BTS: The Year that was 2018
Sunset ascent of Mt. Elaho. Thanks Jacob for capturing this beauty of a shot!
While my time in Peru was a time for learning Spanish, discovering more about my roots and connecting to a different home - Chile is feeling much different. The pace of life is slowing down, with days being filled with walking in new streets, cooking at home, and play.
Our days in Valparaiso have mostly been filled with wandering the streets, watching movies and hanging out in the apartment. I don’t feel like full travel mode has settled in - I’m still weary of ‘wasting time’ (is there such a thing?) and am well into editing Sound Water. Although, I have rekindled a childhood love and started playing MTG Arena which has been a beautiful time sink. Anyways, after feeling a tad bit lazy, I thought I’d get back to writing. Prompted by my friend Jess’s email reflecting on the past year, I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and do my yearly reflection post.
See my yearly recaps from the past two years:
- 2016 Reflections
- 2017 Reflections
By all accounts, 2018 was epic. I was pushed out of my comfort zone many times, took on entirely new projects, decided to take a stab at making an outdoor adventure film and decided to travel for a year. Here’s the top 4 highlights of the year:
THE YEAR DEFINED BY TRAVEL
We packed our bags, sold some things, sublet our apartment and said goodbye to Vancouver for a year. The idea to travel for a year had been in our heads for the past couple years. Originally, we wanted to do this three years ago, but then Lauren got into her Masters program. I think it was for the best. And then this past October when Lauren was finishing her master’s, we knew that this was the perfect time! It’s been 2 months and 3 days since we departed on the trip of a lifetime and boy has it already been something else.
Here are some of the highlights :
Spending 1.5 months in Lima, taking Spanish School and meeting some super rad new friends.
Learning about my family’s history, chilling with my parents and eating everything in Peru.
Realizing how out of shape I was and climbing 1600 meters out of the world’s second deepest Canyon.
Learning how to make empanadas with two Chilean sisters in Santiago…and having a true Chilean experience when rioters took to the streets
Attending my first nude drawing (not me ;)) in Valparaiso
40+ days of ocean view apartments (thank you Tio & Airbnb!)
Watching giant seals eat and play by the pier in Valparaiso.
Having the best travel buddy to do it all with
In the coming months, I’m excited to find myself in more nature, inspired by Latin American Culture and discovering new things around each corner. I’m also hoping to use the time away to find more clarity in film and spend some time writing up some new personal projects.
2. clients & collaborators
Filmmaking is not something done in isolation. My first full year of freelance couldn’t have been possible without my amazing clients, generous collaborators and all of you watching along the way. I’m immensely grateful for the incredibly people I got to work with this year. This year was an absolute blast and I can’t wait to keep creating when I get back!
I made headways working with many new clients this year that have been a goal to work with for some time - Destination BC, Tourism Vancouver, Hypebae, Myodetox and other unlikely clients including Fraser Valley Poultry and Nikkei Place. I had a fun creative challenge being able to participate in VAFF’s We Heart Canada Project and took home the best film of the program.
Here are some of the highlights from the year:
3. going out of my comfort zone
Making Sound Water has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. Things like learning how to backcountry splitboard, developing a pitch and story with Drew, and now in the edit. This project has been so many things, both professionally and personally. Being on the Elaho Glacier for a week was transformative and pushed my physically further than I’ve gone in a long time. What started as an idea between friends is ending with a film screening at the Vancouver Mountain Film Festival in March.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing BTS posts on Social Media. Keep following along for the rest of the Journey! I’m also stoked to share with you a short teaser trailer for the first time:"
4. all of you
Filmmaking is fun and I absolutely love it. But it’s all of you that make life fun and worthwhile. Being away from my friends, family and community, I always come back to how much better things are with people. There are so many more people than pictured below. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
