For those who may be finding out about the series for the first time, Often Awesome the Series is a web series about our friends Tim and Kaylan and their battle against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. They had an amazing group of friends and family supporting them, the Often Awesome Army, and this is their story.

We launched Often Awesome The Series three years ago on December 27th, 2009. When we started the series, we did it to keep close friends and family members aware of what was going on in Tim’s life and to hopefully help Tim and Kaylan raise money for his quality of life care and medical bills. I don’t think we had a clue as to what we were getting into. We knew it would be difficult at times, we knew it would be amazing at times but we had no idea that it would take us on a three year journey that would be a life changing adventure.

Year one: When we first started the series, Tim was very active. While he did show signs of the disease, it didn’t slow him down too much. We had decided, probably unwisely, that we would produce an episode of Often Awesome every two weeks. For those of you that don’t know anything about video production, creating an 8-10 minute episode every two weeks is a lot especially considering our crew consisted of me and Andy. To put that in perspective, that’s like creating two feature films in a year with just two dudes. We felt like there was a lot going on that first year and we wanted to document as much as we could. Also, it was important to keep Tim’s support group, whether local or abroad, involved with his life. Not only did we capture many of the amazing things that Tim was doing, we captured benefits that others were putting together to help with Tim’s medical care. We captured music benefit shows, art auctions, the “Shirt Off My Back” quilt project, an ALS Walk, a Tattoo benefit and a dance party benefit. Not only did we have some amazing stories to tell but we were meeting just the most incredible, caring people. I think one of my favorite episodes was #18: All That Yas. It featured Yasmine, a 4 year old artist, that held her own art auction to raise money for Tim. This episode really embodies the fact that we all have something (if not money) that we can use to help others.

Not only were all these events happening but Tim and Kaylan got married too.





Year two: By the time year two rolled around, Tim’s health had really taken a turn for the worst. He had become mostly bed ridden but Tim’s support group had really grown by this point. There were many people who volunteered to handle his day to day medical needs. Tim also eventually lost the ability to speak that year but it did little to stop his voice from being heard. While we only produced 7 episodes that year, it was Tim who started to message celebrities to see if they would do intros for the episodes. Episode 31 would feature an intro from Adrian Young of No Doubt and other episodes that year would feature intros from Billy Gould (Faith No More) and Scott Avett (Avett Brothers). This was something we’d continue to do throughout the remainder of the series. This year also saw more great benefit shows including another music benefit show, a burlesque benefit from the ladies of Purrrlesque, another dance party benefit and a film screening. There are two episodes from that year that I’d like to share. The first is #27: Any Of Us Can Do It. It features Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers talking about his awakening to service for others and how rewarding and fulfilling that service is.





The other episode from that year that I’d like to highlight is #32: A Day In The Life. This episode shows what an ALS patient goes through in a typical day. There were times that Andy and I would feel awkward filming but Tim would always insist we document these things so the world would know what ALS was like. That selflessness and that willingness to show even his most vulnerable moments speaks to the type of person Tim was.





Year two would see Tim lose his battle with ALS but his fight would continue.





Year three: Even though Tim was no longer with us, year three would still see 3 more episodes. These episodes would be Tim, Kaylan and the friend’s goodbyes and it would also be a passing of the torch to those who continue the fight. Episode 35: The Bench would see Tim’s friends burying some of his ashes and planting a Bench in his honor. This episode would also see an intro by guitar legend and ALS activist Jason Becker. Jason was an amazing guitarist with a great solo career but once he joined the David Lee Roth band he was set to be on the level of Eddie Van Halen. Right before his first tour with Roth, Jason began to feel a “lazy limp” in his leg. Soon after he would be diagnosed with ALS and given 3-5 years to live. Well, Jason has been battling ALS for more than 20 years and is still writing music. His story was released on DVD today. You can find it here.

Episode 36: Passing The Torch, the series finale, speaks to the future of the Often Awesome organization and also features New Orleans Saint and Super Bowl Champion, Steve Gleason. Steve was diagnosed with ALS but much like Tim he had an amazing group of friends and family that were willing to help him with his battle and his willingness to create awareness. Team Gleason can be found on Facebook and through their website.

Andy and I would both like to thank Tim, Kaylan and the Often Awesome Army for allowing us into their lives. It’s been an amazing journey and we’ve been honored to tell this story. While I’m sad that Tim is no longer with us, I’m very happy that the awesome person that he was will live forever and continue to help others affected with ALS through this series. Please continue to share the series and help raise awareness.

Thanks so much for all the support!
Blake Faucette and Andy Coon

OFTEN AWESOME THE SERIES IS NOMINATED FOR BEST ONLINE FILM & VIDEO IN DOCUMENTARY SERIES IN THE 16th ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS

Fans Can Vote Online to Help Often Awesome the series Win Internet’s Top Honor
www.webbyawards.com

Greensboro, NC – April 15th, 2012- ALL ACES MEDIA announced today that it has been nominated for Best Documentary Series in online film & video category in the 16th Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. The IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award winners, is comprised of web industry experts, including media mogul Arianna Huffington, Skype CEO Tony Bates, SHFT.com co-founder Adrian Grenier, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, mobile-phone inventor Martin Cooper, and Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio, creators of the Webby Award-winning game app Angry Birds.

“Nominees like All Aces Media are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet,” said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the nearly 10,000 entries we received this year.”

As a nominee, Often Awesome the series is also eligible for The Webby Awards’ “People’s Voice Award”, which is voted for online by fans across the globe. From now until Friday, April 27, 2012, Often Awesome the series fans are encouraged to cast their votes at http://pv.webbyawards.com/ballot/104.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 and honored at a star-studded ceremony on Monday, May 21, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, where they will have an opportunity to deliver one of The Webby Awards’ famous 5-Word Speeches. Highlights from last year’s 5-Word Speeches include: Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour: “Sometimes, geeks can be chic”; IBM supercomputer Watson: “Person of the year. Ironic.”; and Agency of the Year Winner Wieden + Kennedy: “Anonymous, we thank you, anonymously.”
For a full list of last year’s 5-Word Speeches, please visit http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php

About All Aces Media
As filmmakers, Andy and Blake are always looking for interesting stories to tell and Tim’s story certainly qualifies as interesting, actually amazing. When they first talked to Tim, he made it very clear that he wanted to leave behind a legacy and they saw this as a very good opportunity to do so. So Tim was willing and Andy and Blake had the capability but they started to wonder what they had gotten themselves into. First of all, he’s a friend and it’s going to be tough watching the battle he has ahead of him much less be filming said battle. Second, Blake can’t even watch Extreme Home Makeover without crying and now Andy and Blake have to shoot and edit some very heavy content. Tim’s story is probably one of the most important things they’ll ever do.

All Aces Media would like to thank Tim and Kaylan for the opportunity to work on this project. It has truly been inspiring to see the strength and the courage that they both have as they face these uncertain times in their lives. To know Tim is to love him. It’s no coincidence that Tim has an army of friends willing to help him through all this. He’s obviously done something right in his life. As amazing as Tim is, Kaylan’s love for Tim, her willingness to face these difficult times with him and her unselfish devotion to him really is beautiful. Not sure you can say Tim’s lucky but he certainly hit the jackpot when he met Kaylan.

It is All Aces Media’s hope that people will watch this series and have a new appreciation for the important things in life. Love, good friends and compassion for one another. It is their honor and privilege to be working on this series and not only is it Tim’s legacy, it is now their legacy as well.

About The Webby Awards
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising & media, online film & video, and mobile & apps. Established in 1996, the 16th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Yahoo!, Vitamin T, MLB Advanced Media, Rackspace Hosting, JWT, The Atom Group, Financial Times, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Guardian News and Media.

On Tuesday morning, surrounded by family, friends and caregivers, Tim peacefully passed.

We lost a friend, a husband, a brother, a son, a colleague, a creative genius, a warrior for love and a genuine human being. As much as it saddens us that Tim’s body is no longer on this earth we are content that he chose when to go…not the disease. He is at peace. Pain free. We love you Tim.

The Often Awesome Benefit: A Year to Remember

Models for Charity & Often Awesome The Series present The Often Awesome Benefit: A Year to Remember, March 17th, at Kings Barcade in Raleigh. Doors Open at 7:30 p.m. & the show starts at 8:00p.m. Cost $10. Door Proceeds will go to the The Often Awesome Org. Along with six prodigious music sets from a variety of local talent, we will be showcasing an episode from the award winning film retrospective by Often Awesome The Series.

ALL Ages Show!

www.modelsforcharityraleigh.com/

Often Awesome The Series is a web series about local musician Tim Lafollette and his wife Kaylan’s battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). It’s a story about love, friends, strength, and courage. It’s about building a community of friends and family, and creating and spreading awareness through benefit shows, web episodes, and encouraging everyday people to step up and be a part of the Often Awesome Army to help find a cure. OA the series has won Most Outstanding Documentary Web Series LA Web Fest 2010, & was an Official Selection at the 2010 Carrboro Film Festival, & Official Selection at the 2011 LA Web Festival.

Band Lineup for The Often Awesome Benefit: A Year to Remember includes:

Johnny Paul Jason, the songwriting team from Raleigh NC’s The Hanks (1987 – 2008). As with The Hanks some 24 years ago, this band continues what was then the pioneering alt.country / cowpunk sounds that predated the No Depression / Uncle Tupelo / Whiskeytown bandwagon by several years.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnny-Paul-Jason/114365968604440

“Reese McHenry has a voice that can rattle chandeliers at 50 paces. Not just with power but with the bluesy depth of Big Mama Thornton, where everything she sings sounds a little, well, dirty.” –Fuse “This is terrifically uninhibited garage rock with currents of blues and stoner metal bubbling beneath the surface.” -Razorcake
http://www.myspace.com/reesemchenry

The Breaks line up works as an uptight four piece: Brunson Hoole on drums, Tray Batson on bass, Steve Carr on guitar and John Ensslin singing. Influences include Tubeway Army, Mott the Hoople.
http://www.myspace.com/thebreaksnorthcarolina

SPIRALFIRE, Sinclair Vernon – the North Carolina native with a voice that can simultaneously melt your heart and peel paint off a jet engine – put together a band of raucous villains wielding rock and roll implements for the sole purpose of destroying pap and returning rock to its rightful, glorious, epic place in popular music.
www.reverbnation.com/spiralfire

Bustello’s sound has recently been described as a blend of Stiff Records power pop and ’60s garage, with ample shades of surf and rockabilly. Members include Ben Clarke, formerly of the highly influential “Metal Flake Mother;” bassist John Plymale, the Indy record producer of Superchunk, Dex Romweber Duo, and The Meat Puppets; & Drummer Jody Maxwell (along with Plymale) a founding member of NC’s “Sex Police” as well as Chapel Hill mainstay “Gumption.”
http://www.bustello.com/

Poster/graphic design by http://www.tadpoledesigns.com/

A BIG thankyou to Riley Miller of SPIRALFIRE for agreeing to be our Master of Ceremonies & Stage Manager.

WANT TO DONATE BUT CANNOT ATTEND?
BUY TICKETS:
www.progressiveshows.com
*all proceeds will be donated.

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Sunday
March 6th

Greene Street Club
113 N. Greene Street
Greensboro, NC, 27401

Often Awesome Benefit Concert featuring…

SPECIAL SURPRISE HEADLINER
Jonas Sees In Color
w/ Decoration Ghost
The Lake Isle
Funny Like A Funeral
The Kitchen Sink Fiasco
Caitlin Watkins

Doors 6:30pm
Show 7:00pm

Learn about Tim LaFollette & the Often Awesome Army by visiting oftenawesome.org

Donations & volunteers appreciated. Please contact:
progressiveshows@gmail.com

Advance: $10.00
Day Of: $10.00
All Ages
(*$2 surcharge for under 21 payable at the door)

Presented by Progressive Music Group

PLEASE INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!
WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND EFFORTS.

Often Awesome The Series was accepted into the Los Angeles Web Series Festival, the world’s first and only open-air web series-only festival in the world for the 2nd year in a row! Last year, the series received the honors of outstanding achievement documentary or news series, as well as outstanding theme music in a documentary or news series.

This year, the festival has asked us to participate in a panel on the power and importance of documentary web series. This is an honor, and an incredible opportunity to spread Tim and Kaylan’s story, and to help us achieve Tim’s ultimate goal: creating awareness for ALS.

We are eternally grateful for the support we’ve received from the community. And we hope that you will help us continue to tell Tim and Kaylan’s story, and bring ALS out of the shadows and onto an international stage.

Very much appreciated,

Andy & Blake

Anyone that donate $20 or more will receive the first season of Often Awesome the series on DVD.

The true story of a paralyzed musician who composes music with his eyes. Jason, a musical genius and prodigy, was diagnosed with ALS at just 19. To help fund this project you can go here.