Subaru: LAUNCH CONTROL

Early in 2022 I was brought on to film a few events for Subaru’s Launch Control series. I was tasked with capturing interviews, pit footage and on-track slow motion capture with my Black Magic URSA 12K.

PROJECT: IKA

Launched this year, Project: IKA is my attempt to bring dramatic, thoughtful storytelling to the YouTube automotive space. Music, editing and relevant content that drives home a message, that tells a story, that entertains and educates.

Watts Agency

Role: Senior Editor / Motion Graphics Artist / Camera Operator

After freelancing at Watts and having built a successful relationship, I was hired on full time by the agency as a Senior Editor. My role had me taking charge of editing top priority projects, working hand in hand with clients face-to-face, on tight deadlines and sometimes through the late hours of the night to deliver content for time sensitive jobs.

Clients included Microsoft, Amazon, Carbon, Riddell, American Cancer Society, Deloitte, Slalom and many other smaller brands.

Some of the pieces I was most proud of were those that were the most difficult.

A job for Microsoft’s Customer Support team, where we designed a project with fun in mind first, the interviews all done over Microsoft Teams and the final piece portrayed as a desktop of a support agent, all built in Adobe After Effects.

Massive, high resolution projections for Satya Nadella that required rendering out 8K files mere hours before they were to be shown on screen behind him as he spoke on stage.

Or pieces that had heart, that were important. Conveying drama, building a visual style through graphics, stills and color that delivered impact for the client, and the viewer.

All in all my time at Watts was rewarding, engaging, challenging and most of all fun. The team is cohesive, tight and camaraderie is paramount and in the air when you walk into their shop in Pioneer Square.

Lonely Whale: Straws

In 2017 as one of the first jobs when I moved to Seattle, the Lonely Whale foundation hired me to direct an ad for their #stopsucking campaign. An idea to get those in Seattle to stop using straws, and to be more aware of their impact on the world’s oceans.

C/D AMS Alpha 12 GT-R

Client . Car and Driver
Role . Camera / Editor / Color
Date . 2012

Truly a monster, the AMS Alpha 12 is a heavily modified Nissan GT-R and we filmed it tearing up Willow Springs International Raceway. A collaboration between me and director buddy Will Roegge, this is a fast paced ride in one of the most insane cars I've had the joy of being in. 

C/D Shelby Mustang

Client . Car and Driver
Role . Director / Camera / Editor / Color
Date . 2012

The first project in my short stint working with Car and Driver magazine, I directed a video review of a comparison between modern high-performance cars against the classic 1965 Shelby Cobra. Sam Smith provided the narrative and hosting, I directed a crew of camera operators and did all editing for this piece. 

Vaughn Gittin R/C Car Chase

Client . K&N Engineering
Role . Director / Camera / Editor / Graphics
Date . 2012

A collaboration of three directors, Andy Laputka, Will Roegge and Skylar Smith, this project for K&N Engineering was a viral success. Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. chases an HPi R/C Car version of himself around the manufacturing and distribution facilities of K&N Engineering, a high-performance air filter company. 

My responsibilities for this production were co-directing, shooting, editng and providing motion graphics and animations for the final piece. 

Keep Drifting Fun

Client . WR+Co.
Role . Camera / Editor
Date . 2011

A long time friend, and mentor, Will Roegge asked me to help him put the finishing touches on his grassroots drifting documentary Keep Drifting Fun. Him and his cohort Joshua Herron had been traveling the country in a VW Bus covering small drifting venues and cultures. 

I was brought in to help edit the final piece, and to help film and edit the final segment in Phoenix, AZ. 

Insight Racing

Client . Insight Racing
Role . Director / Camera / Editor / Color / Graphics
Date . 2011

My first project as Skylar Smith Media, Insight Racing hired me to cover their efforts at a Grand-Am Rolex race in Mid-Ohio. The team featured a familiar face, Tyler McQuarrie, a driver for Falken Tire's Formula Drift team. 

This job was performed solo by Skylar Smith, all camerawork, motion graphics, editing and color were done by him. 

Falken Porsche GT3 RSR Testing

Client . Falken Tire
Role . Director / Camera / Editor / Color / Graphics
Date . 2011

Falken Tire began racing in ALMS while I was their Multimedia Specialist. Their first year was a constant struggle, but they reinvested in the program for their sophomore run and wanted to document their race for a win in 2011. Here, I directed a piece on their testing in Sebring, Florida of their new Porsche GT3 RSR. 

We had a closed course for some car-to-car filming and I was in charge of a second camera operator for this shoot. All motion graphics (including the opening 8-bit intro) editing and color were done by Skylar Smith.