The Segway Personal Transporter in action
Despite being very obviously the Sinclair C5 of our times, the Segway Personal Transporter has - against all odds - finally made its mark on the cultural world. The famously idiot-proof two-wheeled vehicle is the inspiration behind 10 MPH (Segway Across America), a 90-minute independent film made by two aspiring filmmakers, Hunter Weeks and Josh Caldwell.
The theme of the documentary-style comedy is as idiotic as it is simple: a coast-to-coast, slow-paced road movie along the backroads from Seattle to Boston. Along the way, they get into various low-speed scrapes, meet friendly and rude folk, get stopped by traffic cops for driving too slowly and crash a tractor into a stationary motorhome in a garage forecourt.
Although it was made a few years ago and has already garnered praise and awards at numerous independent film festivals, 10 MPH is suddenly everywhere on the web this week. That's partly because it's been heavily promoted on YouTube where you can watch the full 94 minutes for free for a limited period. But the bigger story - and the reason for the YouTube exposure - is to highlight the unique way Weeks' next film is being funded. If you sign up to the indie film site OurStage (for free), not only will you receive a complimentary download of 10 MPH from iTunes, you will also help to pay for Weeks' follow-up, the Fantasy Football-inspired 10 Yards. For every person who signs up during the promotion, OurStage is donating $1 to the filmmaker.
Agreed, we're hardly talking sponsorship on the level of the National Lottery, but as Obama knows only too well, the power of internet fundraising should never be underestimated.
