Formula Drift / Long Beach 2013

Client . Formula Drift / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013

Formula Drift is where I began my video career. I've been covering it since 2005 and have missed few events since then. 

I was asked, on behalf of YAER Productions, to spice up some Formula Drift videos in 2013 with motion graphics. Here is the first of those pieces. 

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. 

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.