“Get Lost in Loudoun” is an advertainment web show that shot in June 2011.  It showcases attractions in Loudoun County VA (southwest of D.C.) through the perspective of four people who are presented with daily ‘challenges’.  The show will air as short commercial web shows in September 2011. No ‘reality show drama’, kids, just good old fashioned adventure travel and fun.

For the 2 week duration, I get in the car with my three co-challengers, all unaware of our day’s situation until arriving on location. Each challenge, we are paired up and rotate teams. The show is powered by a great crew including Cile and Chris Elley at Electro Fish Films and my c0-challengers are Haley Phillips, Andrew McDonald, James Wilson, and the Show Host is Blake Buesnel.

Nine days of competitions are as follows:

Day 1: Paintball at Pev’s Paintball. Teammate: Andrew
We played “The Fort” and were coached by Mike Peveral. Ive always wanted to play and this was an awesome first time opportunity, playing in the 12th best facility in the country.  Each team had a paintball “general” who suggested our strategy.  I like ours, he led us to win the game after all :)

My job for most of the duration was Sniper. I kept an eye out for anyone attempting to get to the ramp where the flag was held. You’ll see the show, its going to be a really fun one. However, I must say that I make a mighty fine Sniper.

Day 2: Great Country Farms obstacle course. Teammate: Haley
Throughout this competition, I kissed a pig named Elmer, stumbled through a crazy rope maze, caught a chicken, rode a clumsy pedal cart and ultimately, we won the race! I think we got our lead with the pig kiss, approaching him with ease and not panic makes a huge difference ;)  Our prize was a gift certificate for a massage at the local Lansdowne Spa (which Im glad to have had time for while there), a fancy gardener hat and some gift shop goodies.

Day 3: VA wine blending and marketing at the Sunset Hills Winery. Teammate: James
This is something I’d always wanted to do. I love wine and I’ve always been fascinated by the blending process and all related processes and complexities.  I was also psyched to have a challenge that involved marketing, as a designer in the marketing world for 10 years, that’s right up my alley.

Lori Corcoran was our blending coach and Sommelier Mary Watson was the tasting/marketing judge for both teams. Haley and Andrew had amazingly delicious wine and a fun marketing idea.  They presented their “Thank God its a Country Bordeaux” blend with an awesome jingle to accompany.  I thought we were beat at that point.  Songs usually win attention, thats why advertisements spend so much money on it.  Ultimately, James and I won the contest for delicious Virginia wine blend, though the marketing is what tipped the scale for us to win the prize. Find out my winning marketing strategy on the show!

Day 4: Rafting with BTI Whitewater and scavenger hunt. Teammate: James
We raced the Potomac for 4 miles with river guides “Catfish” and “Alabama”, past the beautiful Harper’s Ferry, grabbed our clue at the shore, hopped into an ATV that drove us while we discussed our clue and then raced to the ruins where we battled it out for the.. well you’ll have to watch the show to find out.

Day 5: Fine dining culinary cook-off at the farm-to-table 5-Star establishment Goodstone Inn. Teammate: James
This day’s challenge is to prepare a five-star meal in the famous kitchen of the Goodstone Inn. Our dishes will be presented to two judges and the preparation is coached by Chef William Walden. James and I made Chateaubriand and Haley/Andrew made Soft shelled crabs. First, we picked our own veggies in their garden on the grounds. Then we headed to the kitchen where we had 30 minutes to prepare our dish. My partner, James, really shined with his kitchen skills. I love to cook, but im more of an experimental chef than a 5-star proper meal chef.  He definitely took the lead here and our team had a delicious Chateaubriand to show for it. Thanks, James!

Day 6: Pottery making at Glenfidich Farm Pottery with Chris Cooley (Redskins) and Richard Busch. Teammate: Haley
Chris Cooley plays tight end for the Washington Redskins and he also now makes pottery in Virginia (who knew? I didn’t either until now).  He does a lot of his throwing (pottery) with the very interesting Richard Busch at Glenfidich Farm Pottery, a former photographer for Rolling Stones and editor for Time, Natl Geographic.

I used to throw pottery, but many years ago so I was nervous I wouldnt remember how.  Luckily, its a skill that picks back up where you left it off (like riding a bicycle) and I was able to shape an seamless bowl!  Haley picked it up quickly, though the lip became a bit misshapen, so we added eyes and a fin and called it a fish.

Teammate Haley and I won the prize with our “Fish / Bowl” duo.

Day 7: Polo match at Virginia International Polo Club. Teammate: Haley
This was an experience that I had to put ON the bucket list in order to check it off.  I never thought I’d be in a situation to play Polo (except in a film role) and now I love it.  Surprisingly, managing the horses isnt the most difficult part, its working with the mallet and hitting the ball.  I had many great shots lined up and failed to hit the ball because of misjudged distance down to the ground and on a horse, there’s often only one chance to hit it because turning around is sort of an ordeal on a horse.

Haley’s horse ran home to the barn mid-game. At that point, I had no chance of winning, but it was lots of fun nonetheless and I’m proud to have gone down swinging!

Day 8: Haunted mansion nighttime clue-finding at Oatlands Plantation. No teams – solo
A night-challenge!  It was designed as a clue-finding and riddle-solving adventure inside the house and on the garden grounds. I was last to go so I had to sit by my lonesome in the carriage house down the path before going to the mansion. That was probably the most freaky part. One can laugh about ghosts in the midst of a group of friends, but when you’re by yourself and feel that eerie… that’s when the real stuff starts happening.

On the show, we have a special guest, Max, who is an electric engineer and also studies EVP (electronic voice phenomenon). He’s formed PEPPR (Partnership for the Exploration of Paranormal Phenomenon and Research) as a support organization for those who have encountered EVP or supernatural phenomenon. He talked about his custom engineered sound equipment to detect sounds beyond human hearing capacity. Cool guy. I dig his work.

Day 9: Civil War scavenger hunt/clue finding through Middlesburg/Aldie. Teammate: Andrew
General Mosby “The Grey Ghost” was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War and is a big deal hero in this area (rightfully so). He is best known for his lightning quick raids and its ability to elude Union Army pursuers and disappear, blending in with local farmers and townsmen. Rich Gillespie, our charismatic storyteller and historian, talked us through a brief history of the area.  Ive only met one like him before, a historian that tells factual stories with such rich and engaging detail that it makes me want to pick up a history book that day just for leisure reading.

With Rich’s knowledge and Mosby’s elusiveness, we are on our way to follow a trail General Mosby took when he eluded the Union Army in this particular area. Aldie Mill was our finale location and we received clues for finding the real Mosby, well, a man impeccably dressed as General Mosby.

 

More photos!  Shooting the show’s intro:

Made some good friends: