Movie Notes from The Meeting

Sundeck session
The screening of the new film from Teton Gravity Research at the Sundeck on Aspen Mountain Friday night worked well from one perspective — it was a great Red Bull-fueled party that went well past midnight. It was the first time at The Meeting that a film had been shown at the Sundeck, but alas, the film projection set-up did not do TGR’s “Re: Session” much justice, as the film looked yellow and washed-out. One loyal TGR fan wondered aloud during the showing if maybe the boys at TGR were trying some new visual effect.If you looked past the projector quality, “Re:Session” was a solid effort,though, reflecting TGR’s usual “take no prisoners” approach to movies, life and skiing. Another Aspen screen date is not yet on the schedule on TGR’s website, but maybe the Jackson Hole boys will add a showing at the Wheeler if we ask them to.

“Dav” in deep
The latest ski film from Matchstick Productions of Crested Butte, “In Deep,” was well done and like many of the ski movies shown this year, included footage from the Haines, Alaska area. There, Aspen’s Chris Davenport is shown taking two terrible tumbles down a steep and rocky slope. Davenport introduces and describes both his falls in the movie, where a less confident athlete might have begged to be left out of the film. In the movie, Davenport signals after both falls that he was okay, but the tumbles are both truly scary looking, and both were caused by him catching a rock with a ski near the top of the slope. The segment ends without Dav getting “back on the horse” and taking a hero lap, which many in the audience were likely rooting for, and which hopefully he did in real life. His falls demonstrate how potentially dangerous big-mountain skiing is and how classy Davenport is for sharing the horrific experience with the audience. Davenport is also featured in the upcoming movie “Dynasty” from Warren Miller Entertainment while skiing in Norway. Here’s hoping to see him ripping things up in his usual flawless manner.

Warren in the Wheeler
While the legal details are worked out between Level 1, Warren Miller and Bonnier Corporation, owner of Warren Miller Entertainment, about "Refresh," it is safe to say that it was cool to hear Miller's voice come out of the big speakers at the Wheeler in the middle of a crisp and classy ski film. Now, we hope no one gets economically hurt in the squabble, or by the film, because the film is fun and Miller does a great job connecting to a young audience. If you never thought you'd care about guys sliding down rails in the city, "Refresh" might change your mind. If you are the guy sliding the rail, it should pump you up and make you crazier than you already apparently are.

Blood in the Wheeler
The movie “Blood” from was made by a pair of brothers working out of Aspen, Wyatt and Cory Stasinos and Zach and Aaron Hooper.The relatively short movie included lots of footage that appeared to be shot on terrain around Richmond Ridge, Little Annie and Independence Pass. It includes lots of hand-held shots taken while riding through deep snow and tight trees, and lots of shots of riders pounding through pillows of deep snow. The local fans in the Wheeler Opera House on Saturday gave this enthusiastic local film a good reception.

Fun on Saturday
The film, “Everyday is a Saturday,” from Poor Boyz Productions, includes some footage of the Winter X Games in Aspen and portrayed what it takes to be champion freestyle skier. It had some compelling interview footage with Aspen X Games veteran Tanner Hall after a recent accident where he severely damaged both knees. Hall hadn’t been out of the hospital long when he waved the filmmakers in to his house to interview him while he was still on the couch.

Taking a stance
“Stance,” a film from J Mills Entertainment, promised to “reexamine women’s snowboarding from the inside,” but the movie seemed more like a promotional vehicle for a variety of women snowboarders, including Aspen’s Gretchen Bleiler. There were lingering shots on clothing logos and lots of shots of trucks and snowmobiles. And much of the footage seemed to be shot in less than ideal late spring conditions. Still, the women riders ripped and they do things in the park and in the backcountry that most males aren’t ever going to try, or do.