Behind the Scenes - Trail Running Film in Chile
How I Filmed a Documentary About Trail Running in Santiago, Chile
Filming in Santiago, Chile
I was approached by one of Chile’s top trail running groups Mountain Running Co. to make a short branded documentary for them and their sponsors. With some of South America’s most elite trail runners, I embarked on a month-long project filming and running with them around the best trails in Chile. With now over 15 thousand Instagram followers and a leading spirit and the trail running community in Latin America, the story of Mountain Running Co. drew me in and was a story we believed needed to be told.
Video Production with Impact…
I am drawn to stories of adventure, of course, but I strive to create long lasting and meaningful work that aligns with a broader community. Films of pure adventure are not enough for me, I dig deep and aim to lift up the voices of those who are doing impactful work in their communities. Mountain Running Co was just that story I was looking to tell. Whether your an elite trail runner or just hoping to get out and get more exercise around Santiago’s local trails, this group unites runners and non-runners alike. In addition to spreading the word about their group to the local runners, this film was used to secure Mountain Running Co. with an official brand partnership with Merrell shoes.
Trail Running Cinematography
I learned an important lesson while making this film… if you are filming trail running - you better be a runner. I don’t come from a high level running background by any means and kind of discovered the joy of trail running as an adult. Despite being a Boulder cinematographer, I haven’t done an ultra-marathon (yet, first one scheduled this summer!) so am still a relative amateur in the sport.
However, I’ve learned that being able to keep up with trail runners with a camera is arguably the most important skill in filming a documentary about being active outside. It’s becoming a constant theme in my life as an adventure cinematographer and adventure photographer that it’s not just about the skills you have behind the camera but also in your ability to tell a story in the outdoors.
Looking to Hire an Adventure Filmmaker?
Roo is a commercial/documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has produced films above 14,000ft in the Rocky Mountain West, filmed among indigenous communities in Peru and Ecuador, directed videos with professional surfers in Costa Rica and has received notable recognition in his hometown of Orcas Island in Washington State for his work telling stories in the outdoor space.
If you have questions or want to talk more about my life as a Boulder cinematographer, adventure photography, and/or adventure filmmaking please reach out! I always love connecting with new people and talking through how I can help them achieve their dreams in telling stories of impact.
