LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: EAST IS READY FOR PRIMETIME
E ver ski a local hill and try to imagine you’ve been magically plunked down into the incredible setting in one of those ridiculously beautiful and exciting ski flicks?
This year, thanks to a new film project by famed Teton Gravity Research, one of the leaders in action sports films, you’ll never need to imagine again.
TGR, in partnership with Indy Pass, is producing a film that will premier next fall, right when we’re ready to be stoked for a new season.
The extra cool factor? They’ll be filming basically in our New England skiing backyard.
“In Pursuit of Soul” will be a film focused on celebrating the beauty of the independent ski area, from the trails to the access to the local characters.
The film will feature several eastern locales: Berkshire East in Massachusetts, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak and Magic Mountain in Vermont and Saddleback Mountain in Maine.
Filming will take place in February and March with a release date in the Fall 2021.
Saddleback, recently reopened under new ownership, will feature prominently in the film, as will the others.
Indy Pass founder Doug Fish is thrilled about the project, and hopes it will introduce even more to the joys of skiing and riding independent resorts.
“For so long, ski films have zoomed in on the biggest mountains and most outlandish tricks, and so it’s exciting to work with a company like TGR to showcase these places where we all learned to ski and that still mean so much to us today,” Fish said.
“The story of our partners — mom-and-pop ski areas with colorful histories, passionate staff, and deeply invested communities – is the collective story of skiing that we all share,” he added. It is time, he said, to bring that story to a wider audience.
“TGR is a powerhouse with the passion and experience to uncover the unique energy and culture of resorts like Saddleback,” said Fish.
“To have a company like TGR coming to highlight the authentic, vibrant character of our resort is a really exciting moment for the resort and a community like Rangeley, which is so welcoming and up for anything,” said Saddleback Mountain Director of Marketing Doc Tulin.
While filming dates at each resort have not been shared, TGR will be popping up at resorts all spring. Could you end up seeing them in action filming? Could be. No matter what, come fall when the film is released, instead of dreaming of some day being able to access some far-away resort, you’ll instead be reminded: Great adventure and beauty is tucked away right here.