Aspiring Photographer/Poet/Lover

21. Living in Michigan. Enjoying school and life. Trying to find a path to embark upon.

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Level 1 was sued in 2009 by Warren Miller Entertainment for featuring Warren Miller in their film.  The backlash from the ski community against Warren Miller Entertainment helped settle the case in favor of Level 1.  Social media was key for Level 1 in the lawsuit. 

"JOSH BERMAN: Social media is a great equalizing factor in this day and age. Whether you’re a small company or a large company, people have an immediate and accessible forum to speak their mind on whichever side they choose to take in this sort of situation. I don’t think the folks at Warren Miller Entertainment quite understood the extent of Level 1’s popularity and their following and the interest in the youth ski demographic in defending what they believe in."

http://www.examiner.com/article/interview-part-1-josh-berman-owner-of-level-1-productions

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Great Advise From Berman On Making Movies

"BT: What advice do you have for someone who wants to do what you do?

Josh: First and foremost, make sure you're passionate about it, because it's honestly not half as glamorous and exciting as it would appear, and most people that get their feet wet in ski filmmaking don't last because they're not willing, able, or prepared to put up with all the trials and tribulations that come with the territory. Beyond that, study and practice photography before you try to get too heavily involved with filmmaking. Cinematography is ultimately taking 24 still images per second (or 30 with video), so if you don't have the basics of good shot composition, framing, and lighting down for the purpose of taking one still image, you can't likely expect to get great images out of a 16mm film or video. Lastly, nothing is ultimately more valuable than experience, so spend as much time as possible immersing yourself in whatever it is that you want to do."

http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/0609_25best_Level1,3293/

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Berman On His Impact

"BT: What do you love most about your job?

Josh: What I love most is that my job is ultimately a creative outlet. It certainly forces me to be assertive and log considerable time on the business and logistical side of things, but ultimately I'm producing a film that is my creative vision, a story representing the past winter's biggest and best skiing exploits, as I see it. In addition to that, it's truly amazing to see the affect that my films have on people. To know that what I'm doing is directly affecting and inspiring a new generation of skiers all over the globe blows my mind, and really makes me strive to push the limits of what's going on in ski film production."

http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/0609_25best_Level1,3293/

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Ski Magazines 2013 Winner! 

"The Level 1 Productions crew set out to make a film that put people in a sunny mood. They more than succeeded. The skiing was stellar, the editing was crispy and creative, and the film made everyone who watched it want to go skiing."

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Quick Comment From Josh Berman

"Ultimately all ski films are really the same if you break it all down, but I’d like to think that Level 1 films all have a similar feel, vibe, and style from one year to the next, which maybe sets us apart. We’ve been making movies for 13 years and have kept our crew really small, which I think has allowed us to develop our own particular style and perspective. I think as a crew, both athletes and filmmakers, we’ve got an attention to detail and style that really separates us from most of the others." 

http://www.level1productions.com/news_detail.cfm?ID=78

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The trailer for the newest video from Level 1!

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Another Josh Berman video this one done by The Business of Fun on YouTube.  Josh talks about the way Level 1 started, following your dreams, and most importantly having fun with what you're doing.  Plus there's some behind the scene shots! 

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Really fun thoughtful interview with Warren Miller.  A little look into this mans crazy life.  One of the originators of ski films.  Very funny kind man!  

"It was total freedom, but no control over it.  And that's the way I lived my life ever since."  Warren Miller 

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Warren Miller Quotes

“When it comes to skiing, there’s a difference between what you think it’s going to be like, what it’s really like, and what you tell your friends it was like.” Warren Miller

I feel like this quote somewhat capture the experience of skiing.  Specifically my first time on the mountain.  

The quote below attributable to no one also shares some of the magic of shredding down a slope.   

“Faster, faster, ’til the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” 

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Josh Berman Interview

"Give us your pitch. Why should we be stoked about Eye Trip?

Eye Trip is just that—55 minutes of mind blowing skiing action and cinematography, and it’s certainly our most well rounded film to date. The pow is deeper, the mountains bigger, the jibs more creative and technical, and the jumps, well, the footage from our park shoots is pretty wild.

“Rapid progression” has been the only way to describe the past few years of skiing. What do you have to say about the progression of your movies?

A successful movie company in this day and age needs to keep pace with the action-—if you're not progressing your filmmaking abilities at the same rate, or faster, then you're falling behind. We're certainly doing our best to one-up ourselves from one year to the next, and I guess we'll be able to gauge our success or failure from the crowd reaction tomorrow night."

http://www.skinet.com/skiing/fondue-party/ski-culture/2010/09/five-question-interview-josh-berman

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In terms of ski-movie making Josh Berman is my biggest inspiration.  He is the creator, owner, and videographer of Level 1 Productions.  His editing style and ability to bring the best out of the skiers is down right awesome.   This is a look at one of Level 1's earlier films.  

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A teaser for "Into the Mind"  

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Dave Mossop is a ski movie director and his recent project "Into the Mind" has pushed action sports cinematographers to create more picturesque movies.  "Into the Mind" is a beautifully shot movie that awes audiences with unique transitions and shots as well as with the tricks and stunts put on by the skiers and snowboarders featured.   

"Interviewer: Is their a fine line between looking at death and the glorification of cheating death?

Dave: For sure. It’s both a very fine and very blurry line. We talk about it a lot in modern adventure media. It’s really at the forefront of what we do as all these different sports reach the true limits of human ability. Maybe once we start getting titanium bones more things will become possible. But until then you have to know your limits. One thing I’m really proud of in Into the Mind is that we try to glorify not risking your life."

http://adventureblog.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/27/into-the-mind-director-dave-mossop-on-making-the-ski-film/

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What Makes Me Tick

      Skiing is an enormous part of my life.  It keeps me sane during the winter months.  When going into the bitter cold is generally a painful and tedious chore.  Skiing is my yoga, a way to meditate while pushing myself physically.  Not to meditate in the sense that I’m attempting to look at my life from the outside but to completely clear my head of anything not associated with the mountain.  Tearing down a slope through trees, moguls, more trees, and some little kids takes the utmost concentration.  The cold wind in my face, roar in my ears, wailing of my skis as they cut through the snow.  Aching feet, sore thighs, calves, abs.  Every part of me trying to go faster, trying to push a little harder.  Thinking about anything else could result in broken bones.    It is the ultimate escape for me.  A trip of remarkable cleanliness.