After exchanging a few emails with co-producer Marc Salomon (who also filmed, produced and directed Chuck Carothers' "Camp Chuck,") I decided that it'd be cool to interview him to find out more about this potential Hollywood blockbuster. Salomon kindly obliged, and going even further, he hooked me up with some amazing pre-post production screen grabs from the film. Chiggedy check it out!


Courtesy Bro the Film

Colin Morrison (left), Beau Manley and lead character Will Chavez cruise through the streets of LA, looking for a good time.

ESPN.com: So, first off, tell me what "Bro'" is all about, who wrote it, and who starred in it.
Salomon: "Bro'" was written and directed by Nick Parada, co-written by Kim Mackenzie, it introduces Will Chavez as the lead, and stars Beau Manley, Colin "Scummy" Morrison, Danny Trejo, Larry Fessenden, and a whole gang of other colorful misfits. And like in any great film, the female leads are way too hot and played by Alexandra Mason and Rebekah Graf.

What's the synopsis of the film?
"Bro'" is really a coming of age story that follows a young college student, who is not too slick (read popular or cool), as he is introduced to a world of women, drugs, and motorcycles. Within this world, there are good and bad people that he meets, and the movie is basically about the choices he makes on this path.

So, how much motocross does the film have in it?
Motocross is a large backdrop for the film. One of the main characters, Jesse -- played by Beau Manley -- is an up and coming rider, so we see him both practicing and competing in the movie. There is some great riding footage as we filmed our competition day in association with the AFMXA opening and had Lance Coury, Destin Cantrell, Taka Higashino, among others out there thrashing. Special praise as well for Todd Potter and Clint Esposito for doing featured riding stunts, and Derek Cook, Javier, and Gabriel Villegas for doing some solid extra work as our "FMX team." Derek may have even gotten a line in there, but we'll see in the final edit. With that said, motocross by no means dominates the screen time as the movie is more about the lifestyle of the riders, with a healthy amount of partying thrown in for good measure.


Courtesy Bro the Film
Colin 'Scummy' Morrison plays a drug-dealing party animal in "Bro'."

Of course ... that's what it's all about, right? So, what parts did both Manley and Morrison play?
Beau Manley plays Jesse, who is basically the illest FMX rider in the game, but his problems all come from his extracurricular activities, not all of which are legal. Not all his dirt is reserved for the track and even though the film was shot at Pala Raceway and Pala Casino, Jesse is not dealing blackjack if you get my drift.

Colin Morison plays Rudy, another professional rider and friend of Jesse. Rudy is all about a good ride, a good buzz, and a good time.

How was working with both Manley and Morrison? Were you involved in the casting process?
I was not involved in the casting. We worked with Leah Steiger, of Metal Mulisha and the AFMXA, to produce the film. Leah was and will continue to be absolutely instrumental in ensuring that we accurately portray all of the motocross elements. The Director, Nick, told Leah what he was looking for and they worked together on finding the right fit. Beau and Colin are both first timers in this world of feature films and I have to say, they absolutely killed it.

Beau, beyond just being a classic guy, was never phased, which is the big fear! It's one thing to rehearse material in a small room with a few folks and it's another thing entirely to be brought out on day one, be put in front of a million dollars worth of film equipment, lights, and film crew and say, "Okay, DO IT!" I think Beau's background in sports, racing, and pressure, prepared him really well. After his first take, everyone was like "Damn! That was sick!"

I heard you guys had a pretty intense schedule; how did they handle that?
The schedule was indeed tight. There was one evening where we didn't get to the scene we needed to shoot. Nick, Beau, and Colin all agreed that the movie would suffer without it and agreed to come back the next morning to shoot the scene at 6 a.m. before the next shoot. That was the attitude on set and the attitude of the actors.

Courtesy Bro the Film

Manley interacts with Danny Trejo, who plays a used car salesman.

Do you foresee "Bro'" launching both Morrison and Manley's acting careers? Do they have the chops to take it further than this film?
I actually do see "Bro'" putting them in a real position to move forward with acting. Like anything, it is up to them to see if they want to push it, but I do believe this movie is a solid step above the athlete-turned-actor contributions we are used to. Beau especially, has a natural feel for being on film and was amazing when asked to improvise.

Wow, that's crazy. So filming has wrapped right? When will people be able to see the film, and will it be in theatres?
"Bro'" is going to premiere at the AFMXA Awards later this year at Pala Casino. The goal is for the movie to be in theaters, but I'm not able to say when yet. Our goal is to demonstrate that there is a desire and a fan base for these kinds of movies, and if we can do that, it will be coming to the theaters after that happens. We're currently in post-production right now, and the final film will be finished in October.

Posted: July 31, 2010

Local freestyle motocross facility puts safety first

PALA -- The tragic death of freestyle motocross star and San Diego native Jeremy Lusk served as the inspiration for the grand opening of a one-of-a-kind freestyle motocross practice facility, which emphasizes safety and opened to the public on Saturday at the Pala Raceway.

The track features several jumps and a foam pit. Unlike any other track, Pala is open to amateurs.

Founded in 2009 as a nonprofit organization, the American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) serves as the "voice of the riders" and helped organize the opening of the facility.

"The whole reason this happened is because of Jeremy Lusk," said AFMXA executive director Leah Steiger. "There's no place to ride if you are an amateur. This is for everybody."

When the former Metal Mulisha rider and two-time X Games medalist died after attempting a jump last February in Costa Rica, it sent shockwaves through the freestyle motocross community.

As one of the most recognizable figures in his sport and a founding member of Metal Mulisha, Brian Deegan was close to Lusk. That's why he used his clout to help construct the facility.

"After the accident, I felt I had to do something," said Deegan, a Temecula resident who is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of freestyle motocross. "This just organizes it and keeps it safer."

AFMXA membership is granted to amateurs who gain clearance and includes use of the facility and its safety training. That includes use of the foam pit for practice jumps, as well as programs and services that help with rider training and medical education training.

Riding camps will be conducted for novice riders about once a month. The facility will be open to professionals from Wednesday-Sunday whenever the raceway is open, and amateurs will be permitted on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The organization's services include access to medical professionals in emergencies as well as a hotline for members in competitions where they believe that conditions are unsafe. Emergency medical jetting around the world is available, and on-site emergency medical assistance will be available at Pala any time the track is in use.

AFMXA chairman Toby Bost said two potentially life-threatening accidents in the last year in Spain and Mexico were minimized due to the medical jetting and assistance provided to AFMXA members. In the case of professional Cam Sinclair, AFMXA-affiliated surgeons were able to combine their medical expertise and language skills to help assist doctors in Madrid, ultimately saving his life.

"Ultimately, this is the type of environment necessary to show the community that we're serious about building the sport."

As a father, Lance Coury has a unique perspective.

"This is great, because there's not a lot of opportunity to do this," said Coury, the father of AFMXA youth spokesman and professional rider Lance Coury Jr. "Having a place like this is important, because it's either in you, or it's not. With that said, it's still dangerous.

Posted: June 28, 2010

AFMXA and Pala Raceway will be announcing the dates for upcoming FMX camps that will be held at the new training facility at Pala Raceway. Thank you for your patience as we sort out the details. We will post all the information and costs on the website as soon as possible.

Posted: June 14, 2010

AFMXA’s first stop in the”MOTO X Challenge” was this weekend at the 3 Palms Speedway in Conroe, Texas. Chuck Carothers from Freestyle MTX and Clint Espisito from Team FMX East partnered with the AFMXA to bring a safe and structured Amateur Freestyle competition to the 17 guys who entered; ranging in ages from 14 to 24. It was hot as hell but these riders stayed committed and pulled off some very impressive tricks.

Two members of the AFMXA board attended and could not say enough about the team spirit and genuine excitement the riders displayed towards each other, even during competition. Riders came from all across the US and even as far as Mexico City, Mexico.  “What was also impressive was the track itself,” said Leah Steiger, Executive Director of the AFMXA, “ Emil and the crew from 3 Palms were very accommodating and the track, well it was kept in pristine condition with amenities ranging from wake boarding to camping, super cross track, trail riding and BMX. Not to mention the amazing vendors such as Marble Slab ice cream and Not Just BBQ . “  Lizz Leach from ESPN, who was at the event and sits on the advisory board had this to about why she is so committed to the sport of Freestyle, “ The most satisfaction I get out of my job is being able to give back.  It is priceless to talk to these kids and experience their enthusiasm because they are given a chance.   It is refreshing to be exposed to the innocence and excitement these kids share........" X Games is so cool",  "I can't believe you know Brian Deegan" or how timid they all were to talk to Twitch at Pala.  I see Jeremy's (Lusk) smile in every one of them and believe AFMXA will succeed.”

They were also witness to the up and coming, Paris Rosen landing his ramp to dirt front flip. Words do not even describe the amazement. This sport is dangerous as it is and to have these athletes push the limits even further is insanity. Check out the video.

The next on the Moto X Challenge series is tentatively August 7th in Irwindale, CA, when confirmation has been received we will let you know.  Then back to the great state of Texas August 28th in Dodd City. And the  4th and final stop we will be in Casey, Ill on September 4th , then off to the Nationals at Pala Raceway in So Cal.

We look forward to the top 3 point leaders joining us for the Nationals in Southern California with an all expenses paid trip to throw down in front of the best in world, as they (Brian Deegan, Mike Metzger, Jeremy Stenberg, Nate Adams…just to name a few) will be the judges for the Nationals.
Go Big!!

AFMXA To Unveil Pala Raceway Training Facility, Announce Nationwide Freestyle Moto Amateur Series.

Legendary Raceway will host first West Coast FMX training center and summer camps AFMXA Amateur Series to visit five cities throughout 2010

Irvine, CA (May 24, 2010) -- AFMXA, the organization aimed at promoting and protecting the sport of freestyle motocross, is set to officially celebrate its state-of-the-art training center at Pala Raceway in Pala, Calif. and a five-city amateur series that will open the sport to participants and fans throughout the country.

Read Complete Press Release

Posted: May 28, 2010

On Friday May 14th Mike "The Godfather" Metzger was in a serious accident while shooting “On the Pipe 6” with Jay Schwietzer. He was riding with Myles Richmond in Ritchie Canyon and flipped a 120’ dirt to dirt jump, his front end washed out driving him into the ground. He broke his femur, arm and hand and was transported to Loma Linda Hospital where he underwent surgery to place a rod in his femur.

I had the opportunity to speak to Metz on Saturday and surprisingly he sounded very good, not sure if it was the meds or he’s truly that strong. Anyway you look at it this guy is made of steel! He will be having another surgery to place a metal plate and screws into his arm on Wednesday. Metz had this to say to his supporters  "Just want to say thanks to everyone for there words of encouragement and prayers. Getting broken off is part of life and riding bikes is truely a huge part of my life. It's all mind over matter. If you don't mind it don't matter. Thanks for the LOVE!!!"

We are thankful that his injuries were not life threatening and our prayers for a fast recovery are with him.

The Future of FMX


Chris Tedesco Take a good look at the future of FMX -- choreographed productions.

In the climactic scene of Nuclear Cowboyz, a new theatrical freestyle motocross production featuring fire, fetching female dancers and 16 of the sport's top riders, the leaders of two rival tribes (Nate Adams and Jeremy Stenberg, respectively) face off in a fierce trick battle. With apologies for spoiling the ending: They soon realize their freestyle skills are equal, and unite to become stronger.

The fact the competition concludes without a winner serves as a handy metaphor for major changes sweeping freestyle motocross in the United States, where the number of contests has declined, replaced by demonstrations and choreographed shows such as Nuclear Cowboyz, which finishes its 15-city tour April 18 at Allstate Arena outside Chicago.

Last year, NBC's Dew Tour switched from a season-series format that awards a championship to demonstrations at a few select stops. The Red Bull X-Fighters tour, which begins April 16 in Mexico City, will not come to the U.S. this year. That leaves the X Games, and the ASA FMX World Championships in October, as the only major freestyle competitions.

Riders and other industry figures cite a variety of factors for the shift, from a poor economy, to stale contest formats, to concerns about safety leading to a lag in trick progression. Whatever the causes, with fewer competitions, FMX becomes more of an entertainment spectacle, raising questions about the sport's future.

"It's definitely in a transition," said Ronnie Renner, a veteran freestyle competitor and two-time X Games Step Up winner. "It's an all-been-done theory. It takes a lot these days to impress people and raise eyebrows."

Todd Jendro, senior director of operations of the two-wheel division at Feld Motor Sports, which produces Nuclear Cowboyz, said that rather than relying on riders one-upping each like they would in a contest setting, his show provides more options to capture the attention of the audience through music, dancers, pyrotechnics and a compelling storyline.

Jon Freeman helped kick off the freestyle movement during the mid-1990s with his Crusty Demons of Dirt videos depicting free riding in the desert around southern California. Since 2000, he has produced Crusty Demons arena tours in Australia, accentuating the personalities of the individual riders and offering nonstop action."If you go to X Games, it's built for television, so they start and stop and wait for commercials," Freeman said. "If you go to ours, it's full-blast for three or four hours, in your face."

This year, the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) will hold a nine-stop contest series throughout Europe and Brazil. And although the events draw large crowds, "they are in midsized venues, with a basic two-ramp set up, and the top riders in the world aren't really running out of their houses to get to them," X Games gold-medal winner Adam Jones said in an e-mail.

American audiences likely would not flock to watch such scaled-down competitions. Some riders acknowledged that following years of fast and furious innovation, trick progression in contests has stalled, already leaving spectators feeling shortchanged.

Once backflip combinations and body varials became common in recent years, competitors were forced to take tremendous risks to win contests, often leading to serious injuries.

Many riders dialed back the danger. "If someone wants to compete in contests these days, they have to take so many chances," Renner said. "They have to be able to deal with it mentally. Once combinations came in, I knew I had done my time in the freestyle contest scene."

The death of X Games gold-medal winner Jeremy Lusk following a crash at a contest in Costa Rica in February 2009 underscored the potentially terrifying consequences. Lusk attempted a Hart Attack backflip but failed to fully rotate while soaring more than 20 feet through the air. He landed on his front tire and crashed face-first into the dirt, sustaining serious head injuries. He died three days later.

Serious injuries contributed, in part, to the Dew Tour's dropping freestyle competition.

Several riders welcome the shift to increased shows over competition. "You don't have that same type of pressure like you do at a contest," said Ronnie Faisst, a freestyle pioneer and performer in the Nuclear Cowboyz. "It's a lot of pressure at X Games, especially if you're doing something you haven't done before.

"You're at the most risk when you're doing something on dirt that you've never done on dirt, and that happens a lot in Best Trick," Faisst added. "And it happens a lot in freestyle."

Still, sponsors insist that riders perform at major competitions like ESPN's X Games, where their brands get maximum exposure on TV.

"Honestly, my sponsors, all they care about is X Games, because they get TV time," said Faisst. "It's ESPN. They want you on the Dew Tour because it's NBC."
For Red Bull, competitions and demonstrations are complementary.

"Winning a Red Bull X-Fighters or X Games gold is what riders are known for," Jordan Miller, a Red Bull Motorsports spokesman, said via e-mail. "Winning shows excellence and there's something to be said for that, but demos allow riders additional opportunities to perform for thousands of fans throughout the year, and there is definitely value in that."

With fewer contests, all of which are invitational, up-and-coming riders struggle to gain recognition and coveted invitations to shows.

To remedy the situation, several leading riders and industry figures founded the American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) in 2009 to increase safety in the sport and grow opportunities for riders at the grassroots level through amateur competitions, the first of which was held in November. "Once they prove themselves, they can get an invite to come to X Games," said Faisst, a founding member of AFMXA's board of directors.

Nate Adams cautioned against writing an obituary for freestyle motocross.

"I've heard that the sport had hit a plateau before Carey Hart did the first flip," Adams said about the first backflip, attempted in 2000. "'Oh, it's done.' I've been hearing that for so long. So when I hear that, I get a chuckle."

Irvine, CA - April 12, 2010 – There are lots of exciting things happening in the world of Freestyle Motocross in 2010, including the opening of a first ever museum exhibit and first class training center.  The AFMXA’s new exhibit opening up at the San Diego Hall of Champions features some of the top athletes in the sport of Freestyle Motocross and all of its members. The exhibit includes all things freestyle with highlights on members, Nate Adams, Brian Deegan and new comer Lance Coury.

When asked about the AFMXA and his feature in the museum Nate Adams said “To be inducted is actually a really big deal for me. I was definitely surprised when I got the call. I’ve really made it my life’s work to be a professional motocross rider, so to be recognized for my efforts feels really good. I know that my friend Jeremy Lusk, rest in peace brutha, has an exhibit in the Hall of Champs as well. so to have something like this with Jeremy is a big deal for me.”. 

And Lance Coury the sports up and coming Pro AM  said “ The AFMXA is what the sport of Freestyle Motocross needs. I haven’t been in the sport half as long as some of these great riders but I have noticed as I got more into Freestyle Motocross that there needs to be more of a organization that can rank riders in classes, have events for the up incomers, and help keep building this sport we all love and enjoy.”

Exhibit luncheon, tour and a “Sports at Lunch” Q&A is on Wednesday April 21st at noon at the San Diego Hall of Champions. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.SDHOC.com

Other great news is the partnership with Pala Raceway and the development of the first ever FMX amateur training facility. It has been designed by the General himself, Brain Deegan and features a foam pit, wall ride and several ramp to dirt jumps. This comes after many months of pushing forward with the mission of the AFMXA to promote growth in the sport and increase safety. Brian said “I'm really excited to help organize and build this sport to the levels these athletes deserve. We have a great team working together in the AFMXA and its for all riders so sign up and come ride the jump park!”

The facility is opening in May 2010 at the Pala Raceway (www.palaraceway.com) with the grand opening scheduled for June 2010.

For additional information on the AFMXA and upcoming events please visit www.AFMXA.org.

About AFMXA:

The American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) is a trade association established by Freestyle Motocross riders and industry leaders to organize, protect, and develop the sport of Freestyle Motocross in a collective and collaborative manner.