Sean Kilgus is one of wakeboardings top videographers and is still changing the way things are done in the industry. Working with the sports top athletes Kilgus is able to produce some of the most influential videos of their time. His latest film DRIVE rivaled most films in quality and cinematography. Kilgus is currently filming a new video with Danny Harf and friends. The video will be documenting the progression of Danny Harf and Friends over the next year. Check out his website for a ton of videos and more info!

Sean Kilgus Interview

PW: Seems like you have been around the sport of wakeboarding forever with a camera in hand? How did you get started shooting?

SK:Haha...It does seem like forever sometimes. I actually started filming in college with some buddies of mine. We were heavy into our snowboarding and rode at a really cool mountain back home called Mt. Baker. There were a lot of good riders and we just wanted to document our riding at the time. We were always building booters and hiking out of bounds. I actually just found a bunch of my old DV tapes from around 2000-2004 of just old snow stuff. Every year after snowboarding was done, I was super excited to wakeboard and I just started meeting people locally like the The Ennen brothers and Danny Bergman up in Bellingham, Wa. The first rider I filmed was Brent Starr. He was the best rider around where I grew up and he was my hero back in the day. It was cool getting to work with him throughout the years in all my videos coming up.

PW: Working with the top athletes in the sport must really help the overall creative process. What’s it been like working with the legends of the sport?

SK:It has definitely been a great experience to work with riders like Danny Harf and others top notch riders like Rusty and Randall. Each one of these athletes has taught me a lot about what is important in their riding styles and have supported my creative growth throughout the years. I have always felt that the cast of riders in my films really shows how I perceive wakeboarding to be. Riders like Benny G and Randall can blow your mind one day and you feel like you just saw history in the making. The next day you go film double ups with Rusty and Danny and you just saw something totally different but just as awesome. I have also been humbled by the same riders and learned a lot about professionalism in this industry. I appreciate the athletes and all that they bring to my projects.

PW: You have shot a ton of videos. What's your most memorable one?

SK:I would say that The Butter Effect has always be the one that is the most memorable. That was the first time I learned how to shoot 16mm film. Gotta give Justin Stephen’s credit for helping learn in the beginning. Talk about patient. Haha. Justin is my hero. At the time of shooting BE, I was really trying to push myself and show the best riding at the time. I know that is the goal with every movie, but that was the first time that I got an opportunity to really push it creatively with the riders. They all got really involved and supported that movie. The Magazines did too. That was the most coverage for a movie I had ever received yet in my career.

PW: Can you tell us about your new DEFY movie based around Danny Harf and Friends?

SK:Danny and I have been kicking around the idea of doing a movie for a number of years. Being a caliber of rider like Danny, he always has a lot of very important projects and responsibilities to uphold every year. So we wanted to wait until we could truly focus and get the movie done right. The Teaser we released this summer was the first step. It turned out really good and I know Danny was pumped to follow through and see where we could take this project. The movie is based solely on progression of wakeboarding. Since Danny is such an innovator, his direction is endless. We basically just want to make a great film that best shows where he is at as a rider and where he sees wakeboarding today. That is why we have the “and Friends” to add to this progression. Our cast is growing and will include; Rusty Malinoski, Benny G, Kevin Henshaw, Shawn Watson, Shane and Parks, all the boys in Ronix for Radar session, the Fox team, and more. I don’t want to give away too much, but Danny and boys have by far surpassed expectations from last year already. Very exciting to see these riders influencing each other every time we film.

PW: You've used the film camera alot compared to most guys shooting everything digital. What makes you want to spend all the extra time, money, and hours working with film?

SK:Ya. That one. Well, its tough these days to justify the expense. When I started filming, I always gauged my abilities and accomplishments off of the great filmmakers before me like Ronn from Sidewayz, Justin Stephens of course, and for sure off of snowboarding films. These guys pushed it made me want to learn how to shoot film so I could earn their respect coming up. I think that it is a necessary skill to learn. You truly learn a lot more about what it takes to get a shot and why you need to think things through before you go the next set. Nowadays it’s not so important to shoot film it seems like. With so many new adapters and cameras out there. I am glad to know that when the time comes to shoot film this year, I know we can get what we are hoping to get.

PW: Your mostly known for shooting wakeboarding. What else have you pointed a camera at?

SK:Snowboarding was my first experience shooting and then into wakeboarding full time. For the past few years I have shot the whole Nautique boats product line and produced their webisodes and product DVD with Ryan Wolfe. I have always produced a ton of product videos for Hyperlite, Ronix, and some work for Body Glove. That has truly been a good eye opener for me as far as expectations and professionalism. I have shot a few local commercials and a lot of product based stuff. Oh ya. Some weddings. That’s the goods…haha

PW: You have any tips for a videographer who is trying to get into shooting action sports?

SK:The best advice I can give is to love what you do. You will always run into road blocks through every step of the way. It’s your ability to move past these tough spots and focus on why you are doing this stuff in the first place. I have a time every year that I call the dark month, where I am just burnt out and need a break and that is exactly what I have to do is go take a break. I find you can come back and have a clear and fresh perspective afterwards.

PW: Where can people see your recent work and keep updated on your progress with DEFY?

SK:I have been putting tons of new stuff on my website.www.bfyproductions.com We have a ton of behind the scenes stuff and teasers. Follow us on Twitter under bfyproductions.com and on Facebook under Sean Kilgus. Also find us on Wakeboarding magazines website and in the issues.

Thanks!

Sean Kilgus