FRANKENBIKING

Frankenbiking is a short documentary passion project about the joy of tall bikes and the fascinating people who build and ride them. Created by filmmakers Joel Porter and Alex Moore, the film follows two key characters: Jon Thompson of TOMO Bikes and Petor Georgallou, a former frame builder known as ‘Dear Susan’ and now the director of Bespoked, Europe’s largest handmade bike show. The film delves into the world of those taking cycling to new heights - celebrating fun, silliness and creativity, whilst exploring how people react to the new and unusual. 
 

Peppered with quirky animations, this documentary is a comedy at heart, touching on themes of individuality, DIY culture, and joyful rebellion. At its core, the film celebrates people who do things differently and the unexpected communities that form around them. The animations, created by Joel Porter and illustrator Lydia Wonham are built mostly from vintage postcards, newspapers, posters and books. The collages mirror the ethos of the tall bikes themselves - made from reused materials and full of character, they offer a playful and creative way to look at the world. 
 

Frankenbiking recently completed its film festival run, with 15 official selections and 5 award wins: this included Best Short Documentary at the Wales International Film Festival & Manchester Lift-Off Festival, Audience Choice Award on the Cyclist Film Festival UK Tour and Best Editor at the Emerging Talent Film Festival. From its premiere at Kendal Mountain Festival to screenings at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and Bicycle Film Festival, we’ve been blown away by the warm reception.
 

Now that the film is available to stream online on Amazon Prime Video, we hope it continues to inspire riders, builders, and curious onlookers to climb a little higher - and maybe see things from a new perspective.​

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Film Credits:

A SWAMP films production.

Produced, Directed and Shot by Joel Porter & Alex Moore

Written & Edited by Joel Porter

Illustration - Lydia Wonham

Animation - Joel Porter & Lydia Wonham

Sound Recordist - Tom Nott

Sound Mastering - Ben Porter

 

Links:

Jon Tompson (TOMO Bikes) - https://tomobikes.co.uk/

Bespoked The Handmade Bike Show - https://www.bespoked.cc/