BACK ON TRACK
Originally published in Horse Directory April, 2014
Originally published in Horse Directory April, 2014
By Tom Gumbrecht
 |
| Lola allowed the author to hitch his cart to her star.. |
The tedium of the blue funk that
befell us and called itself the winter of 2014 was interrupted for a day last
month when a crew of young filmmakers from Savannah took over our barn for a
few hours, turning the frozen tundra of paddocks into a backdrop for a small
segment of an independent film about ex-racehorses. They had come to see my
Lola, and learn about her story.
After several hours of shooting in
sub-freezing temperatures, we adjourned to a local restaurant with the crew to
thaw out and share a meal and some insight into the background of director Kara
Colvin, her hopes for the film, and the challenges she has faced in creating the
feature length documentary called Back On Track that has become her
mission.
Tom Gumbrecht: Where do you live now,
and have you always lived there?
Kara Colvin: I currently live in
Savannah, GA but I grew up in Tallahassee, FL.
TG: How long have you been interested
in horses? When did you get your first horse?
KC: For as long as I can remember, I
have always loved horses. They are the most incredible animals to me. I always
watched Black Beauty and The Black Stallion, I drew horses at every chance I
could get and, of course, my room was filled to the capacity with Breyer horses
and stuffed animal horses. I was just one of those little girls who was struck
with the horse-addict bug and it has been a part of me ever since.
On my 13th birthday my
parents bought me my first and only horse: Jake, an off the track thoroughbred.
TG: How did you get interested in
OTTBs? Can you tell me something special about your OTTB?
KC: My first real trainer always had
OTTBs at her barn. That’s how I met Jake. I began riding on all sorts...of
horses when I first started off. You know, those ancient fat quarter horses
that will maybe take two steps if you use every inch of your being to make them
move. I really didn’t mind, it made my education as a rider very diverse. I
rode all sorts of horses: Tennessee walkers, Arabians, warmbloods, a dinky fat
pony named Ashes, but I truly loved the thoroughbreds. I loved the power and
grace they had, also their never-ending courage and will to please.
Jake is the smartest horse I have ever
met. In all my years and experience with a variety of breeds, I have never met
a horse as intelligent as him. Because of this, he has always been a challenge
and the perfect horse to learn and grow with. He also loves salty snacks!
 |
| Director Kara Colvin, Dir. of Photography Colt Morton, the author and Lola. Photo by assistant Jasmine Hughes. |
TG: Where do you go to school, and how
did you choose film making as a potential career?
KC: I go to Savannah College of Art
and Design. I graduated in 2013 with a 4.0 GPA and a BFA in Film & Television
with a minor in Cinema Studies. I am now completing my Cinema Studies masters in
a fast-paced yearlong program at SCAD and plan to graduate in summer 2014…
…Film was not my immediate interest at
SCAD. I started off in painting, then illustration, interior design, and then production
design for a moment and then to film. I’m very happy with my end decision and I
wouldn’t trade what I’m doing now for anything in the world. Cinema had always
been a portion of my life; I just had not accepted that it was the perfect
outlet for my creative and ambitious aspirations.
TG: How did you decide to do a
documentary about OTTBs? One you decided, what was your first step?
KC: Well, SCAD is not focused on
documentaries. They are definitely a narrative-based school. There is one
required documentary class. I was always interested in directing but I think
that since the school was filled with “prodigies” in directing, I was certainly
intimidated to make an effort towards my aspirations. I was very shy when I
arrived at SCAD and stuck with production design.
I wanted to do something about retired
racehorses but I wasn’t sure what I could accomplish…. Back on Track was born
and the class fully supported my idea. I created the short over the span of a
year and a half…. then started thinking
about making Back on Track into a feature after the short was accepted and won
the Silver Award at National Geographic’s Grey’s Reef Film Festival.
When creating the short the first step
was contacting everyone I knew from my past that I rode with/knew about OTTBs,
research and creating a story/script….. ..I also took on a new level of
confidence, courage and determination that I needed to accomplish growing as a
director. The first steps were not easy, but necessary for the position I am at
now.
TG: What has been your biggest
challenge in shooting Back On Track? What was your biggest disappointment? What about the process has been most rewarding?
KC: ….. There is not a part of Back on
Track that is not challenging or a learning experience.
This is a large
feature-length film that incorporates countless organizations/professionals
from FL, VA, PA, MD, DC, CA, NY, SC, NC, KY and OH. It is difficult, and not
many people realize how much time, money, effort and determination it takes to
create this project. I have to thank my crew endlessly for their dedication and
energy they put forth towards the project. They are not being paid; it is
exhausting to be on a set for 12 plus hour days with minimal breaks and intense
labor. They do it because they love the film and the message we are sending
out. I could not do this without them.
 |
| DannyBoy, not to be upstaged, tries to charm director Kara Colvin |
Biggest disappointment: Well, there
have been a lot. Like with any set, things don’t always go to plan
–documentaries in particular. You can’t always plan for what will happen. One
of my biggest disappointments was when we were not able to make a trip to see a
2-day show that we were looking forward to. Issues came up and I could not plan
a trip around some of the complications. We were disappointed but the biggest setback
was the negativity and insults we received from that group for not making the
journey.
The most rewarding part: Is having the
opportunity to create this film! I have never seen so much passion and love
before. Everyone that I have met has such devotion towards thoroughbreds. The
people who dedicate their lives to OTTBs deserve a chance to be recognized. It
has been truly amazing and a humbling experience.
I also was fortunate enough to have
the chance to create Albie. Albie is one of the stories from our trips. It
revolves around a woman, Lori, who has had multiple brain surgeries and an off
the track thoroughbred, Albie. Together they have helped heal each other’s emotional,
mental and physical ailments and create an unbreakable bond.
TG: What is something that would
surprise the average person about what goes into making a documentary? What is
the most important quality for the director of a documentary to possess?
KC: It is a lot of work, stressful,
very expensive and life-consuming but completely worth it. Documentary
filmmaking is art, entertainment and information all in the form of a picture.
There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a documentary filmmaker.
It is your choice to create an accurate story and/or depiction of your subject
matter.
As a young director, I still have an
endless education and learning experiences ahead of me that will probably
sculpt this answer better than what I am about to say now. I believe the most
important quality for a director of a documentary to possess is passion. You cannot create a work of love without a true passion for the
subject matter as well as filmmaking as a whole.
 |
| Lori White on Albie, with Suzanne Liscouski on location at Briar Creek Farm in Virginia. |
TG: What is the ultimate result that
you would like to see accomplished as result of making this film?
KC: Our goal is to promote aftercare
for off the track thoroughbreds once their racing careers are over, promote
responsible horse ownership and breeding, secure a unified racing government
that has universal regulations for all racing states, support regulations on
drugs in racing, showcase off the track thoroughbreds as versatile horses for
any and all disciplines after their track days are over and support the organizations
who care for off the track thoroughbreds and give them second careers and/or
homes.
Thoroughbreds are wonderful, athletic,
intelligent, caring, brave, powerful and beautiful creatures. I am dedicating
my life to this film in the hopes of creating a difference for them. I owe Jake
everything, for his love and support as my best friend and riding partner for
half my life. This film was started because of him and every time I get
discouraged, I think about him and how much he means to me. All off the track
thoroughbreds deserve a second chance and a second life beyond the track. There
are so many organizations and professionals who deserve to be recognized for
their dedication to the sport and to thoroughbred aftercare.
I support thoroughbreds on and off the
track and I hope this film makes a difference in the future of the sport of
kings. It is time to get thoroughbred racing and off the track thoroughbreds
back on track.
Our day on and off the set of Back
On Track left us totally impressed with the
competence, integrity, focus
and passion of the young filmmakers who had graced our backyard farm gates. As
we parted company, we were left with a feeling of warmth and confidence that
the future of Off-Track Thoroughbreds has been gifted with some very talented
and concerned advocates.
 |
| Lola. Original drawing by Casey Brister. |
It is said that people are opinions
and horses are the truth. Back On Track, ultimately, is about the
horses.
Learn more about Back On Track:
backontrackdocumentary.com
