This is the MTS
Film Statement:
It may seem like a silly idea to make a documentary about a suite
in a south campus residence hall, but the Miles Travis Suite means a lot
to a surprising number of students at UNC. Miles Travis lived in
room 241 of Ehringhaus Dorm during the 1999-2000 school year. Being
the only senior in a suite composed of freshmen, it was natural that the
suitemates, who had become best friends, name the suite after him.
The M.T.S. is now in its second year, however, residence of the same suite
from as far back as 1996 still come by to hang out.
This documentary tells the story of the suite tracing back to
the years prior to Miles Travis which have been referred to as the “Biltozoic
Era.” There are many interesting and humorous stories to be told
by four generations of residents of room 241, over fifteen present and
former suite residents, and numerous friends who have been a part of the
M.T.S. It explains exactly how Miles Travis ended up in South Campus
as a senior, and follows him on his adventures in Montana after graduation.
Also, it looks at what has become of some of the other former suite residents.
The film allows current members of the M.T.S. to share what the
suite has meant to them, and their experiences while living there.
It examines the recent process of recruiting new members for the suite
to keep the tradition alive, and will include interviews with the guys
who have decided to move in for the 2001-2002 school year.
The documentary should help people understand what it is that
makes rooms 241-244 of Ehaus so special, document the many great stories
that have occurred in the suite, and preserve memories of Carolina for
all those who have been a part of the Miles Travis Suite.
Background and Need:
The men of the M.T.S. dream big, and come up with some wild ideas
that are rarely ever executed. However, one such scheme that came
into fruition was the idea to create M.T.S. t-shirts to sell to friends
and family for no profit. This turned out to be a great success as
the gray, M.T.S. “Keeping It Simple” shirts were in high demand during
the spring of 2000. Nearly fifty of these shirts were sold.
With that many people wearing these shirts around campus there
have been many people inquiring what exactly the M.T.S. is, and why they
made t-shirts. This is one of the target audiences. The documentary
offers an explanation of this phenomena since the common reply when it
is explained that M.T.S. is a suite in a dorm is, “you’re crazy.”
However, the main objective of this documentary is to create
a complete history of the Miles Travis Suite and those who laid the groundwork.
Since so many people who have lived in the suite the past several years
have remained close friends, it will be fun to have a collection of tales
from the suite and see how the M.T.S. came to be. It gives those
who have been affiliated with the suite the opportunity to share their
stories and how they suite has impacted their lives.
Approach, Structure, and Style:
As previously stated, this is done in a documentary format.
It includes interviews from suite residents, former residents, and friends,
shots of the suite, shots of Miles and his friend, Cory, in Montana, and
also some footage shot be friends of a prank being pulled on the M.T.S.
The film starts off with shots in each room of the suite with
the narrator, Brad Mallard, a former resident of room 242, saying, “This
is the M.T.S.” Following this are interviews with the members of
the suite who came up with the idea of naming it after Miles Travis.
They will explain how the idea came about and stories behind it.
Mallard tells how there were people who started the M.T.S. tradition
several years before these guys were there. Cut to the apartment
of Scott Bilton who lived in room 241 from 1996-1998. He tells about
what has become known as the “Biltozoic Era,” and share his stories from
living in the suite like the time that Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, and
Ademola Okulaja were in the future M.T.S. playing video games. This
is followed by interviews with Marc Jones and Lamont Council. Marc
lived in room 243 as a freshman in 1997 and moved back to room 241 as a
senior in 2000. Lamont lived in 242 as a freshman in 1996, left UNC
for two years, then returned to live two suites down from 1999-2001 and
has been an honorary member. They provide the comparison between
the suite then and now.
Mallard explains how the M.T.S. was not always the greatest place
to live and shares his own experience in room 242 during the 1998-99 school
year. Also interviewed is his roommate, Chris Nagy.
Mallard then transitions to the story behind Miles Travis’ entrance
into the suite. An interview with Miles explains his journey from
Ehringhaus to Old West to an apartment then back to Ehaus.
It then goes to a round table discussion between the members
that started the M.T.S., Miles, Brian Sellers, Will Hart, Greg Snodgrass,
and Brad Burton. They laugh and tell stories from that year.
They eventually start talking about the t-shirts. B-roll footage
of people walking on campus with M.T.S. shirts is shown. We then
hear interviews from non-residents that have t-shirts. They tell
about their experiences with the M.T.S.
Cut to Montana where Mallard tells of Miles’ decision to go west
after graduation. Footage is shown of Miles picking potatoes.
Then we hear interviews from Miles and his best friend that joined him
in Montana, Cory Cavin. As they tell about their adventures on their
journey west footage that they shot on the trip is shown.
Back in the suite, current residents talk about the second year
of the M.T.S., and how Marc Jones and Chris Hostetler have provided the
senior leadership in room 241 vacated by Miles. More stories are
shared by the guys and by some girls from Ehaus who have been engaging
in a prank war with them. As Kristy Kent and Olivia Roberts are interviewed
b-roll footage of the night they filled the entire suite hallway with balloons
and water balloons, shot by the girls themselves, is shown.
Back to Montana where Miles is shown working as a security guard
in Bozeman.
Mallard explains that it is now time for the M.T.S. to start
planning for the following year. Brian describes the recruiting process
and the prospects for the third year of M.T.S. There are three rooms
open because Marc and Chris graduate and Greg, Ray, and Jason are all moving
on. Brian says that they want to leave room for some freshmen to
come in to hopefully keep the spirit alive.
Greg gives his explanation of why he must move to North Campus
and Lamont tells about his regret for signing up to leave Ehaus to live
in Winston. Back to Brian who introduces Justin and Baker, the rising
sophomores who will be moving into the M.T.S. for the 2001-02 school year.
They tell about their excitement of moving in and what it was that drew
them to the suite.
The film closes with several brief sound bites from various students
with ties to the suite. Mallard provides some closing words of wisdom,
and crazy pictures of the guys are shown as the credits roll.
Budget:
A major production expense comes from the flight to Montana.
However, I feel this is an important part of the project. It provides
perspective as to the type of person that Miles Travis is. A round
trip plane ticket will cost $786 on TWA. There will not be any expense
for accommodations since I can stay in Miles’ apartment. Food for
four days should cost around $75.
A Sony DXC-D30 digital Betacam package will run $550, and $150
for digital video tape. A Lowel 3-light Omni kit will cost $40.
Renting an Avid editing suite for a week is going to cost $1300.
With $500 added as a contingency budget the total budget for
the documentary should be around $3400.
Shooting Schedule:
I will start shooting on May 1. Through May 3 I will shoot footage
of the M.T.S. and collect interviews from the residents and other friends
around Ehringhaus. On May 5, I will interview Scott Bilton and some
others in his apartment at Alta Springs in Chapel Hill.
Production will be put on hold until we return to school for the fall
semester. Mid-August we will record new M.T.S. residents moving their
stuff into the suite and get reactions from incoming freshmen.
September 1, I will fly out to Bozeman, Montana, and until September
3, I will shoot interviews with Miles and Cory, shoot footage of the farm
where they pick potatoes, other places where Miles has worked, and points
of interest in their adventure in Bozeman. I will fly back to Chapel
Hill on September 4.
Back in the M.T.S., in mid-September, I will get reactions from the
newcomers after spending one month in the suite. Late-September,
the documentary will go into post-production.
Equipment List:
Sony DXC-D30 digital Betacam package. Includes fluid head tripod,
AC batteries and charger, lavalier mic, shotgun mic, cables, and headphones.
Sony Hi8 digital video tape
Lowel 3-light Omni kit
Conclusion:
On one level, this documentary explores the relationships formed
within a small group of students at UNC and allows them to share their
good times and their struggles, and how it has revolved around the dorm
they lived in. However, on a broader scale the documentary shows
how friendships formed while in college have effects that extend a long
way after graduation.