[filmguy]

I'm curious to hear what all your thoughts are, what you like and dislike about mountain bike films as of now? What would make them better?

For the people who don't buy mtb films, why not? What would have to change for you to buy one?

I'm just wondering because I may or may not be making a film, and if I am I don't want it to turn out to be like every other film out there and not do well. So I thought I would ask the people who would watch it for their advice.

This would not be a low budget film

Thanks for any opinions/comments

 

[moff_quigley]

So this is or is not low budget ?

 

[I Are Baboon]

The problem is that I can't do 95% of the sh!t the riders in those films can do. lthumbsdown:

 

[robdamanii]

The problem is that I can't do 95% of the sh!t the riders in those films can do. lthumbsdown:

 

[filmguy]

This would not be a low budget film.

I Are Baboon, is that really a problem? Seriously, I've heard people say that the films don't relate to the riders enough because of that reason so they don't enjoy them as much..

 

[I Are Baboon]

I Are Baboon, is that really a problem?

Not really. I mean, I can't tackle Ladainian Tomlinson but I still watch football.

 

[Five]

I don't buy movies - wether it be MTB or Star Wars or Indiana Jones or whatever the latest blockbuster is cause after I've watched them a couple of times - I don't want to watch em again.

 

[HAB]

What would have to change for you to buy one?

They'd need to not be avaliable for free on YouTube, for one.




I like DH films way better than FR. Watching people jump off stuff is cool, but I like DH stuff better. I think my favorite shots are helmet cams, shot from the POV of one rider trailing another. Crappy helmet cam footage blows chunks though. A good camera is a must.

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

This would not be a low budget film.

I Are Baboon, is that really a problem? Seriously, I've heard people say that the films don't relate to the riders enough because of that reason so they don't enjoy them as much..

No, I think that is a real issue, especially for me. I really enjoyed the parts of the First Roam, where they were shredding a bunch of single track hitting this and that. I like to see the riders hit and do cool stuff on various lines, but how many times can I watch someone hit a 50' gap, that I am never even going to get close to.

 

[reflux]

OT: The real geniuses don't critique films; they fix what the critics complain about. Film critics are a dime a dozen.

Perhaps your answer would be best found in comparing successful and unsuccessful movies in other sports and genres. If you can identify the key difference(s) between the two, everything else "should" fall into place.

 

[Echo]

Early in my hucking career I was all about watching Tippie and Bender launch themselves off the most retarded obstacles, rarely landing it. Eventually the filmmakers started getting riders that could do more than just lawndart, and the stuff got more gnarly.

But at some point I realized every movie is just the same dudes launching off slight variations of the same stunts/drops, with some loud music and fancy camera work thrown in there. The footage of Nico or Cedric blasting at light speed down a DH course to loud music similarly got tired.

Now that I am officially retired from freeriding, I don't really have any use for those movies anymore. Not to say I won't sit there with a big grin on my face going "DAMN!" if someone throws one in the DVD player, but I don't go buy them anymore. I really liked that "Solo 24" movie though.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

I'm cheap - not about to drop $40 on any video. If the price point were $5, I might.

 

[jimmydean]

I own quite a few MTB vids and I watch them with some regularity. There are parts I enjoy and it's sort of motivational for me too. Nothing makes me want to go faster than to see Peety bomb through a section of single track.

I like some of the race footage, but I enjoy the natural sections a lot. The DJ stuff can be cool, but I don't do it, so I only watch a little.

As long as there is no guy on a unicycle, I'm cool with the vid.

 

[kidwoo]

There's no need for cheeseball 'themes' in mtb movies a la New world disorder. The cinematography in those flicks is excellent....mexican wrestlers and pro bike riders running around is prison suits just make for parts you want to fast forward through. Something minor to differentiate installments in a series is fine but keep it to a minimum.

I personally think the overly dramatic presentation in ROAM and Collective could be toned down a bit too. But I'd much rather hear audio on bike riding than watch some moustache cop chase a base jumper off a cliff.

Just be creative and do what feels right. NWD has the butt rocker slo mo thing, digger has the home made shore thing, and the collective guys have the cheeseball 'soul' thing, just make a flick and see what happens. With so much uncovered talent out there, find some good riders who are willing to work with you and don't spend a bunch of resources trying to get the same names that show up in other videos.

Of all the flicks I've seen recently, Stripped really stood out for me. They did some goofy things with graphics and scene transitions but the riding was good, the names were kind of B list but certainly provided a great display of talent, and most importantly, the video shocased a unique style......both in video presentation and audio choices.

As far as 'genre' content goes.....I think most people just like watching interesting bike riding.....racetrack, dirtjumps whatever. I know I do.

 

[bluebug32]

I own Roam and the Collective and watch them mainly when I spin on the trainer in the winter. I've seen Kranked and lots of others and these two are still my favorites. I'm a sucker for playful and creative cinematography, good music, and an overall flow. I don't care for a lot of talking/interviewing and over-the-top death-defying stunts.

 

[Da Peach]

I haven't seen many, but I youtubed the part of Drift 3 with Bryn Atkinson with the face-view helmet cam thing. Muchas coolio.

 

[ultraNoob]

I find the films motivational. I know... one day... maybe 20 years from now... I still won't be able to do the stuff they do, but it's nice to dream.

I actually take notes on certain maneuvers, body positons, and such to help improve my riding

 

[jimmydean]

I actually take notes on certain maneuvers, body positons, and such to help improve my riding

I learned I was in the way wrong position in a high speed turn and that's why I was slowing down too much in order to not overshoot it in a DH race.

 

[stevew]

I think the last ones I bought were ride to the hills and Spomers video, whatever the name of it was.

 

[RhinofromWA]

If you are going to do a video make it more than a lot of awsome riding with crap music blaring over it.

Seriously

Watch On Any Sunday(old), and Dust to Glory(new) for an idea of real videos. Great photage with a story of some sort.

I have not seen all the MTB vids out there but they are similiar. The photage of the town welcome sign, quick venue shot and then lots of great race photoage that all starts to blend together....with little to no timeline. Is it a practice or race run? Who is schooling who?

I think most videos have great photage but are seriously lacking on any context/content. Maybe narrated....with some story.

I repeat, watch OAS and D2G.

Or you could always show video of some young'n drinking a gallon of milk in like 15 minutes......

 

[Munster]

If you are going to do a video make it more than a lot of awsome riding with crap music blaring over it.

Seriously

Watch On Any Sunday(old), and Dust to Glory(new) for an idea of real videos. Great photage with a story of some sort.

I have not seen all the MTB vids out there but they are similiar. The photage of the town welcome sign, quick venue shot and then lots of great race photoage that all starts to blend together....with little to no timeline. Is it a practice or race run? Who is schooling who?

I think most videos have great photage but are seriously lacking on any context/content. Maybe narrated....with some story.

I repeat, watch OAS and D2G.

Or you could always show video of some young'n drinking a gallon of milk in like 15 minutes......

I was going to write the same thing. MTB videos have not changed in 10 years: 30-45min music videos. See anything by Bruce and Dana Brown to see how to make a film.

 

[ultraNoob]

I learned I was in the way wrong position in a high speed turn and that's why I was slowing down too much in order to not overshoot it in a DH race.

haha, oh the mistakes I've found. the more I watch, take note, and emulate, the faster and nimbler I get. It took me hours of watching to realize what the "attack position" was and why it works on berms.

 

[?????]

Think about the "Vertical Limit" movie about climbing Everest. It did really well for a movie about mountaineering, but to anyone that is actually into mountaineering, it was probably stupid.

I'd say if you want to make a film that would attract a large viewer base, then you need a bunch of rediculous special effects, a cheesy love story and a protagonist with a goal to achieve... and then you would have a film that would sell well to the general public, but most every mountain biker would think it was really lame.

 

[SPINTECK]

I think moutain bikers are very diverse and you obviously won't please everyone. Mixture and diversity of shots, lenghts, and riders instead of all hard core riders with same editing techniques. I like a mixture over long shots and short shots. It seems only the collective puts nice long shots in, but I like seeing how the rider set's up for the trick/trail and how they come out- not just the trick after trick.

I also like a mixture of viewpoints- cable is my personal favorite, but reverse helmet cam (drift) is cheap and easy. Helocopter is also very cool, but a 500 foot long steel cable strapped high can do the trick.

No stuped cheesy plots with gay themes or stupidity- that's been so overdone. I would like to see the following 2 plots using the above techniques.

1. a USA tour of non-secret trails that college guys or anyone could copy in a 2 week trip. Cable cam Platty, Keystone, Angelfire, Northstar and any dirt spots along the way. THis secret trail Sh1t gets on my nerves as well as places I can't afford to fly too.

2. I'd love to see a semi-documentary following four types of riders during the season- one pro female downhiller, one junior, one free rider and one master. That film could share and contrast the lifestyle, training, competition and terrain, but would start with each rider listing goals, how they are attaining them and what the outcomes were at the end of the season.

Mixture of music too- sick of the same cadence of music.

 

[SPINTECK]

I've given up on attacting a large audience on pure mountain biking. YOu'd have to make a movie that's family friendly and throws in a wedding and having a baby. Then maybe you could do something mainstream with some good writing.

 

[OGRipper]

It's like any other porn: Don't waste my time or insult my intelligence with a stupid plot or by making the talent try to act.

Seriously, if it's just rad riding, keep it simple and just get to it. The "lifestyle" stuff drives me nuts. If you are following a race scene or whatever, capture candid stuff and if necessary maybe do some voice-overs to give a sense of what's happening.

 

[Red Rabbit]

Dust to glory was awesome, I loved First Decent, because of it's story about the history of snowboarding.

 

[erastusboy]

boobs

 

[Thrillkil]

movies arent enough like NWD 3

 

[SPINTECK]

movies arent enough like NWD 3

I agree. That one was great with all the zip line shots, diverse riding and varied music.

 

[Rip]

DH flicks for me.

 

[Thrillkil]

I agree. That one was great with all the zip line shots, diverse riding and varied music.

eh, it still beats the "watch me ride down this staircase while listening to Jurassic 5" crop, as far as I'm concerned.

that and watching bender get turned into a pretzel is pretty fun

 

[Zark]

DH movies.
kill the commentary, plot, lifestyle BS
Crank the metal.

 

[turkishprison]

Honestly i loved the "Essentials of MTN Biking" video b/c it had a bunch of good points to think about when you are riding. Anyone can thud down a trail, but to put thought into your ride helps you elevate your game. figuring out how to weight your foot on off-camber mud, how to hit a step up, etc. is really improved by watching a pro go at it. Then you can mimic and perfect your craft on the trail. That said i like watching NWD and the like for the music, the locations, and the skills. Do yourself a favor and watch an old NWD movie and compare the music to Kranked progression. Progression has shat music and doesnt have the same feel that NWD2 or 3 has. I would say combine the two disciplines above and hit a how-to laced with some hardcore trail riding, throw in a little North Shore stuff and boom you may have a winner.

 

[SkaredShtles]

No "None" option?

 

[Westy]

I've never enjoyed any MTB movie. I just don't like watching them, throw in bad music and ADD inducing 0.8 second clips and I walk away.

 

[stinkyboy]

No "None" option?

No 900mm seat posts, no care huh?

 

[PatBranch]

I like DH movies like The Circus and freehuck movies like

.

I like good creative shots and editing, like in the Collective and the simpler shots and speed of The Circus.

 

[SkaredShtles]

No 900mm seat posts, no care huh?

 

[jonKranked]

Early in my hucking career I was all about watching Tippie and Bender launch themselves off the most retarded obstacles, rarely landing it. Eventually the filmmakers started getting riders that could do more than just lawndart, and the stuff got more gnarly.

But at some point I realized every movie is just the same dudes launching off slight variations of the same stunts/drops, with some loud music and fancy camera work thrown in there. The footage of Nico or Cedric blasting at light speed down a DH course to loud music similarly got tired.

Now that I am officially retired from freeriding, I don't really have any use for those movies anymore. Not to say I won't sit there with a big grin on my face going "DAMN!" if someone throws one in the DVD player, but I don't go buy them anymore. I really liked that "Solo 24" movie though.

also watching dh/fr videos takes away from the time you could be watching porn.

dunno if its been mentioned, but one of my fav all time videos was "no more heroes" by and far not the best quality out there, but the concept was what was so cool. just normal guys who work jobs and aren't pros (very few of the peeps in the film were sponsored as far as i'm aware, correct me if i'm wrong). they just liked to go out and send it because that's what they like to do. It was super easy to relate to these guys because thats what I do; work the 9-5 then go out riding in my free time cuz I love it so much.

also do stuff unique and original thats never been seen before, or is done very infrequently. one of the coolest vids i saw was floating around youtube i think, it was a look back helmet cam view; the camera was mounted on a boom/arm or something from the riders helmet, and actually pointed back at the rider. it was pretty sweet.