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Motorcycle Journals

Female Director provides a unique perspective on British Motorcycle Culture 'True Stories of Bikers and their Machines' In this short documentary we immerse the audience in the culture of the British Motorcyclist through interviews with enthusiastic motorcycle owners talking about British motorcycle culture and their machines. From the ordinary to the extraordinary we look at rare Italian racing bikes, the Ducati's, the world of the customised Harley Davidson and the rarest in motorcycle history and the privately owned museum that collects them. But most importantly it is the culture that we investigate and the relationships between people and their machines.

  • Nor Hazlin Nor Salam
    Director
  • Ian F. Hunt
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 17, 2014
  • Production Budget:
    300 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Canon C300
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Oniros Film Awards
    La Thuile
    Italy
    September 15, 2017
    European Premiere
    Finalist
Director Biography - Nor Hazlin Nor Salam

DIRECTOR/CO-PRODUCER: Nor Hazlin Nor Salam (MA in Film and Television Directing)

Nor Hazlin Nor Salam is a 33 year old filmmaker from Malaysia and has garnered her experiences in six commercial feature films and two episodic drama series in the Malaysian film industry as first, second and third assistant Director. In 2012 Hazlin was given the opportunity by Metrowealth Movie productions in Malaysia to Co-Direct, whilst also juggling the position of a First assistant Director on a Primetime Drama series. Hazlin also works as a freelance Video Editor and Videographer and have edited renowned Malaysian celebrity show reels.

Hazlin is also a resident acting-coach at Metrowealth Movie productions and also lectures part-time in a few Private Colleges on film theory subjects. Hazlin who has obtained a BA in Mass Communication, from Curtin University Australia Majoring in Film and Television, was awarded Valedictorian for Graduate of year 2004 and earned a high distinction in the Documentary Theory subject. Hazlin’s postgraduate studies in the UK at Bournemouth University are fully sponsored by the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) and she is currently pursuing an MA in Film and Television Directing. In realizing her dreams of becoming a film Director, Hazlin’s main objective is to produce an impactful film that is not only aesthetically pleasing, entertaining but also meaningful.

See Hazlin’s website http://norhazlin.com/

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Director Statement


I began the filming of Motorcycle journal with an aim to unravel the mysterious relationship between man and his machines from a thematic standpoint. The theme I wanted to draw out from the motorcycle world was the ironic relationship between man and his machine that supersedes the narcissistic value often attached to material attachments. To simply put, my ultimate goal from this film was to unravel the spiritual connection man have with their machines. Thus due to this, my goal was set on idealistic grounds that I believe would best suit a poetic reflexive mode of representation which perhaps can effectively contextualise and encapsulate my vision.

I made the decision to organise Motorcycle journals as an investigative endeavour, which would allow me to reflect and discover the stories behind the respondents and their motorcycles. I was also interested in the culture and the lifestyle they lead. Thus due to this notion, I decided to make Motorcycle Journals into an interview based reflexive mode of representation, driven by a thematic spine.

‘Motorcycle Journal’ was filmed in a span of four weeks and the stories developed in its own accord as I continued meeting inspiring personalities who clearly had a great passion for their machines. ‘Motorcycle Journal’ takes audiences into the journey of a custom bike engineer Nathan Haskel, Sam Woodfield an aspiring motorbike racer, Lu travers Sam’s mother and a motorcycle workshop manager and Gordon De la mere a luxury bike dealer. The story of these four characters is also supported by re-enacted events, as well as observational shots of them in their world. Focusing mostly on Nathan’s inspiring persona, the film provides an insightful take on Nathan’s passionate lifestyle and the story of an old bike he recently purchased from a deceased custom bike designer who never completed his machine.

The process of filmmaking clearly had an impact on me as a storyteller. I inevitably developed an emotional attachment towards the stories presented by my subjects. It was definitely a challenge to deconstruct and reconstruct my material without any prejudices. I was very moved by the very fact that there was more to the Motorcycle community than meets the eye. As one motorcycle aficionado once said to me “every motorcycle owner is just a mere caretaker, as the spirit of the machine will continue to live on from one man to another, because it is more than just a machine”.