Producers
Spencer Cooke - Effort, Inc.
A brief history of my kayaking video work - Because I wanted to make a kayak video back in 1998 I purchased my first camcorder, a Canon Hi-8, and began shooting. That footage ended up becoming part of what culminated Buck Fever. For several years after this I was privileged to co-own and co-create Penstock Productions and LVM. Afterwards I formed Effort Inc through which I have produced a plethora of kayak shorts online, Enter The Donkey DVD (co-produced with Deadman & Catalyst), Night of the Living Donkey DVD (co-produced with Deadman) and co-produced The Green Race Movie DVD with Chris Gallaway (Horizonline Pictures).
Joey Hall - DeadMan Productions LLC
I recieved a degree in film and video from the University of South Carolina in 2001. I've been kayaking since I was 16. I never expected to be able to combine these two passions, but I've been lucky enough to do just that. I started DeadMan Productions in 2001 and started shopping some of the short films I was making around to film festivals and had some success there. That experience helped me to get my foot in the door in adventure sports videography and graphic design. I enjoy working with my friends on their projects and having them help me with mine. It's this sort of interaction that's gotten me excited about Rapid Transit.
Chris Gragtmans - Catalyst Media
Kayaking is one of my favourite things to do in my life, and one thing that is difficult about the sport of kayaking is that it is so individual. We are able to experience these incredible places, and the sport gives us all a great sense of happiness and accomplishment, but how can we possibly explain this to family members, significant others, or non-paddling friends? That's where filming comes in for me. I love being able to edit sections in an attempt to do some justice to the sport and the incredible places that it takes us to. I really enjoy watching and producing videos with some type of storyline, that delve a bit more into the personal aspect of the sport, rather than just pure paddling porn(although that has its place as well). Another purpose that videography serves for me is the ability to develop my own skills through watching myself and others on video. I grew up wearing out my VHS copies of Dashboard Burrito, Retendo, and Play Daze, and I am 100% certain that analyzing videos has played a large role in my own progression as an athlete. Headcams and POV perspective video is invaluable for this in my opinion.
Daniel Windham - From the Darkroom
The videography and cinematography of kayaking forms a collective of my three passions in life: music, art, and kayaking. I was born and raised in the college town of Athens, Georgia located an hour south of the Chattooga River. In the early 80's, Athens developed a reputation of being the south eastern hub of fine arts. Growing up in this unique setting and with its close proximity to the Chattooga has heavily influenced my frame composition, music library, and style of paddling.
Chris Gallaway - Horizonline Pictures
Since I was a kid exploring my neighborhood creeks, I've always been fascinated by horizonlines and the mystery that lies beyond the last visible bend or ledge in a river. I'm still drawn to those places in nature and life where mystery and fascination meet, and one of my favorite feelings is the exhilarating mixture of fear and aticipation that comes to you in an eddy as you look at the lip of a rapid and the unknown beyond.
Cooper Lambla - Downstream Movement
I wouldn't be kayaking if it wasn't for kayaking videos. To be specific Search Production's (Chris Emerick) "Dashboard Burrito" was the one that hooked me. Jimmy Blakeney gave me a copy, and I said, "I want to do that!!!" And now I be doing that! (And lovin' it while I'm at it!) I feel like kayaking videos should capture the experience of kayaking. The lifestyle, the people, the destinations, and of course the kayaking. Too many flicks these days are all blinged out like kayakers are some X-Games bros out there who are too cool for school. My favorite videos are the ones that really capture a crew's personality and show them being true and real. I say that, but it can be really hard sometimes to pull out the video camera when all you're trying to do is get through some remote gorge safely! Safety First, then the camera comes out, when it comes out. That's how I play the game!
Andy Gates - Torrent Productions
I enjoy filming and editing kayaking videos, because it gets me closer to what I love to do, kayak; it also lets me view what I have achieved and what I need improvement on. Filming to me is fun, especially when it is with my hobby. I love to watch kayaking videos to see what everyone has done and how i can learn from how they do it. It makes me want to progress and learn more and more about kayaking. I've been making short kayaking movies in my spare time while I'm not working on school work and i hope to soon come out with my own kayaking movie.
Karl Moser - World Class Kayak Academy
30 frames per second.
That's all movies are. By showing 30 still frames in 1 second you can trick the brain into perceiving motion. That's the beauty of film. To use a rapid succession of still images to elicit an experience. Now, if it only takes 30 frames to alter a person's perception of reality, then imagine what you can do with composition, sound, and editing?
Kelsey Thompson - Atlantic Kayaker
I’ve been drawn to water my entire life. The experiences that I’ve had in my kayak are unparalleled to anything else that I’ve ever encountered.
