A Virus Ate My Movie!

In 1990 Alden Olmsted's life changed forever when he dropped out of college to start his own BMX bicycle company, Homestead Bicycles. After finding a shop in Tennessee to fabricate bikes to his design specs and using all the money he had, he ordered 50 frames, Alden set out to promote his fledgling brand. What began with such promise would soon come crashing down around him. After selling 30 bikes, a request for the remaining 20 would be met with word that the fabricator had gone out of business. With no money and no additional bikes, Alden was forced to put his dream of Homestead Bicycles to bed and move on with his life.

Fast forward 23 years later - one of his original Homestead bikes surfaces on a BMX website, stoking the curiosity of an online community into just what happened to Homestead and that mysterious green frame from the 90's. Encouraged by the newfound interest in the brand, an older Alden sets out on a path of discovery to find the people that were impacted by his unique bikes.

This was the story of Alden's film 30 Bikes: The Story of Homestead Bicycles, but it's only half of the story.

After three successful showings in late 2019 and early 2020 Alden began lining up screenings at major theatres in CA and beyond. And until March 17 of 2020 Alden was rolling. But then came the virus.

Part indie-film journal, part small town kid makes good, and part cautionary tale, A Virus Ate My Movie! is Alden's gift to anyone following a dream or wanting to make a film.

It's a hopeful, humorous tale about BMX, low-budget films, and making the most of even the most daunting situations.

Non-Fiction, 158 pages

2021 Live Rad Publishing