Adventure Day 50 & 51: Acrobatic Cats & Tattoo B-Roll

So wow these past two days have been chuck full of cats and amazing things.

Yesterday we got to see first hand acrobatic cats that are trained to do tricks. I know that seems like such an odd concept to train a cat to do well anything, but it happened and I saw it.  The day started off with us getting ready and heading out to our location where we met with this acrobatics instructor of kitties. We met her and her staff and was able to take a tour of her place. Amongst the large number of cats she had there for her act and for her adoption she also had this crazy cool Binturong or more simply known as a Bear Cat!

This guy was so unique to see because I have never seen this animal before in my life, hell I didn’t even know that this thing existed. Of course the first thought I had when I saw it reminded me of the ROUS (Rodents of Unusual Size) from Princes Bride.  Still a really cool animal to see.

So after seeing our trainers really interesting animals we got to learn about her act and how she trains her cats. Using positive clicker training she is able to show us how she has been able to train her cats to perform the tricks that they do. She even took a kitten who had never done any tricks before and through her training was able to train it to jump through a hoop in just under ten minutes. It was really impressive. We learned a great lot from her but that was not the end, after all the training it was time for the big show.

We went to this theater where the acrobatic cats were going to perform, they were putting on a benefit show for our local cat sanctuary the same one that put on the fundraiser with the tattoo shop.  The show itself was really incredible, the different things the cats were able to do were really cool, including a full on cat band, a cat playing guitar, drums and keyboard. The Acrobatic Cats was also putting up three cats up for adoption as well, which made allot of kids wanting kittens and allot of parents figuring out what to say to there kids.

It was a really great night and I think it will be a really great piece when its all said and done.

Now today today I was on my own separate adventure assignment. We were asked last night if I could go off and get some B-Roll of people who were in our Tattoo segment. I was going to off to get footage of four people with there tattoos and there cats. The day started off a pain only because there was a huge thunderstorm going on at the time, and Chicago rush hour traffic is fun enough on its own, let alone when there is sheets of rain coming down. I met up with our first tattoo recipent. She got this gorgeous tattoo on her upper leg of her cat, so we tried to get some footage of her cat with her tattoo. The one repeating thing I heave learned in these past 50 days of non stop cat filming is this. Cats not matter how nice, or affectionate, or if they have an amazing talent will never ever do it when you want them to let alone if there is a camera involved. So after some finageling and coercing with food we were able to get her cat to sit down and get the footage we needed. My second location was actually the tattoo shop owner and his cat. His cat was very curious but was more curious about how my bag smelled then being in front of the camera. I was able to get some good footage though and his cat did do this really cool trick. The third and fourth people were both really great and had multiple cats, so lots and lots of kitty footage. The best part was the horrible rain let up finally so driving and lighting for shooting was allot easier.

So with my task of kitties and tattoos completed I finally said goodbye to Chicago and Illinois, I really have had a great time here in Chicago and I can’t wait to come back. I even told the Tattoo shop owner that when I get back I might swing by his shop to get a new piece of ink.

So now I am here in Indiana, tomorrow is our final segment for Episode Five and folks its going to be a good one.

In just four days I will be back home in good ole Boston.

Adventure Day 49: Toilet Trained Cats

Yes folks its exactly as the title says, cats who were trained to use the toilet and no longer use a litter box. Today’s segment was actually the second part of our first one we did way back in Minnesota. This is the second part of our segment that we shot on cat litter. We went to a persons house who is currently in the process of toilet training his cat. We met up with a woman who is the creator of this new system that can help people toilet train there cats in just eight weeks. It was really interesting to get some new perspective on this. Personally I have always used litter boxes and I don’t know if it would be too weird to toilet trained my cat, but once again never having to clean a litter a box again does have its advantages.

In terms of shooting wise while a very good segment we were pretty much done by noon. We then headed into downtown Chicago to have some food and figure out what to do with the rest of the day. We figured that while we were in the downtown area we might as well get some MOS done. What was also nice is it was supposed to thunderstorm all day but it was the opposite it was nice and sunny. So we went to some different spots and got some really good and different MOS from different people. And with that we were done with the day!

Driving around downtown I saw allot of places Adam and I went too last October, it made me all nostalgic and everything. I realized I do like Chicago and I am glad I have been able to see more then just the downtown area and get some more views out there. I have been really want to go back since I read “Devil in the White City” so I’m glad we were able to come up here for our show.  It totally makes me want to come back again for some R&R when I can.

So there you have it a sort of short day for the show but still all good none the less. I will end this post with a few pictures of the downtown area we were in.

Adventure Day 48: Tats for Cats

So today’s adventure was a real good one, it revolved around cats in need and the people who care for them.

Our day started with us going to this established shelter in Chicago. This shelter has been around in Chicago since the 1970′s and pioneered the way by being one of the first established no kill shelters in America. The people there were very nice and there were kitties everywhere! I got lots of great B-Roll footage of cats lounging, playing and more lounging. There was this adorable cute cat named Bandit who had his own shirt, it was red with a big B on his back it was adorable. The shelter has over 400 volunteers that work there at all times to make sure all cats weather kittens, seniors or cats with FIV are all taken care of.  We were given a great tour of the area and see all the good they do.

The main focus of the segment though was how there is currently a fundraiser going on for this sanctuary to raise money for a new location. There is a local owner of a Tattoo parlor near them that is a huge cat lover, how big of a cat lover is he? Well this is on his car.

He was working with our sanctuary to help raise money for them. They had this event that if anyone came in and got a cat related tattoo, all the proceeds would go to the Sanctuary. 100% of the profits would go to the sanctuary that’s how generous this place was. They also had an adoption event going on in the front of the shop. People could see some of the adorable cats, and learn more about the adoption process. Everyone at this shop was all amazingly nice. For people I have never met before I was able to easily talk to people and get along with them easily it might also have to do with I have some ink of my own. Speaking of ink you have NO idea how badly I wanted to get a tattoo while I was there. That’s the problem with tattoos, there addictive. You want more and more, and the fact I was in a parlor and could not satisfy this addiction was rough. I was surrounded by tons of awesome people getting new tats and I could not contribute. However sadly I did not want any cat related tattoos, I already know what I want but I will just have to wait.

We were at the parlor for pretty much the entire day and early evening, and saw some really great pieces of ink and that also means allot of money went to allot of lucky cats. By the time we were done I was told by allot of the workers and the owner that the next time I am in Chicago I have to stop by and get something done, that is something I will happily take them up on. I think allot of money was raised for this sanctuary and they honestly deserve it they are doing great amounts of work.

So while long its been a great day and very very fun. Tomorrow is our next round in Chi Town.

Also today is the last week of our tour, before our break. Its really crazy and exciting to know that in just one week I will be back home in good old Boston.

Adventure Day 47: Cats & Jedis

So today’s shoot was a real great one it involved the coolest looking cat out there!

So today we started off by leaving Woodstock and making our way to the big city that is Chicago. It took about an hour or so but soon we were right outside the big city itself. While setting up for our shoot we got some coffee, and now I know I am offiically getting closer to home.

Now you may laugh or be like so what, but let me tell you. I usually get Dunkin, its my coffee of choice. Yes you may not have as many options as you can get with Starbucks or the like but its just what I go with. That being said I haven’t seen a Dunkin for over a month they just don’t exist out west or in the south. So seeing this is just another small connection to home and I know I am getting closer to it.

So today’s segment was really cool. We did our entire segment on this really cool cat with a interesting look to him. I don’t want to give it away I would much rather prefer you see it for yourself.

That’s right folks our amazing cat has four ears. Besides that I don’t want to give away too much of our segment you should really check it out. Now why the Jedi title? He has a name based after a famous Star Wars Character. We did allot of good interviews, in a few areas and it was all and all a great shoot and a great topic.  So after a great time we decided to call it a night and head back to our hotel. So now I am just outside of Chicago for the next four nights. The funny thing is I am in the same hotel and area I stayed at with Adam about a year ago.  Its sort of weird I never thought I would be in this place again, that just goes to show how interesting life and adventures can be.

Adventure Day 45 & 46: A House For Cats & Onward to Illinois

So these past two days have been rolling on and allot of good things with good cats.

Yesterday  we continued our trip into Minnesota this time we were in St James for the day. Our segment was based in this small little town but our subject was anything but little. We met up with a person who is so devoted to his cats that he completely transformed the inside of his house for his cats to get around with ease and also just made it extremely cool. Bridges, Stairs, Platforms, Holes all different amazing ways for his cats to get around. I guess the best way I could explain this to anyone my age is. Rememeber when we were kids and we used to go to DZ The Discovery Zone. And it was full of tubes and hidey holes and bridges, it was sort of like that…except for cats. What is really cool is that even though it is transformed for the cats it is done in a great tasteful way so everything blends into the house quite naturally. Its almost as if the pieces for the cats was always there his transformation was so good. Whats also increidble is that this guy did it all by himself. He crafted it all and made the changes. I am honestly not doing the description any justice when our show airs yow will just have to check it out for yourself on how awesome it really is.

With our segment all done we said goodbye and started to make our way from St James to Rochester. However as we had been shooting the sky’s were growing dark and storms were rolling in.

While we had been shooting the last bit of our segment two seperate small thunder, lighting and hail storms rolled in. They would appear last for ten minutes then leave, the sky blue and the sun out like nothing had happened at all. However as we made our towards Rochester the storms crept after us and stayed. For an hour we drove through torrental rain, hail and thunder. Also apparently (of course we did not find this out till the next day) but we were only just a few miles away from a pretty sizable tornado that was in the area. We could have turned into a storm chaster cat show and never would have noticed. As the storms passed we finally made our way into Rochester which is where the MAYO clinic is located, never knew that bit myself.  I walked around the small city got some food and made my way back to my hotel for the night.

As soon as I stepped back inside to the hotel the storms kicked back up again and I spent the rest of my night listening to rain and the sound of thunder.

Today was a little lighter. We said goodbye to Minnesota and just made our way to our next state Illinois. The majority of the day was just spent driving, listening to Podcasts, and my Lord John Book. What I found really funny/cool though was how before we entered Wisconsin we made our way back to Route 90 the route I took to get to Washington. The real cool part was how we drove on the same route I did just in the opposite direction talk about full circle huh? We made our way into Illinois with no issue and found our way into Woodstock. We had two segments to shoot however they were both quick interviews. These interviews are actually the tail end piece to a story segment we did way back in Episode Three while we were in Dallas. Yes even Dallas Texas feels like such a long time ago now. As we were doing our interviews those same storms must have followed us from Minnesota because no more then five minutes into our interview it looked like this out side.

However once again the storms quited down and we were able to finish our interviews with no issues. What was nice is our Hotel was literally down the street from both Interviews so we were able to stroll in and now here I am. Tomorrow we leave Woodstock and make our way to Chicago itself. I’m excited to go back to Chicago personally I have only been there once but I loved every second of it and hopefully I will get to see a little before leaving the state.

So lastly those storms I have kept mentioning through out this post are at it again and this time with gusto. Our TV’s our not working the lights are flikering and every 5 seconds the sky lights up and there are giant crashes of thunder. Its really good I love storms and love watching them or this might be a real problem.

Until tomorrow!