I began my video production company, DREAM VIDEO, back in 1985 when portable cameras were as big as a TV and the recording equipment had to be strapped to a cart with 50 feet of cables and extension cords, lights, microphone cables, etc. hanging off of it to make it “portable.” I studied film at Western Michigan University and had/have always loved movies and movie making. This was my ticket.
I started shooting weddings because that was a “thing” back then, and all of my college friends were suddenly getting married; then their sisters, then more and more “events,” from Saks fashion shows to Noir Leather Fetish shows, from Muscular Dystrophy benefits, “Annie” auditions, and Detroit band gigs, to birthday parties and actual births (yes!), that needed to be recorded. I was even in a harness hanging out 1 of 22 helicopters, shooting US1 for the World Championship Offshore Powerboat races in Key West. I was there for any, and many odd events in between. I was in the pulpit, in the limo, in the dressing rooms, on the dance floor dancing and more, from the “Famous Last Words as a single person,” to the “Last Last Words” of the new couple. I drew the line at the Honeymoon, (though even sometimes invited!) I wanted to entertain them, include their favorite music and make the memorable, “Last A Lifetime.” I was in the party as much as I was a witness to it.
I finally found my niche with Michigan and Midwestern Bodybuilding. One man, Richard Cavalier, gave me the contestant forms with the registered athletes so I’d have contact information. Another man suggested I send those initial tapes to the Bodybuilding National Archive as documentation. A third man, Harry Schwartzer, an early promoter of the Michigan Gold Cup, gave me support and permission to contact the promoters and full rights over his and other events. This was my first lesson in copyright ownership, where “content becomes King.” Then Will Dabish, co-founder with his brother Norman of Powerhouse International, gave me his blessing to shoot any and all NPC Michigan Bodybuilding events. DREAM VIDEO shot shows from here to Kentucky, to Columbus and Cleveland, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to East Lansing, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Wayne State, Michigan State Fairgrounds, Central Michigan, Saginaw Valley, a couple malls, Port Huron and always back to the historic Redford Theatre where even floods and power outages could not stop the show, DREAM VIDEO was there.
Mens Bodybuilding added Women, then Pairs, followed by Masters, Fitness, Figure, Bikini, Physique and the other undescribable and indiscernible divisions followed. Competitors became promoters, children became competitors, and on went the pursuit of perfection to another generation, 1985-2015.
I was doing what I loved, not only as a film “videographer,” but as a bodybuilder myself. My sons shot, my wife shot, my nephews and best friends shot, sometimes I shot prejudge, then to a wedding ceremony, then bodybuilding nightshow, then back to the reception. It was a whirlwind, then edits and mail orders for the week between shows, all while working full time at The Detroit News. I even hand delivered those tapes in the early first years. And took two years off to teach AP English at Lincoln High School, with DV, News, workouts and freelance writing still rolling. And with my very athletic boys, often a coach. Needless to say, I spent more time in back of the camera than in front of it.
This early show, my first year asDREAM VIDEO, and my second event as a competitor, was memorable. I had my first son, Thomas II, then just barely 2 years old, my oldest sister, the only one to ever see my show, and my wife. I set up the camera, cords, lights on stage, etc., then proceeded to pre-judge, trying make my light-heavyweight class that I’d registered for, but falling far short at 165lbs. to my own surprise. When I was onstage my wife did the shooting. I ran down, “front and center,” to shoot every other class. It was hectic, stressful, fast and a huge show to boot. But we managed it all and DREAM VIDEO continued for 30 years, when I retired my cameras, as people were now shooting with iPads, cell phones and any camera they could sneak in past my “exclusive rights.”
The promoters were generous and supportive throughout. The competitors and clients gave me not just one career, but at least 3, as a documentarian, a trainer (that’s another whole post), a posing coach and a fitness writer. I gained many friends, from Lee Haney, to Arnold and Cutler, to Ron Love and Lenda Murray and every professional guest that came to town, and every partner who dropped beads of sweat on the floor of the greatest gym in Michigan, the Powerhouse Center Line, where, oh yeah, I ran my Day Dreams Floatation business. I incorporated my family and formed TypinInc, where each shines with their own distinctive light.
Bodybuilding was a passion, a mission, a purpose and a reward. It was the heart that pumped my blood for 30 beautiful years, and it keeps on giving.