Meathead Films

[k-slay]

haha, thanks rossi. I actually wasnt in Schooled or Epoch, because I was out all season with a broken femur. I began filming with Meathead Films for Elevated, and Im putting together a segment for our new film which will be ready in the fall.

 

[bcbobcat22]

They came to my college in the fall to show "Schooled" and it was sick. Geoff is the man and played some pong with us. good times. I pre-ordered "epoch" in november and I still havent received it. I heard that the movie was just finished, does anyone know when skier shop will be shipping it?

Condolences to the Meatheads for their loss. Its a terrible tragedy.

 

[k-slay]

yea, Epoch has had some delays. Geoff is in the process of getting more DVD copies pressed, and skiershop should have them very soon...dont worry the film is worth the wait.

 

[smootharc]

"Epoch" arrived this morning....

....chowed it down over dinner tonight. Excellent film...more of a documentary style than their previous hip, hard partying, not exactly for the little ones efforts (they do show some gentle beers enjoyment and say damn a few times, but nothing like what I remember in, say, Schooled).

Has excellent historical footage and information about each mountain, with interviews from local historians, rangers, guides, and "those who remember when", and is just a really pleasant road trip / journey type of film. There ain't much Eastern backcountry film footage out there - and this adds significantly to that cannon.

Lots of extras, including cool topographical trail maps that show the ascents/descents.

Touching tribute at end for Alec Stall, but no footage dedicated to him. He skied in film and was introduced at beginning. I wouldn't have minded a mini highlight segment of him skiing his favorite runs, or something in the extras.

Mellow guitar focused tunes....just real pleasant and a great armchair backcountry experience. Another helping, please !

All in all, two enthusiastic tips up !!!!

 

[riverc0il]

i just noticed they finally released the DVD after months of pre-order. placed my order for both epoch and schooled (which is of course backordered now that i waited so long to order epoch!). i am really looking forward to epoch. the typical ski movie is getting VERY old. buch of skiing profressionals rubbing it in your face that they ski for a living doing back flips and inverted jumps off park hits or back country features usually skiing down heli assisted peaks and putting down lots of figure 11s to an edgy sound track.

:yawn:

the only thing worse than all that is the whoring of ski areas and products in recent warren miller films. some segments almost seem like paid advertisments for big western destination resorts. i have been looking as hard as possible for ski movies that really capture the soul of skiing. immersion (MSP) has been the best one i have found so far. sounds like epoch is straight up my alley and the focus on our own backyards only highlights the quality.

hoping to catch born from ice during the fall tour. hopefully they will annouce the dates soon.

 

[Treeliner]

the only thing worse than all that is the whoring of ski areas and products in recent warren miller films. some segments almost seem like paid advertisments for big western destination resorts.

completely agreed. The section they did at The Canyons basically could have been a 2 minute commercial on television - it highlighted the resorts name, had some shots of the buildings at the base, and showed some pros talking about how much they looove skiing The Canyons. This, of course, was repeated for some other resorts as well.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Epoch just arrived. I'm going to watch it tonight at work.

I watched "Schooled" last night as a warm up. It great to see a real ski movie about places I have or Might actually ski. (Granted, with my advancing age and petite size, I tend to keep my skis a little closer to the snow )

I'm amazed at the woods shots that they capture. The lines are so tight, yet the manage to get extended shots in very close quarters. The big money production films just don't compare. Like they say, "you can't beat the meat".

 

[bigbog]

........

Epoch arrived this last week....Really enjoy it.

 

[smootharc]

Re: Epoch......P.S......

Due to the remote locales, etc. there is a lot less purely skiing footage than "usual" in a ski film. Not a negative, but just a FYI observation.

 

[Treeliner]

Re: Epoch......P.S......

Due to the remote locales, etc. there is a lot less purely skiing footage than "usual" in a ski film. Not a negative, but just a FYI observation.

I totally dig this kind of stuff. When I see some big name ski production, sure the lines they ski are amazing, but I don't feel connected or too interested. I would much rather see the story behind the line as well; planning, the approach, hardships encountered, etc.

Example:
The way it's usually done: Flash to an amazing couloir shot, skier ripping down it. End of scene, next impressive ski shot.

The more captivating way: Down at the base you see a group of guys talking about the weather and discussing potential lines that they'll take. Everyone's nervous by psyched as well. Finally, the snows stable, the weathers right, and they head to the mountain. They begin the approach, climbing up the couloir, heading towards the top. They radio down from the summit and click in. Now we finally see that amazing couloir shot that I referenced the the "way its usually done" - only now, I'm immersed in the action, I feel the sense of accomplishment and how hard it was to pull it off, etc.

Agree, disagree?

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Absolutely. Alot of the typical filming makes you feel like you're doing laps on a HSQ hucking cliffs and hitting endless sick couloirs one after another. (Warren Miller makes you watch a commercial for pathfinder on the ride up).

While there is plenty of action in Schooled, you get some of the shots of hiking, travel, (Keg stands) that make it seem more like BC than just another day hitting flying in that damn helocopter, hucking sick cliffs and ripping endless miles of untracked powder.

 

[bvibert]

Based on the recommendation in this and other ski forums I have just ordered my copy of Epoch and Schooled, which I've also been putting off buying and was pissed when I heard it was now back-ordered.. I can't wait to check them out!

 

[bvibert]

When I got home from work yesterday my copies of Schooled and Epoch were waiting for me. I, of course, had to whatch both. I have to say they were pretty good! My only real complaint about Schooled was that it was too short. Epoch was more like a documentary, which is a nice change of pace. I thought it was awesome that they skied the Thunderbolt on Greylock at the beginning of Epoch!

Now I'm stoked, where's the snow! :beer:

 

[djspookman]

When I got home from work yesterday my copies of Schooled and Epoch were waiting for me. I, of course, had to whatch both. I have to say they were pretty good! My only real complaint about Schooled was that it was too short. Epoch was more like a documentary, which is a nice change of pace. I thought it was awesome that they skied the Thunderbolt on Greylock at the beginning of Epoch!

Now I'm stoked, where's the snow! :beer:

nice!

I can't wait to get epoch in the mail.. I've been waiting on backorder for waaay too long! Schooled was great, and i'm sure epoch will be better.. can't wait for the white stuff to fly!

dave

 

[Brettski]

Just Order Schooled and Epoch....

I guess when we head North, I'll let the wife drive and I'll sit in the back and watch them...

 

[riverc0il]

i have watched both as well. want to watch both a second time before giving each a proper write up. both were excellent and bvibert is absolutely right that schooled is too damn short! the mansfield and chic choc scenes were extraordinary. chic choc are now on my must ski list, though probably not next season as it looks like the trip requires base camping and i am not setup for winter multiday trips yet.

epoch is definitely more documentary than skiing. since the group needed do to all peaks during the same season and had to work out timing and what not, they really only got one shot at each peak so footage was limited to a single trip. whereas the major ski labels can heli up and down a peak a hundred times until they get all the shots they need, these guys really only got one whack at three out of five peaks. there is a ton of footage on the bonus segments left off the film though which makes up for it.

definitely better than any warren miller film in my book.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I rate them both "Four Pork Chops"

 

[Sparky]

I just got my copy of Epoch yesterday (ordered it in February) and watched it last night. Great stuff, quite a change in format. I liked the documentary style. I use to complaint to you ever it is that owns Warren Miller these days. (Time Warner I think.) that they really should do some more filming in the east. Now who needs them. By the way I never got a response from them. I enjoyed this one so much I’m thinking about foregoing the WM movie this year and instead going to see Born From Ice, this years Meathead offering.

 

[Brettski]

I sent Chris an email asking him to stop by here and let us know when the tour dates are for the new flick.

Hope the can make it to Jersey or at least NYC

 

[Brettski]

Just finished watching Epoch.

Great flick

Soundtrack is great, The historical stuff is great.

Now I know why it's called the Jack rabbit trail in the 'dacks.

I gotta say it's a must have. And if you can watch it with a home theatre system, more the vtter.

The Tucks stuff was awesome.

Great stuff