Cowboy Up
Inside 
The Extreme World 
Of Bull Riding

by:
David Wittkower-Producer

Filming  Journal

Sept 1-DVDs on Cowboy Up are now available directly from the producer. Please click here
...Order Form....or email ctch22@aol.com

August 8 -

DVD of Cowboy Up Documentary

I wanted to announce that on Sept. 1st the DVD of the documentary film, "Cowboy UP: Inside the Extreme World of Bullriding"
will be released. It is the Director's cut, meaning there's 6 minutes more than the VHS version.
Anyone who hasn't seen this film or knows anything about it can check it out Click...HERE...

The film runs 95 minutes and has won 8 film festival awards for excellence in directing, editing and camera.
It features the best in the sport; Tuff Hedeman, Cody Lambert, Mike White, Jason Bennett,
Michael Gaffney, Cody Custer, Jerome Davis, Stock Contractor John Growney, Bull fighters Allen Nelson,
Joe Baumgarter, Rob Smets, and Flint Rassmussen. It also features an exclusive interviews with Clyde & Elsie Frost and
Kay Thurman and lots others. It is narrated by Luke Perry who starred in the movie 8 Seconds and Beverly Hills 90210.
Country Singer Buddy Jewel sings the bull riding song "Whirlwind Ride" in the film,
he did this before he won the Nashville Star competition.

The VHS retails for $19.95 which includes shipping and taxes and advance orders of the DVD
can be taken by sending an email address to: Ctch22@aol.com or use this Order Form 

Any questions, email me and I'll answer them as soon as I receive them. Thanks!

David Wittkower

July 16 - Wanted to let you know that the DVD's are in the works. I hope to have them released early.
We are dropping the prices of the VHS to $19.95 plus shipping and taxes to make room for the DVD's.

If you want to be on a DVD list, send an Email to Ctch22@aol.com  with an
updated Email address that you'll have for the next couple of months (many last time gave me emails that didn't work
when I announced the release of the film.

The DVD coming out will be a Director's cut, meaning it will be 95 minutes long instead of the 89:00 minutes on the VHS.
It does have a more graphic footage, only of the surgery that Dr. Tandy Freeman performs on the riders.
Some were grossed out during the screening and we took it out, but I felt there was something missing from that,
because if you really want to understand the role of a bull rider and what happens to him, you must know what happens to these
guys when they get injured. You will have a new appreciation for your favorite rider or any rider.
Elsie Frost said "It was one of the most revealing parts of the film; and if you watch TLC or Discovery Channel, you'll have no problem.

The film has won 9 film festival awards, including best sports program, directing, editing, and creative.
Nashville star winner Buddy Jewel sing "Whirlwind Ride" in the film, this was done when he was undiscovered.

June 7th - Sorry its been awhile since I checked in. Been trying to start new projects, cowboy related,
but since the economy is slow, sponsors aren't interested at the moment on helping me produce programs.
Several people have requested that I start doing films about Barrel Racers and Horse Cutting.
They're in there along with the others. I'm going back to Texas to start in new project but it's not cowboy related.

To all of those who have been patiently waiting for a DVD version, I want them to know that I've started the process.
It takes some time and mostly because of the costs involved I have avoided doing it but now with VHS going by the wayside,
probably by the end of the year, I have to do something. I hope, by mid summer to have the announcement
that DVD's will be available.
Be sure to check back. I'm a DVD guy myself so I can understand the request.

May 6 - Well it looks like the winner of the show Nashville Star is Buddy Jewel.
Buddy did a song called "Whirlwind Ride" which is the featured song at the end of the documentary Cowboy Up.
Its a great song and if you want to hear it,  order the film on this site and hear it.
Its a great song and a great 90 minute ride of your life video.

April 27- Cowboy Up-Inside the Extreme World Of Bull Riding".
won 3 awards  at the Videographer Awards, 2003.
That makes 9, tied with Firefight, the previous film done by David Wittkower.

Awards won by "Cowboy Up...." were
Video Productions/Creativity/Editing         Award of Excellence
Video Productions/Creativity/Directing            Honorable Mention
TV Programs/Documentary                Award of Distinction

There were 2,376 entries throughout the United States and Europe.

April 20 - We have a good review coming up in the Rocky Mountain Roper.
The article will be going out to 12,000 subscribers. It was reviewed by several bull riders
including a Canadian bull rider and the result over all was, "It tells it like it is." What more can I say for now.

If any one has been watching the music talent program "Nashville Star" there is a contestant named
Buddy Jewell. If his name doesn't sound familiar, and you own a copy of the video Cowboy Up,
he is the singer on that last song at the end of the film
and it's looking pretty good that he's going to come out on top, we hope.

April 11 - Yes, I know, its been months since the last log in.
Cowboy Up got an award from the Houston Film festival for Documentary Editing and Graphics.
 I don't know if it was a Gold, Silver or Bronze and won't know that until April 14th.
That makes 5 awards for the video.
Things have been quiet but I have a list for people who would like to order the tape on the retailers who sell the tape.
Of course the best place to order it is from the Lane Frost site, and maybe get an autographed copy
from the Frosts themselves.
 In regard to the many requests for the DVD. I'm a DVD man myself so I understand the want for DVD.
The problem is that DVD to process is very expensive and I don't have the cash to change it over for now.
You can purchase the VHS copies in the some 90 retailers listed in the table below:

Jan 2  I wish you all a happy and safe New Year.
I also want to let you know that the film just received two awards in the Communicator Awards.

Crystal Award of Excellence - Sports Documentary
Award of Distinction             - Editing

We also have the film entered in two film festivals in Texas and waiting for a response, 
one in Dallas and one in College Station.

Nov. 19 - Happy Thanksgiving! The journal entries for the film are becoming far and few between. 
The film is selling in 70 retailers around the country, including Canada and Australia. The film has been well reviewed 
and received by many. We're still looking for retailers to consider the film to carry if they are interested, 
and we are starting our new project in January on NASCAR. 
Anyone know of a driver (personally) or a driving team we could contact? 
Be sure to check back every once in awhile for updates

Oct 17 - Getting ready for our big push in Vegas for the PBR finals. Our booth, we'll be at is #608. Hope to see you there! 
We are offering until the end of the year, a special, buy 4 at $24.95 and get a 5th free. 
This I recommend would make a Christmas gift for all those cowboys in your lives. 
I would also highly recommend to order early, to give time for gifts to arrive in time for Christmas, 
my cut off point for shipping will be December 19th.

Oct 6 - For those of you who are keeping tabs on the film, we got into two film festivals today. 
The Fort Worth Film Festival in Fort Worth, Texas and the San Luis Obispo Film Festival in California. 
If you are near San Luis Obispo, the film will be screened on Saturday November 2nd at 2:15 pm at the 
San Luis Obispo City-County Library community room. I will be there for a Q & A afterwards and we'll probably 
be selling copies of the tape there. 
As far as Fort Worth, I don't have that info yet. I will let you know.

Oct 3- Well, sales of the film have taken off I'm happy to say. 
Several more stores are carrying the film as well as the orders from both the film site and the Frosts site. 
We have a booth number confirmed at the PBR finals: # 608. 
We will also be having a booth at the Fan Appreciation party selling the video there as well. 
If you bought the tape and even if you haven't and want to that will be the place to get it and 
meet some great cowboys along the way for autographed copies. 
If you can't make it to the finals, you can and will, always, be able to order it off this site. 
We are still trying to get a screening. Just when you think you got it made, another snag hits you, 
so right now, it seems to be up in the air, again check back here and let you know if yea or nay.

We had an excellent article written up in the Daily Oklahoman last week.

Sept 20- Hope everyone is well. The PBR finals are quickly approaching. 
We have our booth but not sure where were located yet. We will be having a screening at the Palms Theatre 
on Friday and Saturday and I am now working on getting special guests to do a Q & A afterwards. 
I will probably only be charging $3.00 admission to fray the costs, not a bad deal to see this film on the big screen, 
then buy it for Christmas gifts afterwards. The reviews are coming in and all of them a great. 
I have started to get orders from Canada and Australia. So far, we've sold over 400 tapes. Not a bad start. 
I talked with Tuff today and if he can, he will make an appearance at our booth and sign some autographs 
and other than him, we'll certainly, if their schedules permit, have Michael Gaffney, Cody Custer, Tandy Freeman, 
Flint Rassmussen and many others signing autographs at our booth and at the Fan Appreciation party 
at the Thomas and Mac

Aug 22- People have been asking if any stores will be selling the Cowboy Up video. 
As of yesterday, Drysdales of Tulsa, Oklahoma will start selling the video September 1st.
Got an email from the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA,) they
saw a copy of the video an were really impressed with it. They are going toput a story about it in their 
Rodeo Sports News magazine next month.
Its looking better and better that we will be showing the film at the PBR finals. 
We finally found a theatre that might let us have a few screenings.
I'm working on it to try and get a few PBR riders come for a Q&A after each screening. 
Of course, we will be selling the video at the screening as well as the booth and we hope
at The World Finals TEAM PBR Appreciation party.

Aug 19-We got our first review/story in print today from the Texarkana Gazette. 
Click...Here...to read it. Our first web site review was on Rodeo Network. 
The sales are coming in. As I had mentioned before, we had about 2,000 pre-orders on an emailing list 
and when I sent them out, more than half didn't exist anymore. 
I was disappointed, but now am happy to report that people are ordering the tape and 
the reviews are great and people are really happy about the film. 
We will be getting reviewed in up-coming papers and magazines including 
"Humps n Horns" as well as a story will be written in the "8 Seconds" PBR program, 
due out in November.
Some people have been ordering the tape as gifts and as of now if you request it is a gift, 
I will gift wrap it for free. I gift wrap pretty well due to years of practice wrapping Christmas gifts... 
which will be coming up soon, (hint, hint.) We will be having a booth at the PBR finals 
as well as having several PBR riders, bullfighters and even Dr. Tandy Freeman will 
sign autographs on the tapes. As soon as we get a firm schedule of the riders, we will post times here.

Also PAL tapes of ""Cowboy Up-Inside the Extreme World Of Bull Riding"  are now available, 
they are the video tapes that can only be used in Europe. 
These tapes are $29.95, plus shipping. 
Of course I will still send VHS tapes to international buyers too, if desired.
I will have a separate order form up for international orders soon.

July 31-Well, we've been sending out orders every day and its been great 
to hear the responses from people. One ordered the film again because her kids watched it so much, 
they wore the tape out. One gentleman from Louisiana got the tape, 
and watched it 3 times in the day, once by himself, then called his friends over. 
Usually when I do a film, there's always people saying that there was something they didn't like 
about the film, but I haven't heard that from anyone. 
Its great to hear from people that they really enjoy the film. I went to a CT event in 
San Jacinto California this past weekend. A woman saw my hat which says: 
Cowboy Up Film Crew. She told me she just bought the tape and was surprised how quickly it came. 
I asked her what she thought of the film and she loved it, she's a devoted PBR fan. 
She said she got it from a fella in Calabasas, California, I told her I was the guy that made the film.

I'm looking to ask anyone if they know of any reporters that would write a review and or story 
about the film. Most papers won't do something unless I shot in their town or interviewed a rider 
from their town. 
I'm also looking to see if anyone knows of any stores in their area that might be interested 
in carrying the video, let me know at: Ctch22@aol.com 

Til next time

July 25-I'm still getting a lot of undeliverable email, especially to Hotmail users. 
If you want to order the tape, I suggest either re-send your email address to me at
Ctch22@aol.com  and I can send the order form Or copy the order form from this link below

Cowboy Up: Inside The Extreme World Of Bull Riding

July 24-This past weekend I have emailed all of you who had requested to be put on the list for 
"Cowboy Up-The Inside World Of Extreme Bull Riding".
I am getting many of the email messages returned to me as undeliverable, 
either the email address is no longer valid, or no longer in use 
If you have not gotten an email from me this weekend, please email me with your new email address.

For all of those who want just the DVD, which won't be our for a few months 
and can wait that long, please email me so I can make a new list for just the DVD requests. 
In the subject line "DVD Request." I'm still getting a lot of undeliverable email, 
especially to Hotmail users. 
If you want to order the tape, I suggest either re-send your email address to me at
Ctch22@aol.com  and I can send the order form Or copy the order form from this link below

Cowboy Up: The Inside World Of Extreme Bull Riding Order Form

Thanks

July 17-Been real busy with finishing up the film. After the screening in LA there were a few minor
changes that were suggested and followed up on.
We are currently waiting on several broadcast channels to see if they are interested.
I hear that the feature film "Ring of Fire" is being released in Sept and they have changed 
their title to Cowboy Up. 
Please do not get these two films confused.......My film is NOT a FEATURE FILM
but is a DOCUMENTARY about the True Heroes of the sport of bull riding.
This documentary has the true stories that show the heart, spirit and grit of the 
world of bull riding that a fictional feature film could never possibly duplicate.
I can not make a general announcement about the release date of
"Cowboy Up-The Inside World of Extreme Bull Riding" yet,
but if you want to know, email me at ctch22@aol.com ~~David Wittkower~

June 24- Sorry its been awhile about entering in the journal. 
Seems like there's a lot happening but some of it isn't happening fast enough. 
First of all we had a screening out in Los Angeles for a small crowd of about 60.
Bull Rider Michael Gaffney did a great job of coming out to support the screening 
and it was a thrill to the viewing audience to sit there and ask questions about bull riding 
with a World Champion. We really appreciated him making a big effort to come out during 
his busy schedule.
Second, we've been getting great responses from the people who are in the film 
saying that we did an excellent job of really telling the role of the bull rider and bullfighters 
and others who really make the sport what it is.
Third, There's talk about having this screened at both the WNFR and the PBR Finals in Vegas. 
The film really looks great on the big screen and we are looking forward to this.
Fourth, I know people are asking about when the video will be done. 
I know it's hard to have to wait. There are delays that often come with the finishing touches on the video. 
I ask if ya'll can be patient a little more while we iron final things out. Have a great 4th

May 8-I posted a photo of Luke Perry on the main Film page.
It was taken last week when he came to do the narration for the film.
Click...Here...to view it, it is the first photo on the page.

May 7- Wanted to let ya'll know that we have some quality musicians who 
have some of their songs and music in the film and would like to give them some early credit:
Mark Winston Kirk from Texas. Dave & Kelli Grill from Oregon and 
Curtiss Thompson and the Jammers from Connecticut.

May 3-Luke Perry came to record the narration and do a sit down interview this morning. 
He did a very professional job and is a very nice, nice person.
There were times where he got emotional during the narration about Lane.
During the interview, he also got some things off his chest about how Clyde was portrayed inaccurately 
in the film "8 Seconds."
He saw the film that we're doing and was very pleased about what we have done
and is very excited about being a part of it. 
I took a photo of him and will have it up on this site soon.
The film is coming along well. We have to put in Luke's narration and interviews 
and we have a couple of days to wait for the music score to come in. 

April 22- Just to give all of you an update of the progress of the documentary. 
It's coming along really well. It's becoming everything you wanted to know about bull riding 
but were afraid to ask.... Or something like that. 
Current running time is about 95 minutes. We have just completed our fine cut 
which means we're not cutting any more picture. Now we have to do all the other stuff 
like sound editing, music, narration, and then a final mix which means spend some time 
putting all those elements together. If anyone wonders why it takes so long to make a film, 
this is why; and to think it took "Apocalypse Now" five years to make. 

March 28 - Just to give ya'll an update on the progress of the film. 
Editing takes a long time. We have over 65 hours of footage, 
taken over a year and cutting it down to 2 hours and that takes awhile. 
I appreciate everyone's response to the film.
We will be recording Luke Perry's narration in the next 3 weeks, when we get the photo's, we'll
put them up. 
For photos of my last filming trip to Dallas to film another surgery with Dr. Freeman
Click...Here..

March 11 -Jon and I spent the last 3 days at Tuff Hedeman's bull riding event in Fort Worth. 
Bull Rider Chris Waid drove all the way down from Tulsa (about a 7 hour drive) to help us 
finish getting shots with him. We were hoping he would make it in the Touring Pro as an 
alt but he didn't make it which was disappointing for all of us.
We interviewed:
Jim Sharp, Jim Shoulders, The Carillo Brothers, Troy Dunn and, Flint Rasmussen

We ran into the Frosts and Bull Rider Beni Paulson who was interested in
doing some music for the film. So it's been a long and winding road and we
get down to the nuts and bolts of taking 60 hours of footage and editing it
down to a sleek 2 hours. Photos on their way.

March 10- My soundman and I arrived in Dallas to film another surgery with Dr. Freeman. 
This time it is a shoulder operation. It's a really part of keep these riders riding. 
It's a fact of life that when these riders get hurt.

March 9-Jon and I have returned from our trips to Arkansas and Fort Worth, 
photos coming soon. In Arkansas we spent some time with Bullfighter /Barrelman
Allen Nelson and his family. The family is just about as funny as Allen, 
so we can see when the humor comes from, it starts with the family.
Next we went to Dallas and Dr. Freeman

Feb. 25- We decided not to go to Bakersfield after all. Its only a 2-hour drive for us, 
but we will have our plates very full in Fort Worth for the last of the filming. 
I've also been told that Tuff Hedeman's Fort Worth deal is the best, so why not finish a great 
filming year with the best.
We submitted the Lane Frost rough cut to the Frosts to see if we were on the right track. 
A rough cut, for those who don't know, is when you take what we've shot, about 60 hours, 
and cut it down to 2 1/2 hours, then do a fine cut where we cut it down to the finished product. 
The Frosts were pleased with the Lane Frost act which is the 5th of 6 acts, about 25 minutes or so
in length right now. (This could change in the final version.) We were happy about that.
We're sending a copy to Luke Perry whose been asking to see what we've been doing.

As always, if you are going to Tuff's Touring Pro or the BLC in Fort Worth,
I'd be great to meet some of you, maybe even interview you

Feb. 17 - Just came back from the Anaheim BLC after 2 nights of shooting.
We were successful in interviewing several Pro bull riders including:
Adriano Moraes
Gary Richards
Jason Bennett
Cory Melton
Jesse Schellhamer
and Michael Gaffney
We will be interviewing Ty Murray, Wiley Peterson, The Carillo Brothers and others in Bakersfield 
which we've added to the list. If you remember, we were there last year, man, hard to believe.
We met one person who introduced herself that visits the site often so if you're in Bakersfield, say hello

Feb. 10- I was just informed that its been two years since I started this project 
and in March it will be a year since I started shooting the film, Phew!

There might be a change in plans about going to Georgia, these things happen, 
it looks like I'll be going to Tuff Hedeman's Touring Pro in Fort Worth in March instead.

Hope all is well with ya'll

Jan. 30 - Things are coming along great for the film. I've been talking with the film composer 
and he's started working on the soundtrack for the film.

Jan. 6 - Happy New Year everyone. Well the film is coming along very well in editing, I
 look at almost 50 hours of footage to edit to a 2 hour  
Also in February, we'll be going to Alabama to pick up with Bull Rider Chris Waid 
who we have been following around last year for the film. Chris will be riding at the 
PBR Touring Pro in Columbus, Georgia. I will keep ya'll up to date as things get closer to actual flights. 
As we know, things and plans are never set in stone until the event is over and as they say, 
the footage is in the can.

Nov. 21 -I would like to wish all the visitors to this page a Happy Thanksgiving and take this time to
thank you for all your emails of interest and support of this film project.  

Nov.10 - Jon and I got back from our last leg of the trip very late on Nov 6th. 
After the interview with Jerome Davis we flew to Baltimore and met and interviewed Sportscaster great 
George Michael from the George Michael's Sports Machine. 
George was a great interview and provided me with some great footage of 
some of his interviews with Lane and Tuff. He's been really supportive of the film 
and will be a great add to the Cowboy Up program. Photographs on the way.

We still have to interview Michael Gaffney and follow around Bullfighter/Barrelman 
Allen Nelson to get some of his home and family life.  
I'm hoping to get a little more on Dr. Freemen and of course catch up with everyone at the NFR. 

God Bless

Nov. 9 - On Nov. 5th Jon and I went to Greensboro and spent the afternoon with Jerome and Tiffany Davis. 
We interviewed Jerome at his arena and out in the pasture while his bulls were feeding and then 
we interviewed him in his home. We also interview Tiffany and she talked about Jerome's accident. 
By the way Jerome gets around, you'd never know he's paralyzed. 
Its work and life as usual around the Davis Ranch. Both are great people. 
Jerome has a bull riding school in November, check out his web site for his foundation 
and other great information about this World Champion Bull Rider. Here's the link..
The Official Website of Jerome Davis World Champion Bullrider
Photographs are on the way.

Oct. 24-Got our plans, flights and are headed to Kansas City on November 3rd 
for the Bullfighter Finals. Talked to Rob Smets, he said he was sorry I wasn't going to 
make the PBR Finals but looked forward to seeing us in Kansas City.

In Tulsa, I met a bull rider named Shane Reeder. He introduced himself and 
told me that, though we never met in Austin, he won 2nd place at the 
Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Ride back in May which we were filming at. 
He checks at the Cowboy Up site on occasion to see what's up. 
We say hi to Shane and all those in his hometown of Dodge City, Kansas
Here are some photos from Tulsa. Click...Here...

Oct. 20- Due to a contractual agreement, we unfortunately won't be able to
attend the PBR finals. We will however be planning to attend the NFR in December. 
These things happen.

Oct. 10- Got the name of the bull fighter, James Pierce of Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Making plans on going to the PBT (Professional Bullfighters Tour) Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, 
on November 4th, then to Greensboro, NC. to interview Jerome Davis, 
then off to Maryland to interview Sports Machine Anchor great, George Michael.
Also I will be in Las Vegas, NV., in December for part of the NFR Finals.

Sept 12-The following is an update that David was able to give me via his
cell phone around 1 PM Wednesday about what he saw Tuesday morning in New York City.

Jon and I were on the expressway in New York City on our way to interview 
author Jeff Coplon. We saw the explosion and fireball in the first tower. 
In all honesty, we did not realize what had happened, and thought they were shooting a movie. 
One's first thought when seeing something like that just is not that an airplane crashed into a building,
much less a hijacked one.
Other buildings blocked our vision for a while, and when the building came back 
into view it was obvious something was horribly wrong. 
We made it to Jeff Coplon's house and shortly after the second plane hit the second tower.
At this point, no one knew if, when, or how many more planes were hijacked,
and Jeff began to contact members of his family in the area to check on their safety..
We couldn't have left his house even if we wanted to. We saw the ashes come down like snow,
and the smells will never be forgotten. It was chaos.
In the afternoon, after things settled down as much as they were going to, 
Jeff and I decided to do the interview.
After leaving Jeff's we wondered what to do. The original plan was to fly from New York to
Maryland and interview George Michael on Wednesday. While at Jeff's we contacted George 
and both of us agreed to postpone the interview to a later date because of the tragedy,
confusion, and grounding of the planes.
I contacted the airlines and they said we still had to fly out of the city we were originally 
going to fly out of (which was Baltimore) or risk a huge penalty/fine on the tickets. 
So we still had to get to Baltimore for our flight home, at this time we really didn't have much