Tracing The Divide
Two life-long friends embark on an adventure of a lifetime as they cycle the rigorous Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. Over 24 days, through wind, mud, and monsoons, the Divide tests their limits physically and mentally, yet the Divide is also a gift that allows them to look inward and rediscover themselves with new purpose.
Filmmaker Jack Zakrajsek captures each cyclist’s struggles and successes while instilling a sense of majestic awe and cinematic beauty within the diverse spaces along the Great Divide.
Chris Schmidt
Cyclist / Executive Producer
An anesthesiologist and fanatical cyclist, Chris is just bat-sh!# crazy. If it hurts, he wants to do it. Though he probably doesn’t have a clue of what his ideal ride is, except that it should “bring him to his knees”, the Divide certainly fits the bill. When he isn’t riding or watching films about the Divide, he is studying his biometrics in an effort to hack his body and evolve for his next bar setting adventure.
Chris Hiebert
Cyclist / Executive Producer
A pragmatic civil engineer yet devoted and intense cyclist, Chris slipped into a 10-year break from his passion, which ended in 2018, after asking himself “Is today the day?” What ensued was a series of events that found him chasing ultra-endurance rides, riding in the wee hours of the day, bikepacking, and only once sleeping in the snow. Chris credits the Divide as a spiritual awakening that helped him become a better man.
Jack Zakrajsek
Writer / Director / Cinematographer / Executive Producer
A former collegiate cyclist, Jack is a photographer, drone pilot, and filmmaker. Based out of Colorado, he has spent the past two years traveling the globe. From Banff and Costa Rica to Namibia and South Africa, he has created branded content, including for Nomatic and Corona. Tracing the Divide is Jack’s first feature film. Jack is the writer, director, cinematographer, and editor on the adventure, sports doc.
Michael Schilf
Writer / Producer / Executive Producer
Michael is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Lunar Door. His work has earned 90 international awards and 38 nominations, including 13 Best Director wins. Michael is a producer on the indie drama The Fall. He is also directing and producing the social issue documentary Tears of the Field. Currently, he is attached to direct three features: Home, Ashes, and The Sins of My Father, based on his memoir.
Keefe Kaupanger-Swacker
Writer / Editor
With 20 years of experience in post-production, Keefe runs a post house in Hollywood, Bell Sound Studios, where he is the Chief Engineer and Mixer. Recently, he has worked on Schitt’s Creek, Ozark, Handmaids Tale, House of the Dragon, and Black Mirror. Keefe has also worked on Dianne Feinstein's campaigns: End Child Poverty CA, School Meals for All, and Yes on Measure M.
Chase Kuker
Executive Producer
Chase is a composer with over a decade of experience in songwriting, audio mixing, and film production. He has produced films such as Tell, Echoes of War, and Helicopter Mom. Co-founder of Lunar Door, Chase is Michael’s producing and creative partner. He is a producer on the indie drama The Fall as well as the co-creator of the fantasy, action, adventure series SWORN and co-creator of the sci-fi, crime series LIGHT.
Miah Smith
Co-Producer
Miah balances irreverent with heartfelt, providing levity amid despair. He first surfaced with the documentary short, Namesake, about his great-uncle, a writer blacklisted in the 50’s. He developed the series Sleeping with Strangers, a dramedy about the ups and downs of group living. Miah is also co-creator/writer/director of the semi-autobiographical series Jukebox, a barroom comedy, currently in development.