So why should I be your next Creative Producer?

My connection to Badfish started in 2013. I was working at Blue Planet Surf on Oahu and Mike & Miles came in to rent some boards while they were on the island. “River Surfing?” my boss exclaimed while talking to Mike. But those words really peaked my interest. I had lived in Steamboat Springs before Hawaii and had seen kayakers play in the river holes but standing on the wave? I hadn’t seen that before. So I started to follow Miles and the brand on social media and learn more about river surfing & paddling. Flash to October 2014 and I was moving back to Steamboat Springs to work for Smartwool as their in-house Media Producer. I instantly knew I was going to have to get my water fix another way, the river was still at the top of my mind. When I arrived back in Steamboat I was pleasantly surprised to learn that A-hole behind the fire station had been “adjusted” by REP. I instantly purchased an 8’0 River Surfer and my river journey began that spring.

The Project Proposal

30 Waves 30 Days

What is it? The 3 main currents of this story are simply this:

1. Surf exploration - My quest to surf 30 different river waves in 30 days. (Is this even possible? Might be a good hook to get people to tune in. “Can he even do it?”

2. Surf Advocacy -  Document and highlight the benefits of river reclamation projects in the heartland of America. 

3. Underserved Communities Advocacy - Can communities that are implementing river restoration projects provide local underserved groups a path/program for people in the area. Addiction recovery centers, After-school Programs, Displaced Families, etc. 

Experience

Exxel Outdoors

Photo & Video Manager October 2021- Present

• Project manager responsible for fielding all photo & video requests, scheduling, managing and producing from start to finish for Exxel’s portfolio of 10+ brands.

• Proactively collaborate with Marketing Director & Executive team to discuss and plan photo & video content and campaigns.

• Create & oversee a photo & video shooting schedule with flexibility for high priority shoots.

• Create & oversee production timelines for photo & video projects while maintaining constant communication with project owners.

• Manage & direct all studio photography & video shoots, location lifestyle photography & video shoots as well as operating additional cameras for photo & video while on set.

• Manage & drive post-production process for all photo & video projects, including photo retouching, video editing and final color grading.

• Create & oversee SOP’s for project review, file trafficking, and delivery, with project owners to ensure on-time distribution of assets.

• Process improvement – continual review of processes to identify more effective ways to produce photo & video content while collaborating with each brand.

• Manages photo & video studio, including maintenance and updating of equipment.

Video Producer October 2019 - October 2021

• Scheduled and managed entire cycle of video production process for all 10 brands across the diverse portfolio of Exxel Outdoors

• Developed and implemented Video Brief Template for multiple diverse product categories- from airbeds to camping equipment to travel.

• Schedule and manage studio production for all 10 brands under the Exxel Outdoors brand.

• Developed equipment purchase plan for start of internal video production program.

• Create, manage and track all video project budgets and production timelines to ensure on-time delivery of seasonal assets as well as urgent asset requests during GTM process.

• Developed and executed strategy for video streaming production of virtual sales meetings for all 10 Exxel brands.

• Delivered key urgent assets for emergency virtual sales meetings during pandemic lockdown.

• Developed video best practices for video conference meetings during pandemic lockdown

Duarte Studios

Director of Strategy & Production November 2017 - May 2019

Concept commercial video & photo solutions for corporate and retail clients including Four Seasons Resorts, Bank of Hawaii, Ritz Carlton, Royal Hawaiian Center and several other Fortune 500 companies.

• Created & managed production schedules for all video & photo shoots.

• Created & oversee detailed production budgets while ensuring clear communication to agency partners as well as clients in regards to project status.

• Lead production and collaborate on-set with clients to ensure the highest quality content, efficient production flow & constant communication.

• Lead post-production timeline and asset delivery to client.

• Developed subscription based video program for corporate and retail clients that delivers templated quick turn videos for social media.

Smartwool
Media Producer September 2014 - October 2017 (3 years 2 months) Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Video

• Scheduled and managed every component of production process for seasonal and non-seasonal video requests.

• Developed and implemented video brief template for efficient collaboration on seasonal asset requests, GTM process assets and other internal video requests.

• Collaborated with management team to strategize & build robust educational video library for retail associate app focused on building product knowledge while giving a behind the scenes look at the brand, the athletes and the manufacturing process. 

• Collaborated with Athlete Manager to ideate, plan and execute seasonal video projects featuring Smartwool’s continually growing athlete roster.

• Collaborated with key departments to identify pinnacle products for early season asset collection to be distributed during the GTM process. 

• Created, managed and tracked all video project budgets and production timelines to ensure on time delivery of seasonal assets as well as urgent asset requests during GTM process. 

• Collaborated with Leadership Team to produce non-seasonal video projects.

Photo

• Scheduled and managed every component of production process for seasonal and non-seasonal photo requests.

• Developed and implemented photography brief template for efficient collaboration on seasonal asset requests, GTM process assets and other internal photography requests.

• Built and maintained external photographers network for contract photography projects. 

• Created and managed production schedule for contract photography projects including casting, crew travel, and asset delivery.

• Provided assistance of creative execution of photo shoots including art direction.

• Led photography selection for Brand & Creative team approval. 

Astronauts for Hire, LLC

Photographer/Videographer/Cinematographer January 2011 - October 2014 (3 years 10 months) USA

Freelance photographer/videographer/cinematographer specializing in action sports/lifestyle. Able to execute a high level of quality on a variety of formats including 35mm, 16mm, HDV, DSLR and drone.

Jon Duarte Design Group - Motion Division

Assistant Camera February 2014 - September 2014 (8 months) honolulu, hawaii

Responsible for Camera Prep and equipment check out. Set up, troubleshooting, and all aspects pertaining to Camera dept on set. Variety of formats. 35mm, 16mm, HDV, DSLR and drone.

Blue Planet Surf Gear
Marketing Consultant/Web & E- commerce Development November 2012 - September 2014 (1 year 11 months) Honolulu, Hawaii

Responsible for web/brand image overhaul, marketing materials, web campaigns and e commerce inventory management.

Transit Collective

Photographer/Videographer/Cinematographer January 2007 - January 2014 (7 years 1 month)

Shot on a variety of formats including 35mm, 16mm, HD Video and DSLR.

Education

The Los Angeles Film School Filmmaking; Cinematography · (2006 - 2007)

Jamestown Community College
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia · (2002 - 2004)

Asset Collection for Smartwool.

Planned, executed and delivered assets for multiple campaigns with 1 week long shoot in BC. We started in Nelson for lifestyle and product specific requests, then ventured up to Retallack for a few days on snow.

The Hands That Make.

One of my favorite project that I worked on while at Smartwool. While socks are knit on a machine, there are still plenty of craftsman & woman that truly have a passion for making quality socks.