Squamish has hosted many documentaries with a variety of informative and entertaining films that have screened at the Adventure Centre and other local venues.
We only hear about these filmmakers after the fact when the product is complete, but the truly exciting part is the actual filmmaking itself, and the journey that is taken in the process. This month, we have had such a filmmaker in our midst.
Freddy Reck's black and white "man" truck C220 Off-Road LAEC - nicknamed "Moula Moula" after a species of bird native primarily to the Sahara desert that has brought him luck - is hard to miss with a map of the world emblazed on the side outlining his travels around the world.
Beginning from Ludwigsburg Germany on Jan. 11, 2004, Reck is on a world trek and is accompanied by his dog "Simba" (a male Rhodesian Ridgeback) and for the most part, his wife of 39 years, Rita.
The expedition is shaped by the film Life's Dream Journey, and runs over five to six years through Africa, South/North America and Asia to Europe.
"I love my work, this is my dream, this is what makes me happy," he says.
Ludwigsburg, located in the southern part of Germany with a local population of just over 100,000, is home to Reck and his family.
Born in 1947, Reck has had his eye behind the camera for over 40 years. His self-taught filmmaking led him to independent contracts with local German manufacturing companies that were fortunate to have Reck's keen eye capture their operations creatively.
This avenue of filmmaking was lucrative, but did not satisfy his ultimate dream, to see the world and document it through film to share with the people of his homeland who are, "not as fortunate to travel and discover the remote wonders of our planet," he said.
One of the bonuses of Europe is you can get from one country to another along super highways or "autobahns" within hours. However, Reck painstakingly pre-planned a trip around the world to venture far beyond the borders of Europe to Africa, South America, Central America and beyond.
Now he has found the serenity and beauty of the Lower Mainland, and specifically Squamish, for a short stay to explore, film and take the opportunity to edit some of his work in progress.
During his brief stop here, he has met with locals who were more than curious about his quest, taken an opportunity to experience the spectacular aerial scenery with Glacier Air, and will continue on to pre-2010 Whistler and Vancouver.
"Who does not know the goal cannot find the path" is a motto that Reck lives by. Case and point: he plans each of his stops around the world in terms of years. Many would chart such a course in terms of weeks or months.
As his North America stretch draws to an end, he prepares for the next leg of his Life's Dream Journey, which will continue in Bangkok, Thailand. A year there, another year in India and the list goes on - and all with the same passionate belief that "life is good, the world is a beautiful place."
This fascinating filmmaker has many adventures to share, from near catastrophe 5,000 metres high in Argentina, his 10-ton truck precariously petering on the edge of a cliff after a recent earthquake to close encounters with dangerous wildlife; his stories are too many to recount here.
The best way to appreciate the detailed preparations, obstacles (which Reck says "is no problem") and the glory of this quest are best found on his website reckfilm.de.
Visitors can go to Google translator to read his German website in English.
Those who have met him wish Freddy and his team safe journeys, many more magical moments that have him in awe with just one word, "beautiful!" and look forward to viewing his completed documentary and a book in the future.
