This was a super fun project to be a part of for a few reasons. First, Cody is a good friend and amazing human being with many titles; expert skier, mountain biker, surfer, and trail builder to name a few. After living in Tahoe for several years he moved to the greener pastures of Bellingham, WA where he as access to surfing, skiing and most importantly world-class biking. Getting to reconnect and kick it with him in the mountains above Incline Village, NV was a treat.
Second, I really focused a lot on filming mountain biking this summer, which is a genre all its own with a unique editing style and aesthetic that I enjoy and try to emulate. Some of my favorite mtb pieces are put together in a ‘raw’ style, meaning only the audio captured on scene is used, and it conveys a sense of speed and draws the viewer in. I chose to use a song to carry the action, but really emphasized the sounds of Cody and his brother "Hank” Henry Wilkins as they tore down the trail they had been building the last few weeks of the summer.
And third, I got to shoot with Bevan Waite of Mountain Grown Media on the fourth and final day when we captured the shots used in this short film. Bevan is a great friend with an incredible eye for detail and composition - I learn something from him every time we get to shoot together. In this case, it was for a larger project he’s putting together called ‘The Wild Side’ about the different relationships people have with the sport of mountain biking. I won’t give any more away, but I’m excited to see the end product.
