Behind the Scenes of Filming With an Olympic Runner
Filming with an Olympian isn’t just about capturing their athletic prowess; it’s about documenting their grit, resilience, and in this case, their approach to hydration. My recent shoot with Olympic runner Dom Scott, an athlete from South Africa, offered an incredible opportunity to showcase how Hydrapak’s products fit into the daily life of a marathoner.
In this blog post, I’ll take you behind the scenes of this shoot, share some of the challenges and rewards of working with an elite athlete, and dive into the importance of storytelling in branded content creation.
Preparation is Key
Filming with a professional athlete like Dom Scott means working around their meticulously planned schedule. These athletes live by strict training regimens, so when filming is added into the mix, it becomes one more element to balance in their day. I had limited time to capture this short film, so preparation was crucial.
For this project, we focused on Hydrapak's new product, the Tempo bottle, and how hydration plays a vital role in Dom’s marathon training. Hydration is an often overlooked yet essential aspect of long-distance running, and Hydrapak wanted to showcase how their product supports athletes like Dom in their day-to-day training.
Before the shoot even started, I knew we weren’t diving into Dom’s entire backstory or her journey to becoming an Olympian. Instead, the focus was specifically on her transition from the 10K to the marathon and how hydration became a cornerstone of her training. This meant our questions, shots, and overall narrative needed to align with that goal from the very beginning.
Setting the Stage
When you’re working with someone for the first time, especially in their own home, the cameras shouldn’t roll right away. This is a philosophy I take seriously, no matter the shoot. It’s important to establish trust and rapport before diving into filming. That’s why I always take a moment to introduce myself, learn a bit about the person, and let them know who I am, beyond just being the filmmaker capturing their story.
With Dom, it was no different. I wanted her to feel comfortable, to know that I wasn’t just there to get the shots, but to tell her story in a meaningful way. We talked about her training for marathons, how she prepares mentally and physically, and some of the day-to-day struggles of being a professional athlete.
As a filmmaker, it’s vital to be a person first, and a filmmaker second. Establishing that human connection allows for a more authentic interaction on camera, which in turn makes for better storytelling.
Balancing Branding and Storytelling
Once we got to filming, it was clear that this project required a balance between two key elements: branding and marketing. In branded content, these two ideas often intersect but also need to be carefully separated.
Branding is about showcasing who a brand is and what they stand for. In this case, Hydrapak wanted to highlight their commitment to supporting athletes with innovative hydration solutions. Marketing, on the other hand, is about how the product fits into the lives of potential customers—in this case, Dom’s use of the Tempo bottle in her marathon training.
This project required both. Early in the video, we focused on branding by highlighting Dom’s life as a runner and her approach to training. By the end of the video, we shifted towards marketing by demonstrating the specific features of the Tempo bottle and how it aids in her performance. Striking that balance is crucial for effective branded content, and it’s something I strive to achieve in every project.
Shooting the Interview
One of the first shots we captured was a simple talking-head interview in Dom’s living room. Hydrapak wanted to showcase Dom’s approach to hydration in a direct and engaging way, so we opted for a head-on shot where she addressed the camera directly. This created a more intimate connection with the audience, allowing them to see and hear from Dom in a relatable and personal setting.
During the interview, I made sure to ask questions that went beyond the scope of Hydrapak. It’s important, especially in branded content, to weave in a broader narrative that resonates with viewers on a deeper level. For example, while the video was focused on hydration, I asked Dom about her overall experience transitioning from the 10K to the marathon and how that shift impacted her training. This gave us a more holistic view of her as an athlete, making the video not just a product promotion, but a story about growth and perseverance.
Capturing Motion and Emotion in the Running Footage
After wrapping up the interview, it was time to head outside and film Dom doing what she does best—running. As an adventure filmmaker, this is where I thrive. There’s something incredibly special about capturing athletes in their element, doing the thing they’ve trained for their entire lives.
For Dom, running isn’t just about physical speed or endurance; it’s about discipline, mental fortitude, and the hours of work behind the scenes that the world rarely sees. Filming her in action was about more than just getting shots of her running—it was about capturing the essence of what drives her.
We shot on a quiet street in Boulder, while Dom effortlessly tore through miles of pavement. I filmed from the back of a truck, using an 85mm lens to capture tight, dynamic shots of her face and body in motion. The close-ups of her gripping the Tempo bottle and her rhythmic strides added an emotional layer to the footage, symbolizing the connection between athlete and product.
The Power of Storytelling in Sports
What made this shoot even more special was the timing. While we were filming, the 2024 Paris Olympics were taking place. Though Dom wasn’t competing in these games, the spirit of the Olympics was all around us. As we walked into her home, the Olympic events were playing on TV, and it felt like a full-circle moment—filming an Olympian during the greatest athletic event in the world, even if she wasn’t currently competing.
The weight of the Olympics added a layer of gravity to the shoot. It reminded me, as a filmmaker, of the importance of what I do—capturing stories that showcase resilience, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness. This project, while focused on hydration, became a reminder of the power of storytelling through sport and how it can unite us all.
Bringing it All Together in the editing room
After the shoot, the real work began—editing. Filmmaking is never just about the shots you get on the day; it’s about how those shots are woven together to create a cohesive story.
In this case, we needed to strike the right balance between showcasing Dom’s personal journey as a marathon runner and Hydrapak’s Tempo bottle. Working closely with the Hydrapak team, we went through multiple rounds of feedback to ensure the final product not only met their marketing goals but also stayed true to Dom’s story as an athlete.
The end result was a film that showed the grit and determination required to be an elite athlete, while also highlighting how something as simple as hydration can play a crucial role in achieving greatness.
Why Storytelling Matters
At the end of the day, this project was about more than just filming an Olympian or promoting a product. It was about telling a story that resonates with people, whether they’re marathon runners or simply fans of the sport. It was about capturing the small details that make a difference in an athlete’s life—hydration, nutrition, mental preparation—and showcasing how those details add up to something great.
This experience also reminded me of the power of filmmaking. As adventure filmmakers, we have the privilege of capturing moments that go beyond the surface. Whether we’re filming a runner, a skier, or a climber, we’re not just documenting their feats—we’re telling a story of perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of excellence.
Filming with Dom Scott was an honor, and it reminded me why I do what I do. Through her dedication to the sport and the care she puts into every aspect of her training, I was inspired to reflect on my own work as a filmmaker and athlete. There’s always something more we can do to push ourselves, to become better, and to chase our own dreams—whether on the track or behind the camera.
Let’s Connect!
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.