Team videos have not figured prominently in the ski scene. A couple light attempts have been made in the past few seasons: Atomic’s 44 Days and Skiing is ____, Voluerz’s Outdoor Graduation, and Joystick’s Hot Lunch (the balls!). Of course, who can forget the Oakley video, perhaps better known by its more unfortunate name- “Session 1242.” It’s one of the best videos ever made, and one of Tanner’s best parts as well. Not to mention Tony shredding a full part to “Blue Collar Man.”
We’re ripe for another team video- several teams are stacked with talent, and slopes are flush with video nerds pointing cameras at every jump and rail who are willing to slave for pennies on the dollar. Any bro who can do a switch-up now has his own webisode series; companies are out of excuses. Somebody’s got to drop a proper team video. Here’s a few that I’d like to see:
Notable shreds: Banks Gilberti, Phil Casabon, Jaime Puigdengoles, Max Hill, Michelle Parker, Kaya Turski, Will Wesson, Andy Parry, Xavier Bertoni, Taylor Seaton, Matt Margetts, JP Auclair.
The Orage team has quietly gotten loaded with talent, and is now bubbling at the ears with rippers. You wouldn’t notice because two seasons ago most of these kids were solid B-team shreds, but now are absolute rippers with their own respective talents. X Games winners TJ Schiller and Xavier Bertoni. Style leaders like B-Dog and Max Hill. Taylor Seaton, one of the most fun guys to watch ski pipe. The TC crew. Super-cool Spanish head Jaime P. Female rip-a-lot Michelle Parker, and JP Auclair. JP was in “13.” Enough said. Find a music editor who will go easy on the new reggae & a filmer who knows you can make shit happen without a RED camera and voila, skiing’s “Fully Flared” is in the bag. Easy as that!
Notable shreds: Tanner Hall, JP Auclair, Anthony Boronowski, Jacob Wester, Phil Casabon, Mike Hornbeck, Riley Leboe, Taylor Seaton, lots of sick Euros, Ian Provo, Kim Lamarre, Zack Davison
Armada has long had a deep roster, although the pro ranks have thinned slightly as of late with the departure of TJ Schiller and Julien Regnier. Like Orage, Armada is investing in a lot of young talent, and a lot of young Euro shralpers as well. There’s a lot of kids on the National teams that probably rip to hell, but I haven’t had the time to watch enough Youtube videos to differentiate them all. However, Armada will have to beat Orage to the punch, as both houses share a few names such as Taylor, JP, Casabon, & Jaime (if he still skis for them, he might not). Same goes for film style, although the folks at Armada are closely wedded to the latest and greatest gadgets in video definition, they don’t like to use any audio in their edits. The fact remains, JP and Tony both need a full part each before they fully hand the reigns over to the next generation.
Notable shreds: Blake Nyman, Banks Gilberti, Jordan Seldin, Jeff Kiesel, Ian Wade, Erica Durstschi, Krista Giles, Dania Assalia , Eliel Hindert, Josh Bishop, Joel Whalen
Yes, I know. Walks of Life is due out any week, day, minute, or second. I’ve been hoping for big things (Hot Lunch Vol. II) from this project, and the NS rumor mill has put the release date back to New Year’s. Make it happen, Surface!
Notable shreds: Andy Mahre, Seth Morrison, Sean Petit, Michelle Parker, Pep Fujas, PK Hunder, Anna Segal, Charley Ager, Frank Raymond, Matt Margetts
K2’s got some seriously ripping big mountain skiers on their set, along with some of the best jib heads. We all know the big names, but Charlie Ager and Frank Raymond deserve more than the combined 20 seconds they’re getting in Poor Boyz flicks. K2 will have to offer some serious incentives for several of their athletes to step away from their current filming commitments with MSP and Nimbus to make the movie, or maybe they’ll just share. In any case, while K2’s benches don’t appear as deep as other teams, they might have the highest concentration of standout video skiers out of any team. They also have Seth Morrison. If K2 stepped up there could be straight fiyah coming out of the DVD player by the time you’re ten minutes in, and I have enough confidence in Mike Gutt to believe this project would live up to its potential.
Notable shreds: Everybody in a “G” or Magic suit, plus Cody Townsend and Mark Abma.
I’m not so sure Salomon needs to make a team video. Between Salomon Freeski TV, Matchstick & Poor Boyz (who are often accused of being Salomon Freeski TV affiliates), these guys have more video coverage of their athletes than any other company. It’s time someone else got to compete. Although Kaya Turski needs a part sometime soon. That chick can slay.
Notable shreds: Garret Russell, Eric Pollard, Will Wesson, Andy Parry, Ian Compton, Max Hill, Joe Schuster, and LJ Strenio.
I was really disappointed a few seasons back when Line dropped their whole team except for Eric Pollard. Then I guess all those kids on the Skier’s Union, who were getting flow from Line, started getting good. Line has some of the most original rippers on their books, notably- Garret Russell, Pollard, the TC boys, Max Hill, and the new butter-smooth kid from Mt. Snow, Ian Compton. The team edit they dropped last week was just a cruel demonstration of how good this video could be. This is one of those rare moments in time where a team captures lightning in a bottle and it’s damn sure not to last. The tools are there to make an absolute classic- Mr. Malczyk has got to make this happen. For skiing’s sake.
Dunfee, I’m so glad you wrote this! I don’t know how many times I’ve written two paragraphs on Newschoolers about how Line should come out with a team video again and just deleted it because I didn’t feel like starting the discussion.
Sterotype, Line’s Iberg team video is one of my favorite ski videos ever. 1242 is a team video and probably the most influential ski movie in the last decade. Hot Lunch and 44 Days were the best movies from last year; TEAM VIDEOS! Every other “action sport” turns out team videos after team videos.
The reason I think those team videos turn out the best comes from the fact that those riders now exemplify a brand. They are already a consistent group because they were hand picked to fit within the mission and message of a ski company. If you identify or have a positive view of that brand, most likely you will have the same for their team video. Plus, it has to generate huge increases in sales if it’s well received. Oakley must have killed it the year 1242 came out.
Lastly, team videos produce consistent products that naturally flow, usually resulting in videos where you don’t have to skip any segments!
couldn’t agree more…logistics are a bitch but it’s good to start the conversation.
True dat. I’ve wanted to do one for years for Line again like we use to do back in the day but that was before it took $20k in cat time to build a feature people would be impressed with. Add travel expenses, production coodination, etc. and you’ve got a full time job aka… film company. Until freestyle skiing makes enough money to support a single brand high budget film, the only way to keep the eye candy high and budgets low is for all brands to contribute their a smaller amount of money toward 1 full time film co to make it happen as everyone does. The other option is cut the hell out of 6 episodes of traveling circus into one 30 minute Traveling Circus type movie but then we’re back to 1995 when you had to wait 12 months to see what happened 12 months ago. So I agree it’s needed, but as everyone points out, its the big budgets that make it memorable. Oakley lost enough on theirs to never do it again and they’re bigger than any of us. So lets keep pushing this thing and eventually we’ll all have our cake and eat it too.
I agree with Ryan and Matt 100%.
Thanks for ruining our hopes and dreams with your real world obstacle talk, Jason. Geez.
I don’t think someone chomping at the bit for a LINE flick is looking for heli shots of dub cork 12s over a 90ft. true table. Hot Lunch had to have been made for peanuts, and it mopped the floor with pretty much every pro flick that year.
How about an am movie? Like, your flow riders with cameos from some of your big(ger) guns? If the soundtrack was good, the vibe was right, etc., I’d watch Asian Allen lollerblade grind for 20 minutes.
Just give Garrett Russell a cam, buy his gas, and do that ish.
Please? I’m begging you. Fine, I volunteer to be the project’s pointman. When do I start? Gonna need an advance…rent’s coming up.
I can’t sit through another PBP movie with T-Hall narration.
glad many people share the same enthusiasm for team videos & companies like Line that I do. BarberDude, I wish I had written you beforehand becuase I knew something was missing from my article but you got it: the riders I mentioned above really work well with the brand and like you said, exemplify it. Before the ski scene just seemed like a jumbled mess of talent, but now it seems more and more like sponsored skiers are finding a “home” in certain brands.
Glad we’re garnering response from some professionals as well (thanks, Jason!). While I agree about the cat time shit, I also agree with chrasual; a lot can be done on a Joystick budget with shitty cameras and creative riders on “regular” terrain, and when somebody cool is editing it (proper vetting required), shit can happen. im sure guys like max and the TC boys could put together fun segments with their current budgets, although the situation is obviously different for a guy like Pollard. He’d be a guy who would be putting more of an “investment” (money & time) to make a part happen. Plus, volunteers are aleady appearing… and im sure most would live out of their trunk with an extension cord & $600 to get it done. It’s all good though, hopefully the appreciation for films like Hot Lunch will grow and create room for a succesful low-budget, highly-enjoyable film coming out from Line or another great company.
LINE Team Video? Check out Wild Stallions. We love showing LINE love. We’ve been married to LINE for a few years now and there’s no sign of divorce in the future.
The reality is the 12 month process for a brand video is not really necessary (as Jason mentioned) given the marketing value with more immediate web content. Line is doing that with TC, and Salomon is basically crushing it with their web series (albeit with footage already paid for from Poorboyz & MSP). However the team video dominated skate model for the past while has been to release a feature video every 3-4 years, and drop web content in the mean time to keep giving life to their riders and marketing…question is, could that ever work in skiing?
Freedle-
I don’t really know….but, I’d love to see what even the failure would look like.
And yes, I do agree that web content is strongest in the “timely and relevant” category.
My fear is that completely getting away from the “annual model” is that ski media is going to turn into ringtones and iTunes singles…There, in my opinion, is huuuuuge value in a “film” much like there is value in albums.
I guess it all really boils down to who is consuming this “stuff” and I guess it’s mostly people (read: kids) who don’t give a shit about albums….and of course us old guys posting here…
You real industry folk are really breaking my heart….
There will always be a market for feature films, web will never replace that entirely, I have faith. No 5 minute clip on a desktop glowing rectangle can replace the feeling of watching a movie in the fall for the first time on the big screen with 500 other people. Also, as the internet gets swamped with millions of questionable edits, I think there will be a backlash towards more professional pieces of media to set itself apart from the over-saturated ski porn for the microwave generation. That is a good thing.
Going back to the team video however, the real thing I was getting at was money- how one brand can sustain it’s own film production in the ski industry. The stuff you see is NOT cheap to generate…even TC has it’s expenses (and a cost per shot) though I hate to think of it that way. Right now the best value for the buck is web, but eventually it may grow to the point where it’s more than that, especially if demand keeps on growing like it has been…just look at snowboarding
Freedle,
Release a new video 3 times a year online for free (you have plenty of footage) and you’ll have 30x the number of viewers. Why is that better? Being that the majority of your income comes from sponsors and not DVD sales and those sponsors only reason for paying you more or less than other film companies is based on the number of people that see it, the more people seeing it gives more reasons for your sponosrs to provide you with more financial support. There’s no better way to get more views than showing your movie for free or selling for less by online download. Again if DVD sales had any potential to outnumber free online views or low priced digital downloads I wouldn’t be saying this. But in the end more views = more advertising/sponsor $. So capitalize on change, don’t fight the best thing to happen to the video business since the invention of Final Cut Pro and digital cameras, progression is good in business just like skiing but only if you capitalize on it
Jason, no one is fighting the web platform here! A lot of people (including most in the music industry) have viewed the internet as the end of business, but in reality it is only a new beginning. We are simply in a transitional period right now, and if you think DVD sales are no longer a good chunk of income for independent movie companies than you are dead wrong. Of course that will change, tis the calling of the future, but immediately switching over to a web-only model has it drawbacks. The reality is that we all want more viewers and business, and that side of things is continually growing- especially online, but until it fully provides a way to pay for professional content then it is not the end-all-be-all answer. (for right now)
All I want to add to this amazing discussion at this point is that nothing compares to getting the all mighty DVD in September before the season starts. Web content is great and I do think edits online are increasing the creativity of ski culture more then anything else, but the full length movie is the most important in the end.
The day I get my first Skiing dvd is like christmas man. I freak out and watch it a million times. It’s been like this since I got PBP 13 and SB1. I hope that ski film companies continue to take themselves serious enough to spend an entire year producing a film that is so good I can tell it took that long to make. Though Nimbus is probably the perfect middle ground since they produce webisodes and a full length movie. Only strange thing is, the webisodes have been superior to the actual movies.
With all of that said, it is true that DVD sales will die and we will all just buy digital downloads. For two years now I’ve been using my flatscreen tv as my computer monitor with a Mac Mini. It’s all in one entertainment center. I can watch a DVD, play Wii, watch Cable, surf the web, stream netflix or get some stuff done on Adobe CS all in one location. This is the future and everyone I know is putting together these setups with computer or video game systems. So, ski film companies, you need to push the digital download even more. Maybe even make the movie rentable or on netflix. I know I didn’t think twice to buy the PBP triple threat premier. $10 and I can watch it on my flatscreen.
Conclusion: Keep making the full length film, but make them much easier to view via the internet.
and make a team video hahaha
Jason, this is somewhat relevant but I showed LJ, Will, and Compton your segment from SB2-Da Kainen over the weekend at Rails to Riches. They were speechless, which as you know, isn’t saying much when it concerns Will. That’s a classic flick.
I think one of the most undervalued asset an independent ski film company has is it’s film tour. Since joining Meathead, Chris and Geoff have enlightened me on the value of developing and sustaining personal connections with MHF’s viewers. This tour season I was graciously welcomed into many different venues both large (1800 in Burlington) to small (15 in Providence). Having a strong presence online is valuable but the key, in my opinion, is partnering that online presence with a personal connection that is only possible through strategically planned tour stops.
*note* I didn’t proof read my comment. Did I just complement J-Lev on skiboarding?
I’m really happy for you, and I’ma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of ALL time!
Back to the original topic, I love team vids- Girl’s “Yeah Right”, Flip’s “Sorry”, Forum’s “The Resistance”, Dynastar’s “Royalty”, and Oakley’s “1242″ are big parts of my sphere of influence.
PROS to team videos:
-Brands have direct control of their own footage and how it is used. (And direct control over their marketing investment.)
-Movies are more focused and can (at least in skateboarding) lead the pack in creativity and awesomeness.
-Riders don’t have to deal with politics.
CONS to team videos:
-On top of the rider budgets that already exist, Brands shoulder a large financial burden directly by producing and promoting their own movies vs. helping support a more broadly involved project. Only a few companies within skiing at this point in time can pull that off.
-ONE BIG AD. It may be pretty mundane compared to most advertising these days, but you are watching, after all, one big product placement video.
-Team effort. Not all rider dudes want to just ski, travel, and film with their “team”. It can be hard as well when a skier is being pulled 5 different ways by different sponsors…it helps in skate & snow where a lot of guys are head to toe with one company. You also have to factor in the diversity and strength of a “team” to make a product at the highest level.
Ok I thought this might be a valuable video to post in this conversation. “Shred Til You’re Dead” is an inline skate video of a cement park tour of the Northwest. It’s not a team video, but it’s definitely a video of like minded skaters. It’s a free to view over a period of about a month and a half. You can still purchase the DVD, but it’s a free movie in a webisode format.
http://www.shredtilyouredead.com
Right now I think out of necessity to stay alive, Inline skating is the most core and authentic “action sport” there is. The stuff they are producing is so fresh and creative throughout the entire industry. If you look at their equipment and style it’s completely their own, while skiing, skateboarding, snowboarding are all biting on each other. Check out http://www.aggressivemall.com/ for proof.
I believe this will be a brobomb article soon. Any way, I just wanted to post this video as a good example of a video format out there and remind everyone that inline skating has the video world on lock down and everyone could learn a lot from the inline scene right now!!!