Ski Movies!

F

freelowda

Active member


Alright, so this basically goes out to everybody that is taking skiing and ski movies for granted, and in the same stroke criticizing everything involved.

From my humble perspective I think that we as skiers should feel somewhat privileged to be a part of this sport in any respect, (seeing as how we represent about .001 of the human population). Now I know its not all peace and love, but for fucks sake, skiing is pretty cool, and ski movies are a great way to enjoy it as well! Just like anything else, there will be different ways of representing things, ...and naturally opinions. So in defense of MSP, leader of the ski movie pack currently, let it be known that their motives are not that different from yours or mine. Here are some guys that began with a passion for skiing, and busted their asses to make a living from documenting skiers so that we all can enjoy it. MSP has and is spending a lot of resources to help good guys like Morrison, Abma, Hjorleifson etc. push their skiing to the the highest level, and make a living from it as well! Yes they use helicopters, and shoot in super 16, and try to make the best possible images possible- for viewers enjoyment. No, it isn't the rawest form, or the one that we all can relate to, but take it or leave it. Either way you choose to look at it, I think we all need to appreciate whats going on...it is after all basically just entertainment. So enjoy skiing and movies! ...because it may not last forever.

-Freedle Coty
 
is the issue here about people hating on MSP?

Its the difference in taste..im sure majority groups on other forums would prefer MSP to others, but the demographic on this forum just seems to prefer other productions..

They are all good to me.
 
i completely agree, but two things...

1.

the individuals in MSP are all chill dudes, who pretty much are living the life, except for maybe winter.

he has to look out for his company in this capitalistic world, and do some things which violate alot of the ski-bum/ski-community rules.

2.

why can't our editing/companies be more progressive like snowboard companies. it seems as though whereas in their world creativity and progression are rewarded in ours those companies tend to fail or get bought out (TBC, neil).

no ski company has implemented cable cam shots, nor has come up with some other drastic new filming technique (mini-heli shooting--look up the "trackhead" guy over on TGR). Ski filming just seems drastically more formulaic (maybe due to the nature of pre-existing ski company conglomerates) than snowboarding, but maybe thats just because i am more familiar with snowbaords companies.

hopefully IDEA may change things.
 
^I agree about some of that dude, but ski movies are very proggressive we just need a quality one that breaks the mold, like a well down skate style ski vid would be awsome, or a well down vid that covers contests has skier parts and cover like urban missions, pretty much a well down vid mag in hd would be sick.
 


Believe me, I don't think I'm the only one taking notes on what snowboard videos are doing to push things. It's very inspiring. And we are not on their level yet in some ways. But I'm not talking about snowboarding here, you could make comparisons to that all day. (Much in the same way that the skateboarding video model is often referenced in the board industry) Also...I feel that Matchstick's heli follows are some of the most unique shots of jumping I've ever seen, cable cam shots included. Recognize that even Standard Films has been using them to shoot guys like John Jackson and Fredi Kalbermatten in their recent movies.
 
Enjoy what you're into, don't bitch about what YOU don't like when others dig it, and respect what it takes to bring you guys sick images. Because it takes a hell of a lot more than the whiny little grovellers could ever imagine.

Freedle, you're a good dude.
 
you guys think snowboard movies are better? get a grasp. Skiers are doing the same things. I've watched a few snowboard movies here and there, and can say skiers are doing everything. You think ski companies arent inovative or creative? Well wait tell you see what happens this year...a praticular movie will blow your mind.
 
I love on this site how everyone hates on msp....At the Keystone shoot not only was L1P there but MSP was as well and all the athletes/filmers/crew were working together, helping each other out, and athletes were feeding off each other. I was stoked to be there and hearing some of L1P's athletes say, damn abma is slayin it, or MSP's athletes/filmers watchin Tom and being like WTF??????? I am not really understanding why kids on this site cant grasp the same feeling as everyone at this shoot was....hmmmm...maybe one day....
 
Cable shots have been in a couple movies. Last years level 1 I believe and all the way back to Push films with Not Another Ski Movie. Plus I think last years "cherry picker shoot" at kestone was pretty innovative. On a different note, I agree that we need to embrace what we have. One love blah blah. Other skiers shouldn't be the enemy
 
i semi-take back part 2, because i wasn't really considering level 1.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that i'm an idealist. i expect ski movies to be made with the goal of creating art, not a product. but ultimately its a business and you have to look at who you're trying to sell movies too. i want movies to be aimed at the cutting edge and not the ski community.

level 1 is pretty damn close too, but ultimately they have to sell to their roots (rails and jibbers). its like music, if a band completely redefined themselves every year it would be like betraying their fans. the bc booters are quite sick, and the urban is great, but what limits l1 from being absinthe is that they don't have the backcountry/big mountain slayage.

i want each movie to be pep's seg from 1242 level. i guess not all the blame can go on the filmers either, cause athletes have to be looking at sking from that persepctive as well. if they're JUST trying to add another 180 to their rotation or copy/learn the newest grab (which they should be) then how is a film going to be so fresh and so clean clean. athletes have to be focusing on fusing big mountain, rails and tricks.

while people usually just define this as bc booters, i think you have to go a step further and incorporate the newschool tricks with natural features within real big mountain lines like pep and pollard are doing (and like seth did). its a process so in order to incorporate that you have to move away from the "cutting-est edge" trick and learn some big mountain skills. and you obviously can't be addressing the fusion all the time, or you would fail alot (have to work on cliffs one day, park the next etc.).

i don't really know what i'm saying but i just realized i'm pretty fucking pumped for IDEA, and i want level 1 to take heli/europe trips. sorry for the rambles, but i'm trying to write a paper, so...
 


I appreciate what you are saying, absolutely. I am kind of an idealist myself.

If I, (or Level 1 for that matter) had $80,000 to drop on heli time in AK, combined with the 15 years of knowledge & experience that Justin Hostynek has, and could make a video with Pep and Nicolas Muller, well fuck...I'd be all over it! But I don't. So, all we can do is try our hardest to meet our vision, with the resources we have, with the powder days we have, and the skiers we work with, and develop. We can't control every variable. And you're very right, to make a successful video you have to appeal to more than just a small niche audience, which does not always match your true ideals. To make "art" appeal to everybody is also just as difficult. (But we can try) Same goes for the damn soundtrack!

What you see in a finished product is all that could be done in one short season. What you don't see is all the work and stress that goes into creating those shots, all of the hits & misses. Basically it is not easy to be ever satisfied. So- we try do the best, which is what any of the other guys are trying to do as well, no doubt...either way we aren't curing cancer, ski vidoes are still very trivial in the big scheme of things :)

But as others have put it, we all are very privileged to be doing this, and (skiers, filmers etc) are just trying to be stoked on what we're making, and hope the same for everybody watching!
 
the best artists have a sound that changes with each new album.

that's not an analogy. i don't care about msp, l1p, pbp or really any ski film company. once i see a trailer that really excites me for a ski movie, i'll consider buying it.

until then, i'm watching snowboarding. no! not mack dawg productions fuck.
 
i dont see why people dont like MSP. sure they have movie theater graphics, which means you dont have that "i could do that" feeling, and sure they have slow music and voiceovers, but i think they make really good mivies(and yes, they are all very similar)
 
Dude, I loved Booyah, best vibe ever!

Ok, my disliking of MSP is two reasons:

I'm disappointed with the way they've settled into a formula. Though it is successful for them, I wish they would use their amazing amounts of resources to try something different next year. On the other hand, maybe its better for them to be completely predictable and formulaic. It will certainly give more business to aspiring and creative film companies.

The second reason is due to their practices. I've just heard way too many rumors, not only on NS, but from other people in our industry. It just makes me wary of them, thats all.
 
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