THE FREERIDE PROJECT
Setting up the new North Dice out in Cape Hatteras to shoot a section with Toby Bromwich
Let loose
When you have been caught up in travel, concentrating on stacking clips for an entire year, it is easy to forget that eventually all of that footage will need sorting, marking, storyboarding and editing, with a loose story strung together from the countless hours of ‘lifestyle’ filming that was scattered across hard drives all over the world. So, start organized and continue as you mean to go on! Landing back in the UK at the end of 2013 I had set aside the festive period to complete the edit. Leaving me about a month in front of the computer to get the second FRP constructed, time lined and set to music. James had the intro, linking sections and some other story elements on his list, and we continued to work remotely together sending edits and ideas back and forth. Eventually we had a finished product ready for upload and distribution… By far the scariest bit of making a full movie is releasing it! Editing it seems like a hurdle, when you first approach that mountain of footage, a never ending stack of clips, choosing
over 20 tracks to use and endless cuts that change and effect the feel and flow of the edit, but that is nothing compared to the feeling that comes when you are ready to release that time, effort, passion and work to the world.
The next chapter
The one truly amazing thing about video production is that it is always changing over time – it is an ever evolving creative art. No two shots are the same and no two edits will ever match. This is exciting for the future as it means that we will keep seeing new things: different angles, bigger tricks and more details. This change was reflected as I moved onto FRP3. It felt like I was reacting to a change in video at the time. Starting the year and the project, I started my #courtintheact series on my YouTube channel, reacting to the ever demanding need for social media updates and the sort of ‘snapchat’ production that is becoming ever more prevalent. The idea was that I would drop an edit each month with what I got up to: kiteboarding, action, projects and events, shot mostly in POV
using GoPro with a smattering of high quality production shots taken with the new Sony FS700 that I had invested in at the start of the year. I wanted to reflect the growing trend of POV filming; instant gratification footage and regular updates whilst still staying true to the longer format movies that are increasingly rare. This concept was meant to ease the filming pressure, whilst ensuring that I would get enough content to produce a full movie. Nothing was guaranteed though, so the movie project was always on a back seat until the year was through and I knew the edit would be possible. In short, the movie was at the mercy of my schedule and I was hoping that this would lead to enough time rolling with the crew! Developing the FRP concept was only natural, changing the filming styles over time and allowing the idea to take us to different places, keep expanding and exploring the world with a kite. As 2015 kicked off and I started to film with another project in the back of my mind we again found ourselves in Cape Town. A familiar place to build the foundations of a project that had set all
TheKiteMag | 59