed to a film?

The nice thing about doing a webisode, it kind of goes back to my theater roots, because in theater

you have a long rehearsal process. Being on a show that you film every week or so, you get to

work on your character longer. It’s kind of nice because of how we’ve grown and changed since

the beginning of the series.

Tell us about Steve, your character in the “The Bicyclist.”

Steve is a complicated woman. She’s smart, artistic, funny, guarded and a little judgmental. She

thinks she has life figured out, but is constantly surprised at what life throws her way. She’s not

the type of girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She protects herself by putting up a shield of

armor and not letting too many people inside her circle of friends. She’s had one best friend since

grade school, Lissa. She’s like an egg, a hard exterior but all mush on the inside. Steve has trust

issues and is constantly fighting with her father. She loves bicycles!! Bikes are the only things she

can control because she knows how to fix it and ride them. She believes in bikes and the bike

culture. She feels at home in this community, which is the only home she feels a deep connection.

How’s Steve the same or different from you?

Whenever I approach a role, I start with the basics: who is this person, what is she doing at this

particular moment, how does she feel, how do others feel about her, etc. Then I take it to the next

level and ask what she wants at this moment, what she wants tomorrow, what she wants out of

life, why is she saying these things, is she telling the truth, etc. There is a part of me in every

character, including Steve. She’s a great character to play but ultimately we are two different

people who lead two very different lives. I can’t change a tire or fix a flat like Steve can. It’s sad,

but true. The similarity is that my life and Steve’s is constantly changing. We are finding out new

things about ourselves all the time. It makes life and playing a character very interesting and

challenging.

Have you been recognized on the street yet by fans of the series?

Not on the street, but at certain events. For example, I was recording audio for a different project

and the sound recorder felt like he knew me, then it hit him. “You’re Steve from ‘The Bicyclist’! I

love the show! Meeting you has made my day!” he said.

Talking with PAUL GLAZIER

His Character: Zack Dupree – the bike mechanic of his own dreams. He’s got style, grace, a fixed gear bike and an attitude. He owns the road and is always at the ready to defend his right to ride any road, any time, even if it’s a dead end. Prior to “The Bicyclist”: Paul studied improv at The Groundlings School in Los Angeles, and has appeared in numerous stage productions, indie films and industrials in Portland. The show’s

most accomplished cyclist, Paul rides a brakeless ‘05 chrome Pista and an ’07 Lemond Sarthe.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?

I was always good at performing, but an experience I had in high school really locked it in for me.

I knew I had found the thing I could do over and over again and not feel like a robot chimp being

controlled by a really boring evil scientist – the kind that always wants to make you go to work

every day yet only gives you one week’s paid vacation every year. Also, I’m kind of an insecure guy

and, well, love validation.

How long have you been biking?

I’ve been riding since I was 4. When I was 16, when I should have had a driver’s license, I

hitchhiked everywhere in my home town of Nevada City, CA. And I didn’t really need a driver’s

license. All my friends drove. Then when I moved to Portland, there were like buses and bikes

everywhere. It wasn’t until my wife and I moved to Los Angeles that if I wanted to get work, it’s

too spread out for me to ride everywhere. So I finally got a license at 24 – but only because I lived

in L.A.

How much did you ride in SoCal?

I rode every day in L.A. with my crew Yosi, Tim, Dylan, Dee Dee and Rachel, and we mobbed with

lots of others, but that was the core. Shout out to The Bike Kitchen and Orange 20. I still sport my bandannas! But the second Friday of every month about 1500 bicyclists show up in

costumes, and we just start rocking it. We just take off and ride all over downtown. We had so

many bicyclists that the first maybe 20 people ride into the middle of the intersection and block it

off. And then all the other cyclists go through. People are freaking out in their cars!!

Have you had any dangerous incidents on the road?

I’ve been cut off, run off and flipped off by drivers. I have been hit three times and been

threatened, done stupid things, and lived through stupid drivers. I have ridden brakeless in

Portland, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles city traffic. My life flashes before

my eyes at least once a week.

So why put yourself through the terror of riding brakeless?

Because it’s really, really fun to ride.

So how do you handle hills, which PDX has plenty of?

Push really hard, pedal your butt off. You learn how to stop by skidding and power sliding. I’ve

got really strong thighs, because of how much biking I do.

Tell us about your character in the “The Bicyclist.”

I play this sort of jocky, jerk-off Casanova bike mechanic.

Have you been recognized on the street yet?

Once I was standing outside of work and this kid on tour with his band from San Diego walked by

and said, “Hey, I just watched your show my friends and I love it.” And I was at the Hand Built

Bike Convention with my buddies from Oak-town, and this guy made me look like a complete

bad-ass by coming up and saying, ”Dude, Zack I feel like I know ya, man. When’s the next

episode coming up?” Oh I could get used to this!

Talking with MELISSA GOAD

Her Character: Lissa Valentine – who owns the bike-themed creperie, “Tour De Crepes,” changes her hair color to match her clothes, and dances with the bike dance troupe The Sprockettes. She’s flexible and always ready for her close-up. She won’t underestimate you, so don’t underestimate her – even if you can’t help staring at her chest. Prior to “The Bicyclist”: The Seattle resident graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. She’s co-starred in the Lifetime Television movie, “Real Witches: An Intimate Portrait” and appeared as herself on the Fox reality series, “Live Like A Star.”

Have you always wanted to be an actor?

I’ve wanted to be an actor and live in Hollywood since my mom put me in a beauty pageant at the

age of 5. I loved watching the people on TV and in movies and I wanted to be one of them.

What jobs have you worked while waiting for your big break?

My first job was working at Safeway for 2.5 years, doing almost every job possible. I’ve also

worked as a receptionist for Johnson International (6 months), a licensed agent (I still am) for

State Farm Insurance (2 years), a barista and supervisor at Starbucks for 3 years, and sales at

Norstrom’s (3 months). I also spent a year doing copywriting and customer service for

TableAndHome.com in Seattle, and did a bra tour two summers in a row for Sara Lee with The

Guild Group based out of New York. I’ve also worked as a nanny.

Describe your character in the “The Bicyclist” – and how she’s changed.

In season one, Lissa Valentine was very flirtatious and fun and sassy. You always saw her with

food. She was dating a guy that she knew was gay. She was trying to find herself. Season two,

Lissa has changed quite a bit. She’s more punkier than she was. She’s changing her hair once

again to a short black bob. She loves Betty Page. She’s going to have more of an attitude. She’s

joined the Sprockettes. She’s just a little more spunkier. She’s going to wear more punkish style

clothing, I tend to think of hot topic style, pink and black with skulls. She’s getting a tattoo.

Since you’re based in Seattle, how did you hear about “The Bicyclist”?

Actually, my business partner, Phillip, had found it on Craig’s List in Portland. He told me about

it, and we both went out for it. I auditioned for the character of Steve, but I didn’t get it. Carl

actually wrote a part for me specifically, the character Lissa.

Has it been worth all those three hour drives south?

I love working with Sharon and Carl so much, and the whole cast. It just makes it completely

worth it to me. I have so much fun when I go there. I love the show, and even if I didn’t get paid,

I would still do it.

What is it about the Jamesons that’s different from other indie filmmakers you’ve worked with?

They always take into consideration everyone’s schedules, and they always want cast input on the

script. They provide hair and make-up and wardrobe. A lot of the sets don’t. It’s just a very

professional set.

Did you go out on auditions while you were living in Los Angeles?

I did a lot. But it was all independent stuff, and I didn’t have an agent. It’s hard to get an agent

down there unless you are SAG. And I’m not.

Has “The Bicyclist” been helpful in getting other acting jobs?

Yes. The fact that it’s online, I can send people to the link, and they can view my work. I don’t

have my reel put together yet. So, yeah, it’s definitely helped me out in that way.

Talking with JOSE ORTEGA His Character: Jose Reyes – a filmmaker who loves bikes and b-movies. He talks fast, makes movies fast and rides his retro banana seat Huffy with a dramatic flair. His latest epic, “Bike Girls From Mars,” is currently on hiatus because he’s building a “Flash Gordon” rocket ship out of recycled bike parts.

Prior to “The Bicyclist”: Who doesn’t dream of being discovered by a roaming talent agent? Jose’s over-the-top alter-ego on the show has also made him a comedic regular in numerous commercials.

How long have you been acting?

A little over two years now.

How did you break in?

I got scouted out of Fred Meyers [a popular Northwest chain], about five years ago.

What does that mean?

It was around Christmas time and I was there shopping for presents. I was looking at Barbie Dolls for my

friend’s daughter, and all of a sudden I hear this voice behind me go ‘Hey, is that for you?’ And I turn

around and there’s this lady who said she had been chasing me through the store. She’s like, ‘I’m so glad I

caught up to you because I noticed as soon as you walked in that you have like a really good look. I think

you have potential to be like a model or an actor.’ I’m like, ‘Wow, thank you.’ She’s like, ‘Well, hey, I’m

having this meeting tonight at 7, if your interested. Here’s my card, here’s the address, why don’t you

come by.’ So I’m like ‘OK, sounds good, what have I got to lose?’ I went, and it kind of grew from there.

So why did it take three more years?

I went to the meeting, they took my measurements and stuff like that. But what they needed me to do was

get some professional shots done, like a headshot. At the time, being 20 years old and working in a

restaurant, I didn’t really have a lot of money, so I couldn’t really afford it. She said it would cost like

$500.

So what was your first job?

My first job was for American Teen TV. They had this show called “Teen Edition,” and they were doing

this reality-based episode in which they raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. I went

to the audition and the guy said he really liked my energy, so ‘I gotta put you in this.’

Are you doing that much acting?

I am pretty busy doing commercials and short films.

Have people recognized you yet from your “Bicyclist” role?

Yeah. Actually recently. I went to an audition in January and the guy who was the director/producer and

I walk into the audition, and he’s like ‘Omigod. Dude! It’s Jose!’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, you know me?’ ‘Yeah!

Jose from ‘The Bicyclist!’ ‘Oh you watch the show!’ And he’s like ‘Yeah dude! Every episode!’

The Filmmakers “The Bicyclist” is the result of a unique collaboration based on Carl Jameson’s filmmaking acumen and Sharon Jameson’s talent and training in the visual arts.

CARL JAMESON – Writer / Director

The recipient of 13 national Telly Awards and a prized Silver Microphone (both among the industry’s

highest accolades), Carl has become one of the Northwest’s most accomplished directors, producers and

cinematographers of the commercial short-form, story-based format – with over 300 credits to date.

Born and raised in Renton, Washington, the son of a cabinet installer, Carl might never have headed to

college, much less become a filmmaker, if he hadn’t discovered a video camera sitting in an empty lab at

Lindbergh High School, where he was in the 9th grade. “We had the facility, but there were no

instructors,” he says. “So when the camera showed up, we got them to create some classes.”

About the Filmmakers - 2 -

With that camera, Carl made his first film, a short called ‘A Bum and a Businessman.’ “That’s when I got

my first and only really, really bad review. So then I knew I had to make films, because bad reviews don’t

really bother me,” he says, adding with a chuckle: “That’s a lie.”

Who was the critic? “My teacher. She was like, ‘What is this about? I like this other film that Timmy

made, where this guy runs across the campus, because it’s inspiring.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, you should, I

edited it for him for 25 cents an edit point,” he says, laughing. “So it was my first paying job, to cheat for

someone else!”

By 15, Carl had picked out a career. “My parents didn’t really believe in it – that I wanted to be a

filmmaker,” he recalls. The first camera he owned was a Super 8 Bell and Howell he got for Christmas

with a projector. “I had to beg and plead and whine – which, you know, teenagers are perfectly good at

– until they finally gave in and bought me the camera. It meant they believed in me, but getting me to

shut up was a part of the calculation too.”

Lots of 3-minute films made with his buddies followed before he graduated high school. His best friend

wanted to stop making films and Carl couldn’t understand it, “Why would I ever stop doing something I

love so much? Besides chicks dig a guy with a big lens.”

Carl chose to go Washington State University because of its strong Communications School, and during

the next four years, he cut his teeth on 16 mm with the Bolex and Arriflex cameras available at the time.

“WSU is where I got into guerilla-style filmmaking. My professor taught us to experiment with available

materials, to shoot fast and still have style,” Carl explains. “He challenged us to push some pretty old

cameras to their limits. I carried a 50-pound studio camera up to the rooftops of apartment buildings all

over town just to get a shot to make him happy.”

After receiving his degree, Carl headed to Portland. Why PDX? “ I picked Portland off the map, just like

Conrad does in ‘The Bicyclist.' I looked at it and did the math: the mountains are 90 minutes away, the

ocean’s 90 minutes away. And after I visited Portland, I knew it was a perfect fit: the laid-back culture,

the creative atmosphere, and Mayor Bud Clark rode a bike everyday to city hall.”

“I took the first job I could get, which at the time was in printing, but always with an eye toward making it

in film on my own.” So, during his lunch hours Carl wrote scripts and on the weekends made short films.

He got certified as a show producer at Portland Cable Access and started editing his films on ¾ in. tape

machines. “It was the only way I could afford to make my films, that was before desktop editing, it was

time consuming but, I did what I had to do to learn and grow as an artist anyway I could.”

His start in advertising came when a co-worker applied for an opening in an agency, but turned it down

because “he thought it was too risky. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me! Versus sitting around here in the

About the Filmmakers - 3 -

cold with no windows?! How risky could it be?’ So I jumped for it.” Even though it meant taking a cut in

pay, Carl joined Grady Britton as a traffic manager – eventually becoming a part of the creative team on

commercials for major clients like Kaiser Permanente, Group Health and Windermere Real Estate.

At the same time, he studied 16 mm film, screenwriting and production management at the Northwest

Film and Video Center and began making sales and marketing DV videos – many of them humorous – for

Grady Britton’s corporate clients, using the first digital camera Sony produced.

By 1998, Carl felt that the technology had finally become affordable, allowing him to make the leap into

independent commercial production. “I had been waiting for the tools. I had the concepts, but I needed

the tools,” he says of the arsenal of equipment and software that have literally changed the landscape of

video production.

Through Craftmaster Productions, a full-service video, web and multimedia design company formed with

his wife, Sharon, Carl has continued to add corporate and advertising clients that support his filmmaking

habit. High definition and internet-video is just another step in growth for them, and ‘The Bicyclist’ is the

vehicle that allows Carl and Sharon to share their vision with millions. “I named my company

‘Craftmaster Productions’ after my dad’s company. It sounds like a cabinet company doesn’t it? But it’s

also an aspiration.”

SHARON JAMESON – Producer

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An accomplished graphics artist with a degree in fine arts from the University of Oregon, Sharon not only

handles the finances, scheduling, locations and other production chores, she alternately serves as the

costume designer, production designer, prop master, fill-in makeup and craft services.

“Producing ‘The Bicyclist’ is an art in itself,” says Sharon. “Sure, there’s all the coordination. But the part

I love is scouring all the retro clothing stores around Portland for wardrobe. I ride my bike around town

and get inspiration from real bicyclists, then I shop at the same places they do and buy from the very same

racks.”

Born and raised in Wisconsin, she began her career by studying fashion, during which she discovered (to

her own surprise) that she could draw. Next came two years at a private college, majoring in commercial

art, leading to an associate degree.

Sharon spent one too many cold winters in Wisconsin and decided enough was enough. It was time to

leave the cold Midwest and move to warmer climes. When a relative living in Oregon described the

unique benefits of the region, Sharon decided that was the place for her. “I wanted to get out of

Wisconsin, because of the weather, and I was looking for somewhere that had a lot of access to nature. So

I packed everything I had, got on a Greyhound bus with $200 to my name, and came out,” she says.

After settling down in Eugene, she enrolled at the U of O and majored in fine art. Initially, her goal was to

make a living selling her paintings, but after working the summer in an Alaska cannery and living off the

wages for the winter in Mexico, she realized she had become – my worst fear – a “starving artist.” “I was

hoping to find enough time to do paintings on the side that I could sell and make a living. I tried doing

that, but it’s not that easy.” After several more years of juggling work and art, she came to the conclusion

that “if I work in commercial art, I can make money while doing something creative.”

Sharon saw an opportunity to apply her arts background to a new field. So she headed back to school at Pacific Northwest College of Arts, where she earned a certificate in web design. Sharon has since had numerous clients where she built stylish websites for upscale apartments and condominiums. Along with that, she has both designed and built html and Flash sites for clients in the retail, product manufacturing, legal and health care industries. She has also collaborated with Carl to create multimedia CDs and kiosks for Kaiser Permanente, Campbell’s Soups and the Veteran’s Department. And she created all of the websites for their company: www.craftmasterpro.com, www.cmindependent.com and www.thebicyclist.tv.

“I do love creating, and I’m able to transfer my abilities to various parts of the production. I enjoy doing

the wardrobe and props. When I am collaborating with Carl, I can talk intelligently about the creative

process as well be able to comment on visual elements such as frame compositions. We talk a lot about

About the Filmmakers - 5 -

what we want conceptually and how to achieve it. Thanks to the technology now available and all the

experience we’ve accumulated, it always amazes me what the two of us are able to do.”

When she’s not working on “The Bicyclist,” she still creates fine art, but not with an eye toward sales. “I

still work on the fine art side of things. In fact, most of the artwork in our house was created by me. I

work in pastels and inks and do quick studies of landscapes, while Carl is riding his bike in the

countryside of Oregon.”