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Video Blog ~ Wairoa Extreme Race recap

Wairoa Extreme Race Final

8 Feb, 2010 - The Gisborne Herald- Fire is back — ‘I’m going to win’

Kristine Walsh

POLLY Green’s mate reckoned that if she started training now, she could be in the top 10 at the 2011 whitewater kayaking freestyle world championships, in Germany.

He should know — German kayaker Arnd Schaeftlein is considered a legend in the sport. But Green says she did not receive his praise with much grace.

“I’m not interested in being in the top 10,” says the US-born sportswoman and filmmaker, who settled in Gisborne in 2007.

“I’m going to win.”

A bold claim but, if anyone’s going to make it, she is. This is the woman who last year told The Gisborne Herald she wanted her second short documentary — Soft Power Health, about kayaker Dr Jessie Stone’s humanitarian aid efforts in Uganda — to be an award-winner. The film was last month named jury winner of best action sports film at California’s Mammoth Mountain Film Festival.

She has a strong foundation to work from. As a fine arts student at the University of Colorado, she was already a hardcore sportswoman when she took up freestyle kayaking in the early 1990s. In 2003, she was fifth at the world champs in Austria.

Though she gave up competing two years later, Green believes her experience and ability to work under pressure will stand her in good stead.

Taking a top place next year will not be easy. In 2009 the championship in Switzerland was won by US kayaker Emily Jackson, at 19 half Green’s age.

“But it’s certainly do-able so I’m stoked that my sponsors, Jackson Kayaks and Kokatat Watersports Wear, are back on board.”

Green is already doing her part — a seven-hour-a-day, six-day-a-week schedule that combines flatwater training on the Waimata River with cycling, yoga and meditation.

To supplement that she plans regular trips starting this week to Rotorua’s Kaituna River which, with its grade five rating, will give her the whitewater she needs to perfect her tricks.

“But because I don’t really want to leave Gisborne, much of my training will be on flat water — which means a lot of the work I do will be mental,” she says.

Schaeftlein will coach her via the internet. Today she is in Auckland for a session with neuroscientist/sports coach Kerry Spackman, whose book The Winner’s Bible is a source of inspiration to her.

She will also appear on tomorrow’s 8.20am edition of the Sunrise television programme to talk about both her sport and her filmmaking.

She has a meeting booked with the New Zealand Film Commission to talk about funding for A Fire Burning, the feature film she intends to make documenting her comeback into whitewater kayaking.

The first shoot for the film has already been done and Green has assembled a team that includes co-producer/co-writer Darnelle Timbs and co-directer/co-photographer Jo Tito, with high-profile Gisborne-based US duo Peter and Sarah Dixon on board as mentors.

“You have to approach these things with a sense of humour, so the film should be quite funny as well as being very personal,” Green says as she buckles on her helmet for the day’s training session.

“It will be very raw, very real but should have a few life lessons along the way.”

Polly Green in part blames The Gisborne Herald for her coming out of retirement, after it reported comments she made last year about not having won the world championship she coveted.

“Seeing it in black and white brought it home that I hadn’t achieved my goal to be the world No. 1 and I knew that if I didn’t go for it, I’d regret it.

“So now I’m absolutely committed. The fire is back.”

Training and Filming

Last week was a big one. Starting off with an interview on TV 3 Sunrise.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Gisborne-film-maker-creates-award-winning-documentary/tabid/418/articleID/140835/Default.aspx

-click on this link to view the interview

Then I went to Rotorua where I starting my first training back on the river. Training was filled with both ups and downs. It was great to be back on the river again, but I also experienced alot of frustration. Its been over a year since I have even been in a kayak so I felt really rusty and uncoordinated. And have high expectations of myself, knowing what I can do and am capable of.

I am super lucky to be getting coaching from Arnd Schaeftlein who brings to the table years of experience and a German no nonsense manner that is kicking me into shape whether I like it or not.
He gave me no choice in whether or not I was going to compete in the Wairoa Extreme Race. He said "Polly you will race and that's all there is to it". I was apprehensive as I hadn't been down the Wairoa in 5 years and hadn't even been down the Kaituna river yet. So it was strait into the frying pan and luckily German paddler Andi Uhl was there before my start and gave me a rundown of the lines for the time trial. I surprised myself and had pretty good lines and then found myself getting ready for the first of the head to head races. Once again I had good lines and kept advancing through my heats until I was in the final race. The whole way through the race I was focused on having good lines and having fun which I did, without focusing on the outcome. I ended up narrowly missing out on the win but felt great about my performance especially coming right off the couch so to speak.

So I think my lessons from last week are to be entirely in the moment and not focusing to much on the outcome.

We also began filming last week for a Fire Burning and I am starting to edit the trailer this week. We got some amazing POV shots thanks to Arnds new little Hero POV camera which is tiny but delivers amazing quality.

I am super grateful to my amazing production team and excited about the start of this journey! And also have to thank Andi Uhl who carried my boat up after each of my races which was a massive help and I appreciated so much, and was to me a true example of being a winning person, helping me when he didn't have to and going the extra mile. I am feeling so supported and it makes all the difference in the world!

A Fire Burning

Its official, I just had my first shoot for A Fire Burning, my new film about my comeback into whitewater kayaking, and training for the 2011 World Freestyle Kayak Championships.
It was a little weird at first filming myself, but after awhile I got into it and feel like I am talking directly to the viewer. Being the camera operator and the subject adds a whole new twist and I think I like it. I think it will make the film a lot more intimate and I think the viewer is going to get sucked in and involved. Plus it was fun, which is my main goal.
We are having our first pre-production meeting on Monday and begin the official shoot 10 Feb up on the Kaituna River.
I am really excited to be kayaking again and am feeling stronger than ever. I have just been training on flat water this week, but so far so good. I am also cycling 2 hours a day, doing yoga for an hour+, and meditation 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at night.
So my days are pretty full. I am reserving Saturdays to do my artwork and take the day off from training.
My whole goal is to have balance, and make room for everything that's important, which is something I was lacking last time I was training.
I am feeling good and happy and healthy and will be making regular posts about the progress of the film and how my training is going.

Soft Power Health Official selection NY International Film Festival and Jury Prize Mammoth Mountian Film

Soft Power Health has just been announced as an official selection in the New York International Film Festival and has received the Jury Prize in Action Sports at the Mammoth Mountain Film festival in California.

SOFT POWER HEALTH
What an incredible and inspiring documentary! Dr Jessie Stone should win a humanitarian award for her efforts. Dr Stone helps people in Uganda receive mosquito prevention sleeping nets to prevent malaria, contraceptive education and much more. Polly Green has done an excellent job with professional videography & editing as well as some amazing shots. Very informative and a must see documentary!
Anoo Cottoor
Executive Artistic Director
New York International Film Festival

Nomads- Wandering Women of The Whitewater Tribe

Nomads, my award winning documentary film, is about three women kayakers who give back to a small village in Uganda. It has been an official selection in over 30 film festivals world wide.



Runtime 20 minutes $19.99

Available now on www.trademe.co.nz
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=244681799&ed=true

How You Can Make a Difference

How you can make a difference

Making a difference begins with you. For you to make a difference in your community and the greater world you first need to give to yourself.

• Make time for yourself –
Sign up for that class you have always wanted to take: yoga,
Aerobics, spinning, art, dance, doing something just for you will bring more joy, calm and peace in your life and you will have more to give to others. When you feel good it rubs off.
–Slow down, take a walk, breathe and notice the beauty around you.
-make a conscious effort to bring more joy into your life -do something nice for you!

• Go on a negativity diet –
Avoid negative people, negative news and TV shows; keep negative comments and gossip to yourself. Focusing on what’s good in the world and your life will create more good. –Write a gratitude list every morning of everything that is good in your life. We all have so much, and it is easy to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. The fact that we have electricity, good health, medical facilities, water, enough food, shelter etc are all things we tend to take for granted, but they are huge gifts to be grateful for.
- smile while you are buying your groceries and be nice to the check out person
-Always say you can, so much is possible if we believe it is.


• Give-
Compliment someone today, bring someone flowers, help someone who needs your help, bring a friend a care package when they are sick (soup, medicine, lemons and honey, magazines), tell your employees how much you value their work.

• De-clutter – get rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year and donate it to your local charity. You will feel renewed energy and the charity will benefit as well.

• Charities

Find an organization you feel passionate about and volunteer your services. Volunteering can come in many forms.

o If you are a marketing specialist, for example, pick a charity you believe in and help raise their profile. If you are a web designer do some design work for a charity that needs a website. Giving of your expertise is a great way to give back and make an impact. Fundraising Institute of New Zealand www.finz.org.nz is a place to start.

o House DVD screening party- organize a house party, invite your friends and colleagues to watch a film that focuses on a charity/issue that you believe in. After the film, facilitate a discussion, ask for donations and send them to the charity.

o Social Networking – promote your favorite charity through your social networking circles (Facebook, Twitter)


Support people and organizations you believe in and are passionate about. There are so many good charities out there, and it’s important that you truly believe in what they are doing. Do a bit of research, and support something that is close to your heart.
I believe that if you can impact even one person positively you are making a huge difference.

HER Success and Independence

Yesterday I had a phone interview with HER Success and Business Magazine http://www.hermagazine.co.nz.
I am feeling very grateful to have the chance to talk about Flair Films and my mission to inspire millions of people thru my films. Getting interviewed is a great opportunity to get even more clear with my mission and saying it out loud makes it come to life.
Also, giving examples of the people I know that have been inspired still brought tears to my eyes.

Here's just a couple of examples of inspired viewers:

• A highschool age girl saw Nomads, and told me she had always wanted to play rugby in Canada and never thought it was possible, and now she is going to!
• A South Island medical school student went to volunteer with SOFT POWER HEALTH in Uganda after seeing Nomads
• A 14 year old boy in Massuchusetts is doing his own presentations on the clean drinking water issue after being inspired by the Blue Planet Run and Running For Water
• A girl in Montana decided to learn how to kayak after seeing Nomads

These are just a few of the stories I have heard lately about how my films have affected people and it is so great to know that they are having a positive impact.
Thanks again to HER Magazine for the interview. I will post the link when it comes out in the November issue.

One Person Can Make A Difference

Polly Green - show reel

This is my current show reel which includes footage from my award winning documentary Nomads and footage from Running For Water, the first ever around the world relay race. My mission as a videographer is to tell stories that are inspiring and make a positive difference in the world. I do promotional videos for NGO's, not for profits, businesses, musicians, artists, authors, and real estate. Please feel free to contact me for your video needs. polly@flairfilms.com

Gear Review- Kata HB-205 hiker backpack

This blog is on the kata HB-205 hiker camera backpack, which I purchased recently for my last shoot in Uganda.

I did quite alot of research and ended up choosing the kata 205 and am glad I did. It worked really well for the shoot and was the perfect size to fit in the overhead locker on the airplane. I also purchased the trolley wheels that came in handy on the massive journey from New Zealand

to Uganda. My Panasonic AG-HVX-202EN fit perfectly as well as spare batteries, microphones, and camera rain cover. I am sold on having a backpack vs. a shoulder bag as I was able to shoot with the backpack on my back and didn't worry about having to leave it on the ground as a theft temptation. It also looks discreet, and is super comfortable even fully loaded. I highly recommend the Kata HB-205 backpack and definitely feel like I made a good choice.

Photo: The Kata HB-205 hiker backpack in action: Polly Green on location shooting in Uganda- Photo by Will Clark

Malaria Education and Prevention- Soft Power Health

Professional kayaker Dr. Jessie Stone is educating Ugandans about malaria and helping to prevent it by distributing subsidized mosquito nets. Her grass roots model has reached over 100,000 Ugandans and she has distributed over 30,000 mosquito nets. See how she does it in my latest Soft Power Health video.