So, you want to be an extreme sports film maker then do you?
But how do you propose to do that especially when all you have got is a simple hand help camera, a bit of dirt and a retro BMX bike. The new Coppela you definitely aren’t!

That was the problem 6 lucky winners earlier this year managed to over come.
The Reel Adventure Diaries Film Competition gave them a platform to get out there and have some fun, learn some filming techniques and even bag a wicked trip away with a professional athlete.
But what is it I hear you say…

TRAD, as it is also known, asked wanna be film makers to send in 2 minute clips of their work and then sit back and wait. The 6 winners were then selected and then paired up a professional extreme sports athlete. The athletes they used were:

Tim Emmett- a base jumping, ice climbing adrenaline junkie who has featured on Top Gear and flying wing suit programes (http://www.timemmett.com)

Joharra Sykes-Davis- The UK Kitesurfing Champion and general all round god sort (http://www.joharafreedom.com/)

Laurent Niol- A French athlete who knows no limits, free skiing and jumping off pretty much anything he is and eve isnt allowed to (http://www.zapiks.com/_laurent-niol-1/)

Andy Kirkpatrick- A British Ice Climbing Legend (http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com)

John Ross- AKA Shaggy who is a mountain bike guru based in Bristol, and has some serious stamina

Andrew Price- One of the UKs most up and coming survival and bushcraft guides (http://www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk)

The 6 winners were sent off to places as diverse as South Wales, Scotland, France and even a 10 day trip to Kenya to get to know, film and learn about why these athletes do what they do. They were given their kit, all their travel and expenses paid for as well as expert guidance before they were sent on their way. The film makers had to story board the films, film it, edit it and put the whole thing together. Not bad considering they were complete amateurs.

The 6 final films have now been put onto a DVD and can be picked up from the TRAD website.
If you need or want any more info on the event or the competition then take a look here (http://www.tradfilms.com/index.shtml) as there is a rumour that it is going to happen again next year.

To check out the trailer have a look at this page as it looks pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIg753SAg4U

As I hear more about the 2010 event I will let you know