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OCVA

OCVA (Oregon Cascades Volcanic Arc) is a route, a ride, a statement, and a score which were layered to create the film. Ridden and filmed by Ryan Francesconi and David Wilcox in the late autumn of 2022, the ride itself was confronted by active wildfires and seasonal change as we rode up the spine of the Central Cascades. The goal was to capture the fragility and transience of the Oregon landscape as it has been forced to adapt to changes in climate, fire and ongoing resource extraction. I wanted to both see what was left and remember what it was. In the process, it became an opportunity to look deeper at the lightness of cycling, impacts of transportation politics, manifest destiny, and the natural beauty underlying all experiences of moving through Oregon. 

  • Ryan Francesconi
    Director
  • Ryan Francesconi
    Writer
  • David Wilcox
    Key Cast
  • Ryan Francesconi
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Genres:
    Environmental, Ambient, Cycling, Narrative
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 28, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 5k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ryan Francesconi

Hello, I'm Ryan. I'm an artist and composer. The mediums I primarily work in are music, video, software engineering and cycling. What does it mean to compose for bikes? I have some ideas about that. Perhaps you have ridden one of my routes. I've released many records over the years, both as a solo artist and with collaborators, toured extensively and have dug deeply into solo guitar, Bulgarian folk, electronic and orchestral composition. You might of seen me on stage with Joanna Newsom or on a bike in Portland, Oregon. You might be using my software to create your own music.

I started writing audio software when macOS was System 7. Needless to say, things have changed. Coding is an art form, both a means and an end. It's a pursuit which can be appreciated in its architecture or its use. It's the realization of The Glass Bead Game, and requires the craftsmanship of the endless pursuit of refinement.

I started coding when I was 11 and have always been fascinated by science. As I was born in 1974, I have seen the complete arc from computers as a optional novelty to necessity. When audio first became possible to manipulate in software -- my interest was rekindled. I started hacking audio code in the mid 90s, releasing experimental software instruments and going on to work for many companies over a (closing on) 30 year career. Generally my experience with art, design and engineering has led me to situations where I'm able to connect these topics across technical boundaries.

Myself and two partners founded Audio Design Desk in 2016 and since then we've created a variety of products to rethink the relationship between sound and film. Officially, I am the lead developer and Head of Technology. But, personally and artistically, this has been an ongoing exploration into modern macOS development, media metadata, audio and image manipulation, and has led towards creating further projects of my own.

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Director Statement

And here we are, it's 2025, at least at the moment. There's a lot going on in this world. Lately, I've managed to combine most of my interests into video work, recently releasing the film OCVA which looks at the environmental fragility of Oregon through the lens of adventure cycling. This has been a project a few years in the making, born out of the route, filmed by bike and scored. As we look into our murky future, looking closely into the environmental consequence of our actions (or lack thereof) is an inevitable part of any art (or action) that I will consider seriously.