Session Commercials / GoPro

Client . GoPro Camera
Role . Director / Color / Editor / Motion / Compositing
Date . 2016

I played a big role in the 2016 advertising of GoPro's smallest, most user friendly camera yet, the Hero Session. The task was 3 commercials (starting with a Superbowl spot made in 3 days) featuring the three key-features of the Session. Simplicity, durability, and versatility. 

For durability it was a team effort of many people in a small Oakland studio to put together this one-take assault on the camera in 30-seconds. The shot is mostly authentic with some light compositing to feature the camera in the best way, and to wipe it clean at the end. 

For Versatility, as Director, I traveled the United States with a number of custom made GoPro rigs to capture this center-weighted match cut spot. 

Best of 2015 / GoPro

Client . GoPro Camera
Role . Editor
Date . 2015

Literally my first day on the job at GoPro was to review the nearly 300 videos they made in 2015 and compile a highlight reel! What an education in the GoPro cinematic style this was. Their use of motion, seamless editing and point-of-view camera angles requires a completely different approach to editing than I was used to. 

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.