Credits
Concept, Director, Producer, Editor, VFX, Colorist
Producers: Jared Cardon, Jeff Parkin
Director of Photography: A. Todd Smith
Music: Ninja Tracks
Production Company: Western Lights
Client: BYU
Defying Gravity
I love this video, in large part because it was REALLY HARD to pull off! As I conceptualized what I wanted to do with BYU’s Dunk Team promo video, I thought it would be amazing to create this sense of rockets blasting off, defying gravity, and soaring to new heights, so that led me to want to incorporate smoke.
After a ton of research and several tests, we miraculously got clearance to shoot inside an awesome looking gymnasium in Provo, and then we had to figure out how to vent the smoke. After consulting with several fire fighters and fire marshals, we formulated a plan to use some massive swamp cooler fans on a couple of doorways and otherwise seal off every other entrance to the gym. It worked well enough to clear most of the smoke between takes and we were able to make our day.
Huge thanks and props must be given to the amazing BYU Dunk Team, who agreed to add smoke grenades to their already intense and demanding routine. Those guys are amazing.
And this wouldn’t have been possible without Producers Jared Cardon and Jeff Parkin, who went way above and beyond to figure out the logistics with me, run the tests, and make this incredibly unique shoot happen. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and that we got to make something truly awesome together.
