Wild West Video Productions and K&A Productions recently completed a videotape about hot air ballooning, Flights of Fancy - Fundamentals of Ballooning. This is the first in a planned series on hot air ballooning under the Flights of Fancy theme.
This first program evolved from a concept developed by a group of balloonists in Colorado who began videotaping hot air balloons and balloon events in 1991. The partners in this venture are Marv McKinley, his wife Nancy, Larry Ries, and Frank Kester. Marv has been a balloon pilot for 15 years, past President of the Colorado Balloon Club, and was involved in the development of the Montgolfier launch site at Chatfield Dam near Denver. Larry and Frank both have extensive backgrounds in television production.
The working title had been "Ballooning 101" since the content is designed to teach the uninitiated about hot air balloons. The story line takes the viewer through a complete setup, inflation, flight, landing, and tailgate party. Shot at the Montgolfier launch site at Chatfield Dam, this video is the best I have seen for introducing potential balloonists and crew to what ballooning is all about.
The tape also gives an overview of other aspects of ballooning. These segments were shot at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and Aerostar International balloon manufacturing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Albuquerque segment shows competition, glows, special shapes, and mass ascensions.
At the Aerostar factory you get to see how balloon equipment is manufactured and tested. Mark West, president, takes the visitor on a tour of the facility. Some the equipment tests I have not seen on any other balloon video before. One example is the envelope lifting, or load, test. Here the new envelope is attached to a load scale and heated, then cooled.
The real heart of this video is the introduction to what balloons are, how they are assembled, flown, and recovered. The script flows beautifully as the authors attempt to cover every base. The scenes in this videotape were filmed specially for the program. This is not a "let’s capture it on tape while we do it" video. It is well thought out, written, and edited. The one hour video has excellent production qualities.
Balloons present a colorful backdrop for photographic opportunities. And what better subject could there be for the video camera? Just taking "pretty" pictures, still or moving, of balloons does not make by itself good content for print or videotape. Content does. This video has content.
If you love ballooning and want to share the magic with others this video should be in your library. It is an excellent introduction to what ballooning is about. If you are an instructor it can be a supplement to the training done in the field. Use it before training to go over what you want to accomplish once you get to the launch site.
The videotape is a training tool and a "sales tool" to help promote the sport. Other programs about various aspects of ballooning are planned for the future.
Flights of Fancy - Fundamentals of Ballooning is $29.95 plus $3.00 s&h (Colorado residents add $1.86 sales tax). To order your copy send check, MasterCard or Visa to K&A Productions, 5245 S. Camargo Rd., Littleton, CO 80123 or call (303) 794-8000.
