Creating Lifestyle Content on Trail

Most people would probably consider a backpacking trip an opportunity to shake off the duties of work and enjoy a little downtime with Mother Nature – cell phones turned off, computers powered down, and hammocks securely fastened. Other people know that time spent on trail offers the perfect chance to snap photos, shoot film, and engage in storytelling – in other words, create “content.”…
Read More

Tighten Up Your Interview Techniques

Interviews are often a key part of documentary-style filmmaking. Speaking with an expert or other person with intimate knowledge of the film’s main subject area can add substance, depth, and credibility to your film. Of course, if your project focuses on one specific person or group of people, capturing their thoughts and reflections is a key part of the narrative process itself.…
Read More

Twelve Trail Tales

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act, a key piece of legislation that helped designate and protect many of the trails we love. Today, there are over 1,000 National Recreational Trails, 19 National Historic Trails, and 11 National Scenic Trails across the United States.…
Read More

The Drone Commandments

Unmanned aerial vehicle, unmanned aerial system, quadcopter, drone: no matter what you call it, when you add a camera to this high-flying gadget, you open up endless possibilities to elevate the filmmaking experience. A drone offers flexibility to shoot angles and areas you’d otherwise never have access to, and well-done aerial shots can lend a gorgeous, cinematic quality to your work.…
Read More

Jennifer Daniels Trains Her Lens on a Side Hustle

Adventure Film School’s Ski & Snowshoe Filmmaking Course offered Daniels the chance to indulge not only her athletic side (in addition to skiing, she enjoys mountain biking and rock climbing), but also her artistic side. She was excited to tap into her creativity, and was hoping that some of the more “daunting” technical aspects of filmmaking would be demystified during those four days stationed at a yurt deep in the Washington backcountry.…
Read More

Finding Fresh Ideas in the New Year

There’s no shortage of discussions about making resolutions and setting goals come January, but each new year also offers the chance to dream up fresh ideas – and an opportunity to work toward bringing them to life. Here are our tips for channeling your creativity to generate an explosion of ideas that might just lead to your next project.…
Read More

Navigating the Wild World of Adventure Film Festivals

For many people, the phrase “film festival” summons images of celebrities basking in the silver screens at Cannes, Toronto, and Sundance. While it’s true that there’s a certain amount of prestige involved with showing at any of those events, the world is filled with incredible film festivals large and small – and the outdoor community is no different.…
Read More

Location Permitting 101

Surely you’ve heard some variation of the phrase “It’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask for permission.” However, professional (and hopefully personal) ethics dictate the opposite when it comes to filming on property that doesn’t belong to you. Since it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to navigating red tape and paperwork, we decided to break down the nuts and bolts of location permitting to help you prepare for asking permission – and increase your odds of receiving it.…
Read More