Presented by
As kayakers we love to share our passion through media, because in many cases that is the only way. Shout out to the boys and girls packing their camera gear around. This is the best Short Film in the World of Kayaking.
[ Full Interviews with Top 3 Short Film Finalists Featured Below ]
• WINNER •
Cataracts
Casey Bryant Jones
WA: Where are you from and where do you live?
CBJ: I am from Franklin, NC but currently residing in the Ottawa River Valley.
WA: What do you do professionally?
CBJ: I am the manager of the Ottawa Kayak School at Wilderness Tours.
WA: How long have you been filming?!
CBJ: I’ve been actively filming for the last three years.
WA: How did you get into filming?
CBJ: Actually when I was a kid I got into filming/photography because my older brother was always shredding.
WA: Do you mostly film kayaking or other sports? What is your favorite sport to film?
CBJ: I do mostly film kayaking but not opposed to branching out in the future.
WA: What inspired you to make this video?
CBJ: Watching Aniol learn the Cataracts of the Kern as quickly as he did and find the rhythm of the water was astounding and simply put I just wanted to share what I had of him doing his thing.
WA: Why these riders showcased?
CBJ: Aniol is well… Aniol regardless of where he is he’s always doing something incredible. I was just lucky enough to be invited along by Evan Moore.
WA: Why this river showcased?
CBJ: The Cataracts of the Kern are incredible. From the landscape to the whitewater itself I don’t think I’ve ever been in such a unique place.
WA: You are not just a great film maker, you also are a sick paddler! What do you enjoy more, kayaking or filming? Which came first.. the chicken or the egg?
CBJ: I’m one of those weirdos that enjoys filming as much as I enjoy kayaking. As for being a good kayaker that jury is out on that one but I am enjoying the progression! I think the chicken came first?
WA: Who’s your favorite page that is a MUST FOLLOW (for funny, cool or dope content?) on the instabang
CBJ: If you’re a kayaker you have to follow @bennymrr for the phenomenal feats and the daydream videos.
WA: What is your choice editing program?
CBJ: If I’m just editing for fun I prefer Final Cut Pro.
WA: Words of wisdom to those looking to make films?
CBJ: Shoot and shoot often. You never know what you’ll get.
WA: Where is a place we can see more of your work?!
CBJ: Currently my Instagram is where I post my videos but looking to start a youtube page this year.
• RUNNER UP •
Ram Raw
Knox Hammack
WA: Where are you from and where do you live?
KH: I am from State College, Pennsylvania and now I live in Bellingham, Washington!
WA: Dope RAW kayaking video format! This is the first one we’ve seen for kayaking.. is it the first one you have seen or know about? What is the inspiration behind the RAW format? What was the first RAW video you saw?
KH: Thanks! It is the first RAW edit I’ve made of a trip. We had not planned for the Ram edit to be RAW, but when we were looking through the footage we all felt RAW footage was the best way to portray the trip. Music is a big part of the edits we make and for this one we wanted to to focus on the trip’s events as much as possible. In addition, after the river rose while we were getting hailed on, I realized uncertainty was a huge theme of the trip and I thought the RAW format emphasized that more than the traditional style of kayak edit.
WA: What do you do professionally? Are you still in school?
KH: I am a senior planning on graduating in December.
WA: You are not just a sick filmer / video maker, you also currently share the World Record of the highest Waterfall descent with Tyler Bradt both stomping 189 foot Palouse Falls. Do you consider yourself more of a filmer or a stoutmaster?
KH: Thanks guys shoutout to Tyler Bradt! I just love falling off stuff and filming the homies boat! I had not been filming as frequently as I used to but the Ram trip reminded me why I enjoy it so much so I am really excited film our future trips.
WA: Also which came first.. the chicken or the egg?
KH: KFC
WA: You also won the Best Line Waterfall for 2019 Whitewater Awards for stepping up to Palouse.. do you have any stouts up your sleeve for 2020? Is Covid fucking those plans up or making you more fired up to send?!
KH: Yes. Covid is definitely messing up the plans I had but quarantining has allowed me to regress to watching edits as much as I did when I was learning to kayak. I am extremely thankful that you can purchase all the LVM’s on vimeo, and that Evan Garcia has been uploading edits to youtube. I definitely more fired up to send when it’s time! I’m not going to be sending anything super gnarly right now so I’ve been able to reflect on past trips and plan new ones.
WA: What is your choice editing program?
KH: Adobe Premier Pro
WA: Who’s your favorite page that is a MUST FOLLOW on the instabang?
KH: Influencersinthewild is definitely a must follow account.
WA: Words of wisdom to those looking to make films?
KH: Think about your favorite films and what about makes them stand out so you can get stoked to go film and edit your vision.
WA: Where is a place we can see more of your work?!
KH: Check out Torryd on the social media’s and Vimeo!
• THIRD PLACE •
Norway Cut
Ciaran Heurteau / RedBull Media House
WA: Where are you from and where do you live?
Ciaran Heurteau: Born in a country named France and living bang in the middle of the French Alps.
WA: What do you do professionally?
CH: This and that. Camera work, stills and motion, river guiding, construction, lifty in winter for the last two seasons.
WA: How long have you been filming?!
CH: Started in 2010.
WA: How did you get into filming?
CH: Long story short, got injured kayaking, was bored, bought a camera and started shooting my friends kayaking.
WA: Do you mostly film kayaking or other sports? at is your favorite sport to film?
CH: I guess kayaking is the sport I’ve filmed the most and it’s also the one that I enjoy capturing behind my camera. It’s the one I’m most passionate about.
WA: What inspired you to make this video?
CH: Rush Sturges from River Roots asked if I was keen to go and film Nouria Newman in Norway for a RedBull series project. Didn’t take long for me to say yes 🙂
WA: Why this rider showcased?
CH: Because Nouria is at the forefront of our sport, pushing the boundaries day in day out.
WA: Why this river showcased?
CH: It was more the country than a particular river. Norway is known to be a kayaking paradise.
WA: What is your choice editing program?
CH: Well I’ve always been a die hard Premiere Pro fan, but recently I’ve been using Da Vinci Resolve and I have to say that I quite enjoy it. I love color correcting photos and Da Vinci is the top program for grading your film.
WA: You are not just a great film maker, you also are a sick paddler! What do you enjoy more, kayaking or filming? Which came first.. the chicken or the egg?
CH: A circle has no beginning. So I’d say it’s not one or the other. It’s both. Though lately I’m leaning more on just kayaking.
WA: Who’s your favorite page that is a MUST FOLLOW (for funny, cool or dope content?) on the instabang?
CH: I don’t follow any page. I just type the name of whoever pops in my head whenever I open Instagram, just to see what they’re up to. Generally close friends, otherwise I’d spend hours on that thing. I know because that’s how it was at one point. Wanted to spend more time in being present in the here and now than siphoned out in online reality.
WA: Words of wisdom to those looking to make films?
CH: Do your thing, stop comparing others work to yours. Do passion projects beside the ones you get paid for.
WA: Where is a place we can see more of your work?!
CH: www.ciaranheurteau.com
WA: Do you have any stouts up your sleeve for 2020? Is Covid fucking those plans up or making you more fired up to send?!
CH: No plans for 2020 apart from finishing my river guiding license. Covid has put a few pot holes on the road, just got to take it slowly. Know that the universe has got it sussed.
WA: Thank You Ciaran!
