Located along a remote stretch of old Route 66, Roy's Cafe and Motel is a notable roadside attraction in the ghost town of Amboy, California. With all the characteristics of a quintessential mid-century pit stop, the location is now more of an art installation than a bustling roadside business. Most of the surrounding buildings are abandoned in Amboy, however it's enough of a draw to attract a trickle of onlookers who are willing to pull off this rough stretch of the Mother Road to have a look around.
Getting an original Editing Luke documentary project, such as this one, collaboratively funded and moving forward is an achievement in itself. Discussions began earlier this year about an idea I had for creating a short-form documentary about the rapid evolution that's taken place on 2nd Street in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta over the last few years.
From renovations, street upgrades, new businesses, and the growth and popularity of my Medicine Hat photo series - I've been surprisingly close to a lot of the change on 2nd Street over the last 5 years without fully recognizing my connection. That was until this year at least.
While a lot of the plans and ideas for this project have been roughly laid out for months, the last few weeks have been especially exciting. With the budget finally secured, partners on-board, questions prepared, and interviews scheduled, production on the documentary is now officially underway. Naturally, that means there will be a lot more to share very soon.
I'm keeping a lot of the production details quiet for the time being, but if you're an individual with a close connection to this street or a business that would like to become a last-minute sponsor / partner get in touch with me here and let's chat.
It's always difficult to make predictions at this stage, but if the numerous photo essays I've shared are any indication it seems likely that this project will also reach thousands and thousands of interested viewers. A documentary like this is unique for a community like ours, and it wouldn't be possible without local support. Given the interest already shown, I know this is going to be something special.
One of the most incredible displays at the museum is the Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle within the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The rocket is elevated above the floor on its side with the separated stages and engines exposed. It's an awe-inspiring sight and it gave me the same rush I experienced when first viewing the Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center truly is a remarkable facility to explore.
