Jeremy Gillespie

Jeremy Gillespie

Host / Producer

Jeremy Gillespie

Jeremy would rather swing a hammer than use a nail gun.

He would rather swing an axe than use a splitter.

He prefers reading books and personal research to the education found in “institutes of higher learning.”

He just found out what a “selfie” is, and you’ll never see him take one.

He performs his own bike maintenance out of fear of upsetting his bikes by taking them to a stranger.

All coffee is consumed black, the way god intended it to be consumed.

He can’t tell jokes, stories, or anecdotes.  He can’t remember a limerick to save his life.  Spare yourself the agony and simply walk away if he begins one.

He believes hard work and dedication to your craft is the only true path to happiness, and true happiness is the ultimate measure of success.

Ian Rygiel

Ian Rygiel

Host / Producer

Ian Rygiel

Ian is a rogue, scholar and gentleman adventurer. During The Great Recession, he loaded trucks, swung a hammer and hauled demo to get by, but he has also worked as an educator, freelance videographer and editor.

For him, the West has always held a certain allure, speaking to him through novels, poetry and classic westerns. Broke Out West is an opportunity for Ian to follow in the footsteps of the explorers, vagabonds and writers who heeded the call of the road and experienced America for themselves.

Blog Posts: 

Nashville, Tennessee

Riding through Virginia, I had the creeping sensation we overestimated how many miles we could put down in a day. On the ride to Tennessee, I was sure of it. By our math, we’d be on the road for 9 hours before arriving in Nashville. At best we would have an hour and a half for breaks, gas, and food. Getting to our location on time was going to be a challenge. I’ve spent 9 hours in a car before. It can get uncomfortable, but you’re generally seated in a plush chair with all the amenities nearby: aircon, snacks, banter to pass the time, maybe even an audiobook.  9 hours on a stock motorcycle (that was not designed with this kind of trip in mind) is another story altogether. Legs cramp, hands turn into claws, and backs and shoulders scream. It was at this point that Jeremy and I began to develop increasingly elaborate ways to stretch out while riding. We crouched low, hugging our tanks, or sat tall to stretch weary backs. We rode one-handed, speeding up enough to coast on the clutch and give our throttle hands a break. I slid back on my seat, and back again, and back again to shift pressure points. Somewhere along the way, I developed a stretch I dubbed the “chicken leg.” I’ll spare a description of it, but I’m told it looked equal parts ridiculous and rude, though Jesse Boom sure got a kick out of it. The longer we rode, the less effective these stretches became until we finally gave in and stopped for the occasional break. This bit...

Virginia: Part 2

Part 1 has been freed from the exclusive contributor’s content page. You can check it out here: Virginia: Part 1 I leave Luray Caverns energized. My mind sparks electric as we pull out of our second shoot. Lesson are learned. Adjustments made. We roll on. Hours of road lay ahead of us before we can rest. Virginia has thrown it all our way. Heat. Humidity. Hours of road. And now, rain. Our producer Lauren gets on coms to check in, her tone is audibly nervous. Unfamiliar roads wind and twist before us as we bomb down a Virginia mountainside. We alternately lean in, accelerate out, ride the clutch, and ease the breaks through beautifully treacherous country. The chaos of the day slides away, and I find a groove. The gorgeous landscapes of Virginia flow over, under and past us. Forward momentum heals all hurts and we’ve got our eyes set on the horizon. The rain eases, the road straightens out, and we hit the interstate. As light fades, so does the exhilaration of the day. Miles of road pour underneath, while we seem to stand still. Trucks approach, their prehistoric rumble a last minute warning before sucking the bikes into their airstream, only to push them out again. The sensation is unnerving, but it helps keep weary heads alert. Night is upon us and Jeremy and I ride side by side. At times we’re separated by a mere foot as we attempt to make the most of our headlights. He could easily pull ahead, but the light thrown by my bike is weaker, and he hangs back to ensure...

Reflections from the road from home

tl;dr  Check in on Thursday evenings for posts about the trip and the experiences we had. I’ve always found it odd that my urge to write seems to become more insistent as I grow busier. The less time I have, the more I want to sit and let my thoughts pour out through a pen or keyboard. Naturally, the inverse is also true. Having taken some time away from the project to unwind, debrief, and reflect, I feel I’m in the right place to relate some of the experiences and insights I’ve gained from the journey west and back again – of course this also coincides with my return to work; a job that takes up the majority of my physical and mental attention during the week. Despite all that, I’m planning on writing a post once per week and posting it Thursday night. Thinking back on all of the wonderful people, sights, and experiences I had for three glorious weeks will keep me sane. The self-imposed deadline – not so much. Hopefully, the stories I share will keep your interest as Lauren furiously edits away in her editing cave (or wherever that sort of thing happens)  ...
Lauren Quirolgico

Lauren Quirolgico

Producer / Director

Lauren Quirolgico

Lauren Quirolgico earned her BA in Communication from Seton Hall University and possesses an MA in Media Studies and a certificate in Media Management from the New School in NYC. She is a native New Yorker and has been working in film, television and media consulting for over seven years.

The world doesn’t need mediocre, average and typical, Lauren is striving to be exceptional. Her interest in Broke Out West is academic, professional and personal, as she is interested in hearing how the Great Recession has affected individuals and businesses across the country.

Ryan Palmer

Ryan Palmer

Director of Photography

 Ryan Palmer

Ryan Palmer studied, Communications at Penn State University and Marywood University, and also Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in NYC. He has worked across the country on countless independent projects over the last seven years.

Ryan is best known for his role on set as a Production Sound Mixer and Boom Operator for which he has worked on a number of acclaimed projects including two films selected to the Cannes Court Métrage and one film which won the Cine Golden Eagle Award. Ryan is also a skilled Cinematographer and Photographer and has worked with Fox and Viacom.

Joe Dominic DeMuro

Joe Dominic DeMuro

Unit Production Manager

Joe Dominic DeMuro

 

Joe has a BA in theater, several Information Technology certifications, as well as certifications in fitness and nutrition.
Primarily an actor and filmmaker, Joe has had to utilize various means to support himself in the changing landscape of America.
Joe grew up in a small family owned business, and is concerned about the future for himself and for others.   We live in a new America where the rules are different from that of our parents. Social unrest and the declining economy seem to be just a tip of the iceberg.

 

Jesse Christiansen

Intern

Jesse Christiansen

Jesse Christiansen is the young pup of the bunch. He is 21 years young and currently attending Caldwell University as a Communications major where he will be graduating in May of 2015.

He currently relies on the kindness of strangers, as his only source of income is pizza delivery. 

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