Alden Olmsted

Alden Olmsted is a California based filmmaker and graphic artist, son of John Olmsted and cousin to famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Under his Drive Fast, Take Chances Production Co. Alden has produced or directed four films including 30 Bikes: The Story of Homestead Bicycles (2020), and acted as director of photography on two others including 2018's Unprotected. His documentary filmmaking began when living in Hollywood and moderating Screenplay guru Blake Snyder's LA Save The Cat! Writer's group. Alden's father, botanist and conservationist John Olmsted was given six months to live. Despite not knowing his father as a child, Alden became his caregiver, filming the process of reconciling with an absent father, and finishing it just five days before the elder Olmsted passed away, on March 8, 2011. My Father, Who Art in Nature (2012) received a four minute standing ovation at the Nevada City Wild and Scenic Film Festival the following January. Alden received a Real Hero award from the Red Cross Northern California Chapter for his efforts championing his father's work and preserving John's legacy in work towards completing the elder Olmsted's Across California Trail. Alden grew up in Sonoma, California and dabbled in BMX and skateboarding along with many children of the 70's and 80's. His dream of starting his own BMX bike company came true in 1991 when he dropped out of college and founded Homestead Bicycles. The company would last four years and only sell 30 bikes, with 20 paid for but never produced. Returning to college after the failed bike company Alden used his classic convertible to land significant background work on 2002's Catch Me If You Can. Although dabbling in video making earlier it was this on the set time that hooked Alden into filmmaking, as the shoot provided time to watch dailies and get to know the grip department, including car mounts and those behind-the-scene details that make movie magic. Alden lives in California but travels frequently and continues to explore his Olmsted roots. His curiosity for interesting people and multi-layered stories remains insatiable.