The usual film for an event like this is a recap: fast cuts, big music, everyone smiling, cool transitions. The foundation needed one that would show people why the race exists at all.
We got the green light thirteen days before race day, and we had one day to film. The run of show was packed, from the opening ceremony and the heats on the water to back-to-back sponsor interviews, the awards and the cheque presentation. The film had to carry the foundation's vision, the community, the sponsors and the reason behind it all: youth mental health. And it had to be ready in time for the August newsletter.
The race went second. First came the reasons: sponsors who come back year after year, and parents who spoke about how the programs this race supports brought light back into their family.
We planned the day with the foundation's team and moved the afternoon interviews earlier, so the crew was free for the final race. On race day we recorded eight interviews while a second camera worked the water with the paddlers. The edit builds to the moment the total is announced: over $212,000 for youth mental health programs at Surrey Memorial Hospital. The foundation got the main film (just over three minutes, plus a captioned version), a one-minute vertical reel and stills from the film for promoting the next race.
