MovieChat Forums > Long Way Down (2007) Discussion > Why the big convoy?

Why the big convoy?

posted 16 years ago by joughin
16 replies | jump to latest

Just watched the second episode.

I did a similar trip with a backback years ago.

It was great to see the changing scenery, but whenever they met real 'travellers', I found myself looking at their huge convoy of 3 bikes and 3 cars, with all the crew and gear and food and stuff, and imagined what this postmodern colonial expedition must have looked liked to not just the bemused locals, but to adventurous travellers who really immerse themselves in the cultures they move through.

If only Ewan and Charley could have taken just 2 bikes and dumped the crew, along with all the distorted perspective the western entourage imposes.

But then that wouldn't be TV, would it? Too raw. Too good.

[–] wieldy 16 years ago

Why the big convoy?

They're riding from John o'Groats to Capetown, that's quite a long way. They need such a big convoy because it's a TV show so they need the crew, the camera equipment, spares for the bikes and the cars and all the belongings for the crew and Charley and Ewan. That will entail clothes, sleeping equipment, cooking equipment, medical supplies.

Just sending Charley and Ewan off would be entirely unrealistic. In all these programmes of someone traveling there is a crew with them, they just usually don't show the crew on screen.

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[–] The_Lord_Flashheart 16 years ago

"Just sending Charley and Ewan off would be entirely unrealistic."

Why? People have done it before. People have cycled it.

[–] wieldy 16 years ago

Just sending Charley and Ewan off would be entirely unrealistic."

Yes, and those people weren't high profile actors raising money for lots of charities and filming the whole thing for the BBC.

You have to be very naive to think that Charley and Ewan could just hop on their bikes and ride 10,000 approx miles without any support.

Dear Buddha, please send me a pony and a plastic rocket.

[–] pienezwien 16 years ago

"In all these programmes of someone traveling there is a crew with them, they just usually don't show the crew on screen. "

This is not always true. In Belgium, where I live, we have a programme of two nephews who hitchhike all the way from the southpole to the northpole in 100 with each 100 dollars. And they are all by themselves. And they are also not trained adventurers or hikers, they are just two guys, (one of them is even a mediafigure here). I loved the Long Way Down, but it also bothered me that they couldn't rough it up more, couldn't be more on their own. When you're used to seeing those two nephews (Matthias and Dieter) coping with everything by just the two of them, it seems a tad luxureous what Ewan and Charley do.
Too bad "The Poletravellers" (that's what the series is called) isn't available in English for you guys to see. Cuz, if you like "Long way down" you'll LOVE "The Poletravellers".

[–] Tiffany66 16 years ago

"I did a similar trip with a backback years ago.

Are you a UNICEF ambassador like Ewan is, and were you filming your trip for a TV show (and then donating profits from the DVD and book to UNICEF, CHAS and Riders for Health)?

[–] scot3121 16 years ago

I think what Ewan and Charley did was quite wonderful.
I don't mind that they had a "convoy" if that is what you want to call it!!!

Along with enjoying themselves, they made an awareness of Unicef and all of it's good work, plus we get to see people, animals and parts of the world that we may never get to see.
And don't forget all the money they raise for charities.

I love that it is more then the usual documentary. And to make a good documentary, you need a good camera crew, and other crew members.
Claudio is fantastic, and Jimmy, and the another Jim,, all contributed to a great film. Plus, Russ and David are great at what they do to get it all together, along with the help of the office people back in London.

Ewan and Charley are really caring and funny guys. Even though things could get quite tiring and hard to maneuver those hugh bikes, on some of the worst roads in the world, they still made the journey interesting.

Sure they complained here and there. But then who wouldn't. Extremely HOT temps. and wearing all that gear, would make any one complain. And a lot of those roads with the drop offs, were really very dangerous.

So I thank Ewan, Charley, and the entire crew for bringing a great documentary for all of us to watch.
I loved Long Way Around, and for what I have seen of LWD, I am enjoying it very much too.

[–] CorporateTakeover 16 years ago

you do have a good point
thats what my dad complaines about because his mate did the same thing through africa and had to do everything himself.

But its Ewan & Charley filiming for the BBC
they couldnt go on there own

No exaggeration, I could not love a human baby more than I love this brush

[–] MelodyNelson 16 years ago

I do not understans the problem of the OP,of course they could do this by themselfs but then it wouldn't be a BBC documentary, yes it could be raw and good but then we wouln't be able to see it...

[–] kimilseung 16 years ago

There are good TV travel shows were the people film themselves,
because Ewan and friend are doing it siege style does not mean it would not have been possible for it to have been done "fast and light", if I can be forgiven for the climbing metaphors.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780441/
seems to be one example
bizarre though the missionary aspect is, these are non the less excellent travel shows

[–] anika1 16 years ago

Why not just enjoy the show and stop finding fault? Ewan and Charley, and the crew, did a wonderful thing for some very worthy causes.

In vino veritas.

[–] kimilseung 16 years ago

> Why not just enjoy the show and

being critical does not mean one does not get some enjoyment from the show

> stop finding fault?

What ? this is a forum for those that like film and TV, being critical is part of watching AND enjoying film and TV, never seen the perfect show yet. even 10 out of 10s can come in for some criticism.

> Ewan and Charley, and the crew,
> did a wonderful thing for some very worthy causes.

That has nothing to do with the quality of the program, completely irreleant

> In vino veritas.

I'd say the same thing if I was drunk

[–] mwdeane 16 years ago

I loved the Long Way Round and was really looking forward to the Long Way Down. What a huge disappointment. Okay, so we knew there was a backup crew (which is of course a necessity)in the Long Way Round, but you rarely saw it except on the few occasions when it was necessary (dangerous river crossings etc). Ewan and Charlie still managed to be UNICEF ambassadors without the convoy. The riders, crew, bikes and vehicles in the Long Way Round weren't festooned with logos either, which surely must have helped with the problem of Ewan and Charlie's high-profiles. No, as I said in the beginning, a huge disappointment after the wonderful first series,which itself proved the point completely that it can be done (or certainly made to look as if it was) with just the bike riders and not a convoy plastered in logos.

[–] MelodyNelson 16 years ago

Of course there are, but they are not the same type of documentary, it is impossible to do the show in this style without the camera crew. and because of the amount of stuff they bring with them the trip becomes even more complicated to deal with. They are not just riding and that's it, this is an actual show with particular characteristics. And let's not forget that Ewan is a major movie star it's not exactly my next door neighbor, it would be impossible for him to travel without an escort of some kind.

I would understand if the OP said he didn't like this type of shows, but why the big convoy? Is not logic at all. the convoy has to be there.

[–] mwdeane 16 years ago

As I said several times in my previous post, just look at Long Way Round, that's the way to do it. Using much the same crew, but without all the fuss and logos plastered everywhere. With the backup crew in the background and most of the photography done by Claudio it was far superior in every way to Long Way Down. Every argument that has been made in these posts for the necessity of protecting Ewan's high profile, or any other excuse for the whole convoy being on camera all the time is demolished by the previous series. Ewan could not have been more high profile than he was then what with all the Star Wars films he had just appeared in, the terrain seemed just as hostile and yet the sense of adventure was so much better in that series. Again, just to reiterate my previous post, I KNOW the convoy has to be there, I just don't want to see it all the time whilst watching a show ostensibly about two friends making a motorcycle trip down through Africa.

[–] MelodyNelson 16 years ago

Well but that's another story. i also prefer the Long Way round and i'm actually disappointed with this series.But The question was why the big convoy?

[–] jquick99 11 years ago

They even had their own medic with them. They should have just ditched the bikes and drove the big SUVs.