February 18, 2015 / Alex /

Interviews With Geocaching Filmmakers – Part 2

For the first time in history, all 16 geocaching films from the 2014 Geocaching International Film Festival are available to watch at the click of a button. If you have just 59 minutes to spare (and not a minute more) make those minutes worth your while.

Watch the full films and decide which should receive the Global GIFF Audience Award here: http://bit.ly/1vFapUU.

Here today for your reading pleasure are exclusive interviews with some of the featured filmmakers. Go behind-the-scenes and hear what the producers have to say about geocaching, movies, and life.

GeoDouble

A film by Owen15 | Canada

“Have you ever found yourself itching to go out for a ‘First to Find’ but know you really shouldn’t? If so, GeoDouble is perfect for you!”

003 geodub3

Who or what inspired this film?
I was inspired by Saturday Night Live’s comedic ads for fictitious products and wanted to make one myself… geocaching style!

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
That for me was the easiest part since I was the whole team! I had some free time on my own at the beginning of the summer and thought this would be a fun project, and it was!

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
The most challenging scenes to film were the ‘clone’ scenes where I had to fit two of me into the same picture. I had limited software so it took many tries to produce a satisfying result. Also, for certain scenes I had to leave the house and embarrass myself in public. I would wait until all muggles had cleared and then quickly set up, film, pack up and bike away, within a few minutes.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Never miss an opportunity to go geocaching!

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
I would recommend capturing an element of geocaching that you particularly enjoy and portray it in a creative way.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
I really look forward to seeing another round of creative films and hopefully submitting one myself!

Geocaching With Sasquatch

A film by Frisky Biscuits | USA

“A very clever Sasquatch figures out how to order up some snacks by publishing a geocache to attract people to his part of the forest.”

008 Sasquatch still

Who or what inspired this film?
Our daughter Elizabeth was so inspired by the 2013 GIFF, she very much wanted to participate this year. Our family talked around several different ideas and we thought this one was the funniest.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
This was truly a family project. We each had multiple jobs: gathering supplies/costumes, acting, filming and editing.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
We had several issues including overcast weather and dwindling camera batteries, but the kids were so motivated to make this happen that we just kept persevering.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Geocaching is a fun (and funny) adventure. Get out there and explore some new places and have a great time doing it!

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Give it a try! Even if you have never done anything like this before, you CAN make a movie. We are excited to see what you come up with and we will be sitting in the audience to cheer you on next year.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
Watching the creativity of the Geocaching community is amazing! The GIFF is one of the most enjoyable nights of the summer!

The Deadliest Cache

A film by TheHuntingYoshi | Norway

“A geocacher is going on an FTF-hunt. Turns out, he might have made it more difficult than he needed to.”

016 Deadlist still

Who or what inspired this film?
We asked around for ideas and a fellow geocacher (Lordwadar) came up with the idea about the FTF-hunter. I really liked it because every geocacher that has been on an exciting geocache hunt would see her or himself in that situation, and not just the FTF-hunters.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
Laffa and me are very good friends and we’d made some other films together. The hardest part was to come up a script that only had two actors. Because there were only the two of us doing all the work. I wrote it, shot it and directed it with Laffas help.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
Every bit was both funny and challenging. But while I was behind the camera shooting, Laffa had to really do the hard work in this film. We had to shoot some of the scenes multiple times. The more tired he got, the funnier the scene seemed to become. In the final scene he jumps in the water fully clothed. I was afraid the water would be cold but he actually said the water was refreshing after rolling around in the woods all day long.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
There is usually a trail going to the geocache. Look at the terrain difficulty to get a sense of how much bushing you need to do.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Learn good camera handling. Make it short. Make cuts often.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
Watching the creativity of the Geocaching community is amazing! The GIFF is one of the most enjoyable nights of the summer!

Cacheheart

A film by MudMen_GER | Germany

“The cache king is dead and a new one has to be found. To climb the throne, we have to find the holy and royal FTF.”

015 cacheheart still

Who or what inspired this film?
The inspiration for our film came, because we were planing a geocaching tour to Scotland in Summer 2014. A wonderful country which we would like to visit since ages. So the story took place in a Scottish-like environment, but we never left Germany for shooting. The “Highlands” you can see in our film, is an old dump in the Ruhr district of Germany.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
The story of “Cacheheart” was created together with our workmate and geocaching partner Hövel. We all have the same sense of humor, which is importatn when you work on a project like this. To get all the background actors to the set we made a geocaching event. Because of the guidelines of Geocaching.com, we did an “After-Shooting-Event”. First working on our set and then relaxing at a fine little geocaching event. One actor, McMario, traveled 300 miles from Hamburg to be a part of our film.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
One of the funnist moments were as Hövel slipped into the costume of the Marshmallow Man. It was not planned, but it looks so wired that we decided to let the costume in the final film. Challenging were the weather conditions on the day of shooting. It was raining and one or two background actors slipped on theirs butts down hill.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Have fun, be creative and don’t care if you are the first , second or tenth finder of a geocache.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Don’t wait until tomorrow, start now. It makes so much fun to see how your GIFF film is growing. And if your film will be shown on the big screen in Seattle, it makes you proud.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
We already have plans for a participation on GIFF2015. The script is finished and we will start shooting in the next one or two month. We don’t want to betray too much, but the story is about the magic of geocaching.

First to Find — The Woodland Hunt

A film by CarboKnightLuke | United Kingdom

“Two geocachers, Alan and Steve are on a mission to get the first to find, but unfortunately they are after the same cache. This can only mean trouble!”

011 FTF woodland

Who or what inspired this film?
Having found out about the competition we wanted to give our own take on what Geocaching means to us. Since we live in Cornwall, a beautiful part of the UK, we wanted to show off a bit of the greenery and make a video that is both entertaining and would inspire people to make their own films.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
We were a crew of 3. Myself and Michael Bray were the creative force who put the whole thing together. We were also assisted by Ben Grocock, Michael’s friend who acted as Runner and Prop guy, as he provided the ammo crate for us!

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
We shot on a very hot day and poor old Michael had to wear that thick yellow hoodie for the whole shoot. He didn’t complain once and didn’t even take the thing off! We were limited to time when it came to Ben’s involvement as we could only shoot an hour with him so had to fit all his bits in first before he departed, but you wouldn’t have noticed it was shot completely out of order!

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Getting the first to find is a great goal for any geocacher, but don’t let it ruin the experience and fun of the game. Some geocachers take the FTF too seriously and it ruins the fun of it! Just enjoy the experience whether or not you get there first!

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Try and be creative! Have fun in making your film and make it to the best of your ability. It should reflect what you enjoy and should be a joy to watch. We expressed our interest through comedy sketch, but your film has to be something that you would enjoy watching if you were the audience. If you don’t enjoy watching your film then why should anyone else?

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
I am looking forward to perhaps giving it another crack. Being one of the 16 nominee’s was an honour and was really fun to travel the distance to attend. Fingers crossed for this year!

That’s it for now, folks. Stay tuned for our next round of interviews with geocaching filmmakers on February 20th, 2015, where we’ll get a look at arguably the funniest geocaching videos around.

Think your geocaching film has what it takes to have geocaching audiences cheering in approval? Visit the GIFF 2015 homepage and find out how to enter!

February 16, 2015 / Alex /

You Decide Who Wins the Global GIFF Audience Award

Last summer, 16 films about anything and everything geocaching were selected to premier at the Geocaching International Film Festival 2014. These films have been making the rounds at select Mega-Events around the world, and now it’s finally time for them to make their ultimate international debut: on your computer screen.

That’s right! If you have an hour to spare, you can watch all sixteen finalists right now. That’s about as long as it takes to do a 5-stage Multi-Cache in a park. After you’ve watched the videos, vote for the one you think should be recognized above the rest. Then share the post with your friends and family. Here’s how:

1. Visit this page

2. Watch the 16 GIFF finalists

3. Vote for the winner of the Global Audience Award

We’re not kidding…it’s that easy.

The winner of the GIFF Global Audience Award will be mailed a prize package from Geocaching HQ, and will receive a specially awarded badge for their profile page. Want to learn more about the making of these films? Check out our interviews with the filmmakers: https://www.geocaching.com/blog/

GIFF

Voting for the Global GIFF Audience Award will close Sunday, February 22nd at 9pm PST.

February 16, 2015 / Alex

Interviews With Geocaching Filmmakers – Part 1

We’ll begin this week with some exciting news: for the first time, all 16 geocaching films from the 2014 Geocaching International Film Festival are available to watch at the click of a button. (Hear that? It’s the sound of 2 million of geocachers cheering).

They’ve made their rounds at select mega events around the world, but now it’s your turn to pop the popcorn, fluff the couch pillows, and soak in the awesomeness of these 16 films. And hey, why not invite your closest geocaching friends over for a viewing party while you’re at it?

Watch the full films and decide which should receive the Global GIFF Audience Award here: http://bit.ly/1vFapUU

Whet your appetite for adventure with these exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the geocachers who captured the essence of geocaching and shared it with all.

C9 H13 NO3 (Adrenaline)

A film by Peter! | Portugal

“C9 H13 NO3 is the molecule formula for adrenaline, and this film is all about that. Ready for a real geocaching adventure?”

007 adrenaline

Who or what inspired this film?
I was inspired and challenged by me, and only by me. I’m an adrenaline junkie, and I use all the excuses that I can get just to go to a radical geocache. I have some training with ropes, and some other sports, so it’s easy to me to grab my material, a couple of friends and go out to film it.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
This is almost a one man show. One GoPro (or two or three sometimes), some ropes, bikes, helmets and other gear, one GPS equiped with the best caches, and let’s go. I already have some training and professional works in the audiovisuals area, and with my training with ropes, good friends and a lot of adrenaline, I produced this movie.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
In one of the scenes that you can see in the film, I have a little accident with my GoPro, when diving into a lake… my GoPro jumps off my head during the dive, and hits me in the nose. The result…a small cut, with lots of blood, but nothing serious. 2 minutes later, I was already inside the cave logging the cache.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Try to reach a geocache in a different way and experience some adrenaline so you can have a different day of geocaching.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Safety comes first. Always. Don’t try to do some of these adventures without the proper knowledge and with the right gear. If you don’t know how to edit a movie, use YouTube. You have lot’s of tutorials for free online. What you show to the viewers is more important that the edit itself. Great shots don’t need a great editing. Just try it.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
The possibility to show more footage that I have, with lots of great caches.

La Busqueda (The Search)

A film by nitesco | Puerto Rico

“A novel editor is fired from his job and launched into the unknown world of unemployment. Soon after, he is told about Geocaching and decides to try it out as a way to get out of the house and try new things. What he finds changes his life forever.”

005 busqueda still

Who or what inspired this film?
It was a mixture of personal experiences and a fictional idea I had in my mind.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
The team was pretty easy to assemble, since it consisted only of me. I wrote the film, worked to keep the camera as in-focus as possible, framed the picture and then tried my best to act it out. Then, I sat down and edited into a 4 minute film.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
If you can call trying to keep a frame in-focus under a 100 degree Puerto Rican sun without a monitor or LCD viewfinder challenging, then I would put that in here. 😉

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Go out, try new things, discover.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
If you have an idea then do not let anything stop you. In this day and age, even cellphones can record good footage for a film.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
I am excited to see the films that are going to be submitted and the crazy adventures that people go on with their films!

Geocaching in Canada

A film by TheBarnSwallows | Canada

“In such a large country, there are so many places to visit, so many beautiful places to see, and of course many great geocaches to find.”

004 Canada still

Who or what inspired this film?
(No answer given)

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
With the film being a compilation of adventures, most of the stars of the film are the great geocachers located in the Greater Toronto Area, and the GHMGC (Golden Horseshoe Monthly Geocaching Club). Each month the GHMGC group will get together and explore a new area full of exciting caches. We have a great time socializing, hiking, eating home baked treats, and finding lots of geocaches.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
The most memorable footage to go through while choosing what to include in the film was the snow section. Some of our winter hikes were in very deep snow, so there was a lot of slipping, tripping, and falling.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Choose your own adventure, there are lots of different ways to enjoy the great outdoors.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Have fun! I did not expect to be a finalist while putting this film together, I made it for my enjoyment and to share with my friends and family to show what I get up to out there in the woods all the time.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
I am excited to see what other geocachers can come up with to share their own adventures.

The Ubercache

A film by Duck Muscle | USA

“Found footage from a disposable video camera hidden in a five gallon paint bucket in Central Park.”

002 ubercache still

Who or what inspired this film?
The abundance of micros and nanos throughout New York.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
Just me and a slew of Ubercache video logs.

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
The Ubercache was confiscated by the Central Park staff, so I thought the video camera in the cache was lost forever. However, they let me remove the cache rather than trashing it, so I got the camera back.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Geocachers are a family willing to share their fun with others.

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Always experiment. You never know what’ll come of it.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
More films!

How to Geocache in Thailand

A film by RazMcCaz | USA

When a Geocache search goes awry, filmmakers Dacia Saenz and Sara McCaslin stop at nothing to recover the cache.

010 Geocaching Thailand STILL

Who or what inspired this film?
Dacia was teaching me (Sara) how to geocache for the first time during a trip to Thailand. We thought it would make for a quick shot during our larger film project. Little did we know it’d turn into a comedy of errors.

How did you assemble the team (directors, actors, crew, etc.)?
Dacia and I were on a filmmaking trip to Thailand for another project called The Cost of Gender. See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLGKsgLPiXc

Did you have any funny/interesting/challenging behind-the-scenes moments?
Our short is really all about failing and trying again at getting a seemingly “easy” cache. The guys who help us at the end are motorcycle taxi drivers who had been watching us with amusement and just came over to help, which is a lovely thing about Thai culture. It was certainly a “stealth” fail.

If you could condense this film down to a basic message to all geocachers, what would it be?
Never give up!!

What recommendations do you have for new geocaching filmmakers?
Ask yourself, what’s the story you’re trying to tell? Every well-made film has focused story, conflict, resolution and great characters.

What are you excited about for GIFF 2015?
We’re excited to hone our craft now that we’ve seen so many other amazing Geocaching filmmakers’ work!

That’s it for now, folks. Stay tuned for our next round of interviews with geocaching filmmakers on February 18th, 2015, where we’ll get a look at arguably the funniest geocaching videos around.

Think your geocaching film has what it takes to have geocaching audiences cheering in approval? Visit the GIFF 2015 and find out how to enter!

December 16, 2014 / Janelle /

Three Cheers for Brazil, Geocaching’s Newest Country Souvenir!

Brazil Geocaching Souvenir will be officially released on Monday, December 22, 2014

Yes folks, the time has come: Brazil is getting its very own Geocaching Country Souvenir! You’ve seen Croatia, Italy, Mexico, Belgium, and now you get to see Brazil!

Souvenirs are virtual pieces of art that are displayed on your Geocaching profile page when you find a geocache in certain locations. This holiday season we’re releasing six beauties to decorate your profile!

Take a virtual vacation and tour of some of Brazil’s best geocaches. After all, Brazil is known as the Land of Happiness, so let’s get happy, and let’s get going!

1. First on our list is GC4KZEY Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) EarthCache in Rio de Janeiro. This EarthCache is located in a public area atop the Urca and Sugarloaf hills. The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar. And if that isn’t exciting enough, you could always reenact that famous action scene from the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker (…just kidding, that’s much too dangerous!)

GC4KZEY - Pao de Acucar — GC4KZEY – Pao de Acucar

2. Next stop on the tour is also in Rio at GCX2R1 Na Padaria (RJ). Some geocachers wonder if this geocache is really a T3, or more of a T5. If you decide to see for yourself, make sure to hike with a friend, bring some water, and wear sturdy shoes. Geocachers have been known to see monkeys on these hills, submarines in the water, and unparalleled views of the world while on this trek.

3. Time for a visit to the exotic rainforests of Brazil. GC3AN8N Fig tree Traditional Cache is placed in one of the most important remnants of the Atlantic Rain Forest in Southern Brazil. The forest extends along the Atlantic coast of Brazil from the Rio Grande in the north to the Rio Grande in the south, and as far inland as Paraguay and Argentina. Countless types of species and plants can only be found within this Eden on earth.

4. The Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil. Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

Take a day to visit the falls and the traditional geocache GC3FMPF Frederico Engel. The namesake of this geocache was a man of German heritage who fought against the privatization of the falls. Find him and shake his hands and post your photo!

5. No list of Brazilian geocaches would be complete without the ultimate of all geocache types, the rarest of all icons that can still be claimed, and one of the most famous geocaches in the world, GCC67 Mission 4: Southern Bowl Project A.P.E. Cache!

In 2001, fourteen geocaches were placed in conjunction with 20th Century Fox to support the movie Planet of the Apes. Each geocache represented a fictional story in which scientists revealed an Alternative Primate Evolution (A.P.E.). These geocaches were made using specially marked ammo containers and contained an original prop from the movie. This one is the only A.P.E. geocache left in the world.

After 13 years in the jungle, this elusive geocache has acquired over 300 logged visits, and only 1 DNF. The tagline for this movie was, “Rule the planet”…and you just might if you obtain this cache.

GCC67 - Mission 4: Southern Bowl Project A.P.E. Cache — GCC67 – Mission 4: Southern Bowl Project A.P.E. Cache

Ready to go bananas for Brazil? We will unveil the last of the six country Souvenirs on Thursday, December 18th, and then retroactively award them ALL on Monday, December 22, 2014 to anyone who’s ever geocached in these countries!

A list of of currently available Geocaching Souvenirs and even the ones you’ve already earned can be found on Geocaching.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or right here on our Blog to find out what’s next!

Have you dreamed of finding, or actually found Brazil’s A.P.E Cache? Tell us about your dream journey!

December 1, 2014 / Janelle /

Croatia! Hrvatska! New Country Souvenirs! Ura!

Croatia/Hrvatska Geocaching Souvenir will be officially released on Monday, December 22nd, 2014

Croatia, a.k.a. Republika Hrvatska, is a centuries-old country that is situated between central and eastern Europe and the Adriatic Sea. It covers 56,594 square kilometers (21,851 square miles) with a population of over 4.3 million. Croatia has it all – mountains, beaches, bustling cities, big outdoor adventures, culture, art, and of course, geocaches. Lots and lots of geocaches.

Country Souvenirs are virtual pieces of art that are displayed on your Geocaching profile page when you find a geocache in certain locations.

Today we proudly unveil the Geocaching Souvenir for The Land of a Thousand Islands: Croatia! To celebrate, we are also highlighting five must-see geocaches from this marvelous land. Ura!

Croatia's 5 Must-See Geocaches — Croatia’s 5 Must-See Geocaches

1. GC34ZA7 – Tkalca – Zagreb – Traditonal Geocache

We begin our tour in the capitol city of Zagreb on Tkalčićeva Street. Full of restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and plenty of nightlife, this is a great place to meet up with friends, take a stroll, or grab a traditional geocache. And while you’re there, make sure to visit the statue of Marija Juric Zagorka, a Croatian journalist, novelist, and dramatist.

2. GC1FNKR – plitvice lakes – Earth Cache

Next we head south to the very famous series of 16 cascading lakes known as Plitvice Lakes. This breathtaking natural wonder ranges in color from tropical blue to slate grey depending on the amount of minerals and/or organisms, and the angle of the sunlight. At 282 Favorite Points, this geocache is the most geo-beloved in the entire country.

If you need more, check out this link to a virtual panorama and an interactive map from the Plitvice Lakes National Parks website.

3. GC1TDDE – Kamenjak Sandy Beach – in the vicinity of Pula near the small village Premantura – Traditional Geocache

Third stop on our tour is in Cape Kamenjak. So says the geocache page:

…one of the most beautiful areas in the vicinity of Pula, near the small and pittoresque village of Premantura. It’s the southernmost part of the peninsula of Istria, a strip of land fully exposed to the sun and the sea.

The coastline and beaches of Cape Kamenjak are rocky, some small gravel beaches are situated in beautiful coves – and you wouldn’t believe it, but there also exists a tiny and small sandy beach in this area, one of the very few sandy beaches all over Istria! In summer it is crowded, of course, but in spring or autumn it’s a nice place to take a bath in the clear and blue waters of Cape Kamenjak. This little traditional will lead you to this cove…have fun!

So grab a picnic basket, some sunscreen, and your cache-bag, and start searchin’!

4. GC322MF – Zadar Sea Organ – Zadar – Traditional Geocache

The amazing sculpture/instrument known as the Sea Organ (Croatian: Morske orgulje) is made up of tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps underwater. The movement of the waves crashing over the tubes creates music. At sunset, the Sun Salutation switches on and displays a series of bright colorful lights. The motion of the lights depends on the solar energy collected throughout the day as well as the power of the waves and mimics the motion of the solar system. All eight planets are represented by solar lights placed at their proportional distances from the sun. Both installations were designed by the architect Nikola Bašić. Far out!

5. GCG8XE – Port a Foot – Dubrovnic – Virtual Geocache

Our final destination is Dubrovnik (also spelled Dubrovnic), known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik is believed to be one of the ten best preserved medieval walled cities in the world. It’s full of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains. Absolutely gorgeous!

Yep. It’s definitely time to book your flight to Croatia to see the amazing sites and earn this sweet souvenir!

We will unveil two new souvenirs each week until all SIX are officially released and awarded on Monday, December 22, 2014 to be proudly displayed on your profile. Souvenirs that are currently available can be found here. You can view which ones you’ve already earned by checking out your Souvenirs on Geocaching.com.

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