It’s a motorcycle, not a boat, but while you’re watching Jack Churchill create this astonishing machine that was inspired by a bike displayed at The Owls Head Transportation Museum, you’ll hear some one-liners that parallel how we at OffCenterHarbor.com feel about making something yourself from stuff that’s at hand, and doing it with passion, enthusiasm, and imagination.
I don’t advise going to sea in a boat version of Jack’s beautiful-but-dangerous bike, but I really love hearing him express how he feels while putting it together and trying it out. And the bike itself is a blast!
The video takes place when ex-filmmaker (Jack Churchill) mentors young and aspiring filmmaker (Seth Brown), who shot and produced it. In Seth’s words: “What started out as a film about the construction of the bike, turned into a theme of what it means to build. Anyone who has ever constructed something, the creative process, the ups and downs, in order to see the final product through will recognize themselves in this film.”
We were pleased when Deux Ex Machina joined OCH’s The Schmee of Havilah Hawkins as two of the nine features chosen for the 2015 Maine Shorts Film Festival.
For more of Seth’s work, check out Love, The Bus.
Eigil Rothe says:
Incredible. I watch this and listen to Seth and I suddenly have Faith in God and have an appreciation for Her creation of the human race. The film too is equal to the subject. To misquote Ratty: nothing is worth doing more than just messing about with our creations.
Trevor Gunning says:
Jack,
As they say down here in Australia “Onya Cobber” which translates to “Good on you my friend”. You have inspired me to get up into my garage and start getting into the woodwork I’ve been procrastinating about for years…
You are an artist…keep on building your works of art!
Larry Cheek says:
I love the video production and Jack’s wonderfully articulated ideas about craft and handwork. But his aesthetic and mechanical sense is … mystifying. The end product of all his thought and work looks like hell, doesn’t run very well, and is spoiling for a crash.
Brian Leger says:
I love the spirit expressed by Jack ….. what it means to build with your own hands!
Matthew Johnson says:
boats and motorcycle restoration? sign me up early for another year!
Chris Powell says:
Loved the vid Maynard-Classic motorcycle restoration is my passion,but inclined to stick with Honda due to the care and very special engineering that they put into their motorcycles.