5 Common Mistakes Adventure Filmmakers Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Adventure filmmaking is a pretty exciting ride, one that takes you to the most remote and breathtaking places on earth. Whether you’re capturing the adrenaline of a ski tour on a 13,000ft peak, the solitude of a climber scaling an isolated rock face in Mexico, or the passion of an athlete balancing training with recording a new album, every project comes with its own unique set of challenges. Over the years, working on projects like Unseen Peaks, The Summit Within, and The Goat Surf Club, I've encountered and overcome many obstacles. But like any craft, adventure filmmaking is full of potential pitfalls.
In this blog post, I’ll dive into five common mistakes that adventure filmmakers often make and share practical advice on how to avoid them. If you're an aspiring adventure filmmaker, or even a seasoned pro, these insights will help you refine your process and elevate your work.
Mistake 1: Underestimating the Importance of Pre-Production
The Reality:
In the rush to get out into the wild and start shooting, it’s easy to overlook the importance of thorough pre-production. However, failing to plan adequately can lead to missed opportunities and costly mistakes in the field. I learned this lesson the hard way during the production of The Summit Within, where we documented the physical and emotional journey of veterans climbing a 4,000+ meter peak in Colorado. The high-altitude environment posed numerous challenges, and without meticulous planning, we would have struggled to capture the story as effectively as we did.
How to Avoid It:
To avoid this mistake, treat pre-production as the foundation of your entire project. Spend ample time researching your location, understanding the challenges it presents, and planning your shots. Create detailed shot lists, storyboard key scenes, and consider potential obstacles. For example, when filming How to Ski Tour with La Sportiva, we meticulously planned each episode, knowing that weather conditions and time constraints would dictate our shooting schedule. By having a clear plan, we were able to adapt quickly when conditions changed.
Additionally, make sure to have a backup plan. The unpredictable nature of outdoor environments means that things rarely go exactly as planned. Whether it's a sudden change in weather, equipment failure, or unforeseen logistical issues, having a contingency plan can save your shoot.
Mistake 2: Neglecting the Power of Storytelling
The Reality:
It’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of the locations and the thrill of the action, but without a compelling narrative, your film may fall flat. Storytelling is the backbone of any successful adventure film. It’s what connects the audience to the characters, the challenges they face, and the environment they’re navigating.
When working on Unseen Peaks, a film about Addie, a blind adventurer seeking freedom through skiing and climbing, the story was the heart of the project. The breathtaking visuals of the mountains were essential, but it was Addie’s personal journey that truly resonated with audiences and led to the film being nominated for an Emmy in the category of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
How to Avoid It:
Always start with the story. Before you even pick up a camera, spend time developing a narrative that will engage your audience. Ask yourself: Who is the protagonist? What challenges do they face? What are the stakes? How will their journey evolve? A well-crafted story will keep your audience invested from beginning to end.
During production, keep the story in mind with every shot you take. Focus on capturing moments that advance the narrative and reveal something about the characters or the environment. In post-production, be ruthless in your editing, cutting out anything that doesn’t serve the story. When we edited The Goat Surf Club series, which followed my friends and me as we navigated the challenges of surfing and environmentalism in Senegal, we were careful to balance the surf action with the human stories, ensuring that the environmental message was clear and impactful.
Mistake 3: Overpacking Your Gear
The Reality:
Adventure filmmaking often involves trekking into remote locations, sometimes for days at a time. The temptation to bring every piece of gear you own is strong—after all, you never know what you might need. However, overpacking can be a major mistake. It slows you down, increases the risk of injury, and can lead to decision fatigue when you’re trying to choose between lenses or camera bodies.
During the production of Canopy Climbers in Costa Rica, we had to hike through dense jungle and climb towering trees. Bringing too much gear would have been not only impractical but also dangerous. We needed to be agile, moving quickly and efficiently to capture the action as it unfolded.
How to Avoid It:
Simplify your gear selection to the essentials. Think critically about what you truly need to capture the story you’re telling. When packing for a shoot, consider the environment, the type of shots you’ll be taking, and the physical demands of the location. For Canopy Climbers, we focused on lightweight, versatile equipment that allowed us to move freely and get the shots we needed without being weighed down.
Invest in multipurpose gear that can serve multiple functions. For example, a high-quality zoom lens can cover a range of focal lengths, reducing the need to carry multiple lenses. Similarly, consider bringing a drone for aerial shots instead of lugging around heavy cranes or jibs.
Mistake 4: Underestimating the Time Spent in the Editing Room
The Reality:
Many people assume that the bulk of adventure filmmaking takes place in the field, capturing stunning visuals and exciting action. While that’s certainly a significant part of the process, a huge amount of time is spent in the editing room. Editing is where the story truly comes together, and it requires a tremendous amount of time, patience, and creativity.
I’ve experienced this firsthand on numerous projects, including the Reel Rock series, where I worked as an editor. We would often pull round-the-clock shifts to meet tight deadlines, refining each frame to ensure the story was told as powerfully as possible. Editing is a meticulous process, and it’s where you craft the final narrative, build tension, and create the emotional impact of the film.
How to Avoid It:
Recognize that editing is just as important as shooting and allocate enough time and resources to do it properly. Start by organizing your footage carefully. Label clips, create bins, and make notes about key moments or potential sequences as you review the raw footage. This will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Don’t rush the editing process. Give yourself time to step away from the project and come back with fresh eyes. This can help you spot mistakes or areas that need improvement. Additionally, consider collaborating with other editors or seeking feedback from trusted colleagues. Their insights can be invaluable in shaping the final product.
Mistake 5: Failing to Build Relationships with Local Experts
The Reality:
Adventure filmmaking often takes you to places where you’re unfamiliar with the terrain, weather conditions, or local culture. Trying to navigate these challenges on your own can lead to mistakes or missed opportunities. Building relationships with local experts, guides, and athletes can make a world of difference in the success of your project.
For example, when filming The Mexico Story in El Potrero Chico, we relied heavily on local climbers knowledge who knew the area well. Their knowledge of the routes, weather patterns, and the best times to shoot was invaluable.
How to Avoid It:
Before you begin filming, invest time in building relationships with local experts. Reach out to guides, athletes, and community leaders who can offer insights and assistance. Be respectful and show genuine interest in their expertise—they’ll be more likely to go above and beyond to help you achieve your vision.
During the production of Unseen Peaks, we worked closely with local guides who understood the unique challenges of the environment. Their guidance ensured we captured the stunning visuals we needed while keeping the crew and equipment safe. These relationships not only improve the quality of your film but also enrich the storytelling by providing local perspectives and insights.
The Key Takeaways
Adventure filmmaking is a challenging and rewarding field, full of potential pitfalls but also incredible opportunities for growth and creativity. By avoiding these common mistakes—underestimating pre-production, neglecting storytelling, overpacking gear, underestimating the editing process, and failing to build local relationships—you can elevate your work and create films that truly resonate with audiences.
Through my experiences working on projects like Unseen Peaks, The Summit Within, and Canopy Climbers, I’ve learned that the key to success lies in careful planning, strong storytelling, and a willingness to adapt to the challenges that arise in the field. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, keep these lessons in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to creating compelling adventure films that stand out in a crowded field.
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Roo is a commercial/documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, and photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in his hometown of Orcas Island in Washington State for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.