His tale confirms faith in humanity.
-THE WASHINGTON POST
-
LONDON
Another America a play based on my 1999 documentary film, TRUE FANS, opens in London at the Park Theatre. Here are a few good reviews (we’ll kinda conveniently ignore the one bad review)
https://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/another-america
https://britishtheatre.com/review-another-america-park-theatre
https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/review-another-america
TRUE FANS
Cult classic documentary and book chronicling our 4800 mile bike ride across America to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
READ: TRUE FANS BOOK (scroll on down)
STREAM: TRUE FANS DOCUMENTARY (scroll on down)
SEE: The play (currently running in London)
REMINISCE: True Fans the Musical’s run at Playwright’s Horizon (two original songs below)
Origin story -
SMASH TO:
3 guys biked across America.
No support vehicle.
No cell phone.
No social media.
10 bucks a day.
Camping everywhere.
They started out at Venice Beach. Los Angeles. At the famous basketball courts.
They towed a bike trailer behind their bikes called
The Ark of the Covenant.
Inside the Ark they carried sleeping bags and camera gear and peanut butter and two basketballs:
One ball to play with
and a second, virgin, NBA basketball
the “Heroes Ball”
which they’d ask nice folks across America to sign.
Coal miner Dick Simmons in West Virginia gave them a coal-streaked five-dollar bill.
He signed the ball.
Reverend Shaw let them crash on the lawn of his church in Pasadena.
He signed the Ball.
Margie “The Walkin’ Lady” gave them wisdom for the journey ahead.
She signed the Ball.
Kelli and Rita showed them the way on horseback, down a dirt trail, deep in the San Bernardino Wilderness.
They signed the Ball.
100 days and a whole summer later
they planned to present this Heroes Ball
bearing the imprint of humanity
to the Powers that Be
at the Basketball Hall of Fame
as a token of America
in hopes they would enshrine it…
Stream TRUE FANS (1999)
(yes, I did wear that ratty tank top all the way across America…)
TRUE FANS (1999)
A film by Dan Austin, Jared Austin, Clint Ewell
Directed by Dan Austin
“Heart Made of Wind” Written and Performed by Cherie Call
Winner of the People’s Choice Award, Banff Mountain Film Festival
Screened in cities around the world to theatrical audiences of more than 100,000
Aired on Outside Television for a few years
Inspired a book (TRUE FANS by Dan Austin / Lyons Press)
Inspired a musical (TRUE FANS the musical) from Bill Rosenfield, starring Saycon Sengbloh. Music/lyrics by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen. Performances at Playwrights Horizons, NYC. Winner of the Richard Rogers Award.
Inspired a play, TRUE FANS, performances at the Blank Theatre in Los Angeles, directed by David Lee, and at the Abbey Theatre in Orlando.
Inspired a play, ANOTHER AMERICA, opened at the Park Theatre in London, April 2022.
(feature/other rights available / dan@88bikes.org)
We biked across America on 10 bucks a day.
But only 5 bucks gets you the e-book.
That leaves you with another 5 bucks – just enough to spring for some fine, True Fan Sludge for dinner.
Tasty!
This is the 2nd edition of TRUE FANS and you can only get it right here.
Self-portrait, Siem Reap, Cambodia, January, 2020
Signing the Heroes Ball, the Basketball Hall of Fame, 1997
DAN AUSTIN
Writer - Director - Joy-Based Philanthropist
After TRUE FANS I wrote a couple of books, directed a few more docs, gave a few talks, traveled a bunch, and, in 2007, with my brother Jared and friend Nick, launched 88bikes, a foundation that gives bicycles to women and girls throughout the world. Over 10,000 bikes have been endowed since that first Moment of Happy in Cambodia in 2007. 88bikes has been featured in Outside Magazine, CBS Evening News, NPR, ABC News, and many more.
Current projects include an indie feature, establishing a permanent 88bikes HQ in Southern California, a couple more books and the ongoing pursuit of transcendence via bodysurfing. When not working on this stuff I am most likely taking my nine-year-old daughter to the beach.
From a talk I gave at DesignBridge in Amsterdam’s popular At the Bar speaking series. Thanks, Gali, for the great look!
Author:
True Fans (Lyons Press)
The Road Trip Pilgrim’s Guide (Skipstone)
The Moment of Happy (Author + Photographer / TF Press)
She Can Go Anywhere (forthcoming)
Founder and CEO:
88bikes Foundation (2007-present)
88bikes endows bicycles to heroic women and girls throughout the world, especially the heroic survivors of human trafficking.
Over 10,000 bikes have been endowed since 2007.
Keynote Speaker Palm Springs Sustainability Summit / International Festival of Arts and Ideas at Yale / MountainFilm in Telluride / Telluride Mountain School / Banff Mountain Film Festival / Qandor, London / University of Kentucky / more
Featured in Outside Magazine, ABC News/Yahoo, ESPN, NPR: The Brian Lehrer Show / Travel with Rick Steves, more
Coined the term Joy-Based Philanthropy® to describe 88bikes’ work. Joy-Based Philanthropy elevates happiness to a human need.
Living (and cooking) philosophy: Be generous, in life, and with olive oil.
Random things I dig: A fun party I went to with my friend Saycon, at my friend Sharon’s center, Grace Farms / favorite restaurant in the world / most atmospheric coffee shop I’ve spent time in lately / when in Leucadia / Viceroy please
L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. -Le Petite Prince
Drop me a note...
Dan@88bikes.org
...or a post card...
2033 SAN ELIJO AVENUE SUITE 500 CARDIFF BY THE SEA, CALIFORNIA, 92007
...or just pop in here sometime... your Swell Cream smoothie’s on me...
Bonus: thanks for scrolling down this far!
Growing up in Utah, we watched John Stockton and Karl Malone win a gold medal with the Dream Team, beat the Bulls in triple OT and go to the Finals twice.
(Jordan pushed off)
The year before biking across America, in 1996, my brothers Jared and Micah and I and our buddy Clint made a pilgrimage by bike during the playoffs from Utah to Jack and Dan’s Tavern in Spokane, Washington.
Jack and Dan’s is owned by Jack Stockton, John’s father, and a such, it represents a Mecca of Jazzfandom.
800 miles, 2 weeks, and whole lotta basketball...
Without further ado, here’s the prequel to True Fans, PILGRIMAGE OF THE TRUE JAZZ FANS.
800 miles to Jack and Dan's Tavern in Spokane, Washington...
PILGRIMAGE OF THE TRUE JAZZ FANS
1997
A film by Dan Austin, Jared Austin, Micah Austin, Clint Ewell
Directed by Dan Austin
Thanks to Jack Stockton and everyone at Jack and Dan’s Tavern, Spokane, WA for the nice welcome and free drinks. Cheers!
And while we’re talking basketball…
Here’s my all-time favorite hoop found while traveling.
This beauty is in Tanzania, a few hours drive outside of Arusha.
