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dangerous sports club (8 mb - quicktime)

format - hd

credits
director - donnie eichar
producer - current tv
director of photography - alan jacoby
editor - mike saenz

original film treatment:
imagine: hand-gliding off the apex of "kilimanjaro". taking on niagara falls by canoe or skateboarding the "running of the bulls" and ending the ride with a civilized cup of earl grey tea. in 1979 four bold members of the dangerous sports club and a film crew armed with 16mm cameras made history documenting one such event. the "mission" was military-like in its execution, complete with an exit strategy if the authorities arrived, along with disguises for the film crew in case they had to make a fast getaway. inspired by the pentecost islanders vine jumping ritual, the dsc members arrived via convertible bentleys dressed in their customary top hats and coat tails, and performed a death-defying leap off the golden gate bridge with an only obscure bungee material tied around their ankles. after the jaw-dropping jump, the dsc celebrated with their traditional tea and crumpets. the following day the photo captured from this jump made the cover of the san francisco chronicle and the film footage was aired on cbs with walter cronkite. soon after, the dsc spread the concept of bungee jumping worldwide; subsequently the first commercial jump was achieved in 1986. we will revisit the well-documented golden gate bridge expedition thru the original filmmakers. the 16mm-unreleased footage includes corny interviews; jump footage and all the crazy antics that made up the dangerous sports club. these guys were cool way before jackass.

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