outdoor adventure is my passion, storytelling is my purpose
About Roo
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, 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.
The best part of this website is the blog, it’s got all the latest and greatest videos, photos and articles about filmmaking or stories I’m working on. Click below to check out some of my new work!!
Who I’ve Worked With
Featured Films
Unseen Peaks
After enduring discrimination and trauma due to her blindness, Addie seeks freedom through skiing, ice climbing, and rock climbing, facing both the challenges of these activities and the need for acceptance within the outdoor community as a disabled person.
Film Festival Screenings: Kendal Mountain Film, No Man’s Land Film Festival, Boulder International Film Festival, Mountainfilm
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
The Summit Within
A group of international wounded, injured and sick military veterans attempt to climb a 4000+m mountain peak in Colorado, using nature as a tool for healing from the physical, mental, and emotional challenges faced by veterans and service personnel. Their goal is not only to summit the physical mountains but journey towards the summits they face within themselves.
Film Festival Screenings: Kendal Mountain Film, Ouray International Film Festival, London Mountain Festival, Lookout Wild Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Best Documentary Nominee Coventry Phoenix Film Festival
Role: Director / Cinematographer / Editor
Available July 2024
Canopy Climbers
If you’re a rock climber but there are no rocks around… you climb the trees.
A group of friends in the Costa Rican jungle are spearheading the new wild and exciting sport of tree climbing by using traditional rock climbing techniques to scale giant strangler fig trees.
Film Festival Screenings: Kendal Mountain Film, Lookout Wild Festival, London Mountain Festival
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
Most Recent Films
Goat Surf Club in Senegal
On the latest season of the Goat Surf Club, follow the passionate trio as they navigate the unpredictability of both the ocean and life itself, chasing waves while trying to learn about the solutions to plastic pollution and facing unexpected political unrest.
Brand: The Waterbear Network
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
Keep Up
Ryan Kinder has stunned the Nashville music scene with his harrowing voice and powerful guitar playing but he doesn’t stop there. As an avid triathlete, Ryan was selected to compete in the Ironman World Championship and attempts to balance his physical training with recording his second full length country rock album.
Brand: Outside TV
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Co-Editor
Make it Last
Patagonia Climbing Ambassador Katie Lamb takes us behind the seams of her sewing studio and shows us how she’s made her hardest-worn gear better by repairing it herself.
Brand: Patagonia
Role: Director / Co-Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
Recovering My Own Way
Matt McElroy is known by many titles: surfer, father, scooter cruiser, and now Olympian. He's a surfer, a devoted father, a laid-back scooter cruiser, and now, he proudly holds the title of an Olympian.
Brand: KT Tape
Role: Director / Co-Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
Let’s Connect
I’m here to get you what you need and support you in sharing your story through videos and photos. Whether it’s as a Director/DP or as a production partner creating meaningful stories, feel free to reach out with your information and we can chat about what I can do for you :)
This isn’t just an contact form, it’s the potential start to an awesome friendship.
For that reason, I read every inquiry and respond within 24-48 hours to get started as soon as possible on making your dream film a reality. The more information you give me here provides me with an opportunity to craft a more meaningful film, personalized experience, and overall awesome relationship with you.
In case you want to binge more videos
feel free to keep watching some of my other favorites below…
How to Ski Tour - Episode Series
Professional skier Davide Giardini cares deeply about creating an inclusive and welcoming ski culture so, in an attempt to foster that community, we created a six episode series all about how to ski tour with La Sportiva.
We tackle 13,000ft peaks, epic powder days, ski mountaineering races and steep couloirs to share the joy of the sport.
Brand: La Sportiva
Role: Director / Co-Producer / Cinematographer / Editor
From Dreams to Medals
For Molly Seidel, it's always just been running. A native Wisconsinite, decorated high school running athlete, four-time national champion at Notre Dame, and bronze medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the marathon event, Molly's career is a testament to dedication and resilience.
With the Chicago Marathon on the horizon and her sights set on the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials, Molly reminds us how important the balance of physical & mental training is and how crucial it is to listen to your body by working with it, not against it.
Brands: KT Tape
Role: Director / Co-Producer / Editor
Ignite Your Spirit - A Disabled Ski Bum Story
Kevin Wilson, 31 years after a paralyzing car crash, is now living his dream as a ski bum despite a long and difficult path to get to where he is now. After his car wreck, he struggled with mental health, alcoholism and obesity but wanted to make a positive change in his life - so he started skiing again.
Now, he's sharing his love of the mountains with others by running a non-profit dedicated to providing winter sport opportunities for individuals affected by a disability.
Brands: Eldora Ski Resort / Ignite Adaptive Sports
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Co-Editor
Best Week Ever
Professional mountain biker Ryan Petry takes on the challenge of biking through 7 different iconic Colorado mountain towns in 7 days - but there’s a catch. In each town he meets up with a local rider to learn about the town and ride some of the local’s favorite trails in the area. 7 towns, 7 days, 7 fun filled episodes.
Brands: Canyon Bicycles, Pearl Izumi, Industry Nine, Sweet Protection, WTB
Role: Director / Cinematographer / Editor
Everesting Flagstaff
What many see as one of Boulder's most iconic mountain peaks, Bobby Ryan iii sees an opportunity. Seeking to discover where physical challenges end & mental battles begin he pushes himself to climb the vertical equivalent of Mt. Everest (29,032ft) on his bike up Flagstaff Mountain.
Brand: Drink Birk / Sweet Protection
Role: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Co-Editor
REel Rock 18
Reel Rock is an annual traveling film festival and is the center of the rock climbing scene with their climbing films shown at over 500 worldwide, and online at Reel Rock Unlimited. Unlike all the other films on this website, I didn’t direct any of these but did have a hand in the post-production process. I did all this work from the beach in Nicaragua with the director which led to some great post-editing sunset surf sessions.
Production Company: Sender Films
Role: Editor, Sound Designer, Colorist
REel Rock 17
This was my first year working with Reel Rock and it was a doozy. They came out with five amazing films, I worked on two of them - Burning The Flame and “The HURT” featuring Free Solo star Alex Honnold. In a last minute sprint, the director Pete Mortimer and I pulled round the clock shifts so while he would sleep, I would edit and vice-versa.
Production Company: Sender Films
Role: Editor, Sound Designer, Colorist