Justin Jarrett and Aaron Klinger were best friends since they were 3-year-old neighbors on a street in Milton, a borough in Northumberland County.
Last summer, Jarrett (senior-film/video) and Klinger, still friends despite attending different colleges, talked about graduating in a year -- their life plans based purely on speculation. One idea came up: biking across America together on a sun-soaked road expedition.
But Klinger, a 22-year-old Bloomsburg University student studying kinesiology, was killed in a car accident in January.
The grief from his death served as the impetus for Jarrett to brainstorm ideas for a feature-length documentary to be filmed while embarking on a cross-country cycling quest starting in August. That way, he said, Aaron's story could be told.
Jarrett and friends established the Aaron Klinger Memorial Scholarship Fund at Milton Area Senior High School and raised money in Milton and at Bloomsburg. Starting with a fundraiser at Café 210, 210 W. College Ave., on Thursday, they will reach out to Penn State.
Discovering his passion for film at an early age, Jarrett kept his video camera within arm's reach -- so much so that he has nearly 100 hours recorded of Klinger and himself playing basketball, going on each other's family vacations and reenacting
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skits from Jackass. Klinger was nicknamed AK-47 by his friends because he "bombed 3-pointers like a machine gun," Jarrett recalled.
"The reason I'm in film is because of him," Jarrett said. "If one of us made it big, we'd make the best of it. He's always been there for me."
Jarrett started a production company, JTwo Films (jtwofilms.com), and gathered his friends to orchestrate For Aaron: The Documentary. In addition to the state-leaping venture, the film will weave in Jarrett's childhood footage and interviews with those who knew him.
"Memorializing him is the only way to do it, with all the footage I have of us together," Jarrett said.
The cycling trip will take him 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to Milton, averaging 55 to 60 miles each day. He will be stopping off at the Grand Canyon, Memphis, Nashville and State College -- 55 miles from the final destination. It should take two and a half months starting Aug. 25 and is expected to conclude by early November.
Two fellow film majors, Travis Capacete (senior-film/video) and Jon McKeown (senior-film/video) will be in tow documenting the trip. Directing credit will go to Jarrett, who, along with fellow childhood friend Kylar Krebs, will be on a bicycle for the duration of the trip.
The cameramen are trying to rent an RV, which would make it easier to cart around the filming equipment and editing materials -- and to get a good night's sleep.
"Otherwise, we'd have to camp out in a tent," Jarrett said.
The foursome is on a hunt for wide distribution, and if the film gets sold, all money and proceeds will go toward the scholarship fund, Jarrett said.
The crew also intends to utilize the scenic tour to package an American history lesson for middle schools and high schools. They would develop a 60-day curriculum encompassing a video geographic lesson and thus generate additional revenue from its pedagogical value.
In the meantime, Jarrett's group wants to raise $20,000 to sustain the adventure. It has raised $5,000 so far from T-shirts, wristbands and donations accepted through the Web site jtwofilms.com/ForAaron/sponsors.html.
At Penn State, Jarrett and friends are working with local shops, predominantly bicycle stores for now -- Freeze Thaw Cycles, 218A E. Calder Way, and Eddie's Bicycles & Sports Equipment, 480 E. College Ave. -- to acquire free gear.
Mike Klinger, Aaron's father, said the efforts of Aaron's friends have been unbelievable and overwhelming. Mike and his wife did not know Aaron had planned this trip, but it didn't surprise them.
"It sounds like something Aaron would've done," he said.
Two of Aaron's nephews were recently born -- and one is on the way -- and never got to know him. The family views this visual documentation as the children's glimpse into their uncle's life.
"The film will certainly help to fill in the gaps and will be a great value to them for years to come," Mike said.
Jarrett, who is currently amassing camera equipment and bike cargo, is readying to bicycle out into the wild. He hopes it has meaning for everyone, regardless of whether they knew his best friend.
"We're just really trying to show that you can go two routes when someone passes away," Jarrett said. "You can be afraid and angry, or you can live life to the fullest and honor that person and not to be afraid to go out in the world."
