Hero5 + Karma Launch / GoPro

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

What an honor, to be part of the team behind the Launch Video of GoPro, arguably the most important piece of content GoPro makes every year. A massive undertaking by teams all around the world, the Launch Video is the yearly "stoke piece" that plays to the heart of GoPro and it's fans. 

This year's launch was an especially challenging one as this video was still being filmed 2 weeks prior to the launch. Editing was done in 16-32 hour shifts over a month, day in day out until just hours before public release. The amount of dedication and craftsmanship GoPro editors put into their edits is beyond compare in any production I've been a part of. 

Every shot has been carefully chosen, every shot as been color corrected to perfection, every spec of dust removed, every background element has been poured over and composited to present you the clearest and most beautiful image possible. This is why no one believes me when I say that yes, everything was actually shot on GoPro. 

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. 

Climb: Pikes Peak Hill Climb With a Monster

Client . Falken Tire
Role . Director / Editor / Color / Graphics
Date . 2010

As part of my role of Multimedia Specialist at Falken Tires, I was in charge of directing the first full-length real-time on board camera video of an Unlimited Class car competing  in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Monster Tajima is a name synonymous with Pikes Peak and was chasing the ever so elusive ten-minute record for Pikes Peak. 

With a partnership from GoPro Camera, we covered as many angles as possible on Tajima's insane Suzuki and let the world really see what it was like to race up America's Mountain. 

This video quickly became viral, and has  reached millions of views on Youtube. The most popular Pikes Peak video since "Climb Dance"

Direction, editing, color-grading and motion graphics by Skylar Smith.