Vid - Jamie Houssian Interview II
The Collection Agency
Words by Cam McRae.
Date: 2011-12-18
After seeing Matt Hunter on the stage after the premiere of From The Inside Out, the Coastal Crew's first feature-length film, I realized that he has been in every top shelf mountain bike movie since the Collective was released. Matt was in all three Collective efforts, Anthill's Follow Me, Life Cycles and From The Inside Out. Clearly he's drawn to a certain type of project and, lucky for Matt, these filmers like working with him as well.
A film star in among the birch trees. Matt Hunter by Sterling Lorence.
Matt told me how he was first exposed to The Collective's work. "I was loitering around the Adidas Eyewear booth at Interbike; they always have couches and mountain bike movies playing. Anyone who has been to IB knows that a couch is the most valuable real estate in Vegas. Some footage came up on the big screen and caught my attention. It was unlike any bike movie I had seen. The footage was Jordie (Lunn) riding some dirt jumps in the Whistler alpine on a sunny fall day. I had never seen footage that made me want to ride so badly. Even the short film I saw had an amazing feel to it and captured the vibe of Jordie's session. When the clip ended I overheard a bit of talk about a new mountain bike movie. Completely by accident, I had seen the demo reel of The Collective while they were peddling for sponsors at the trade show. I wanted more than anything to be a part of this movie."
Jamie being interviewed for Forest for The Tree, the making of doc that accompanies The Collective Anthology box set.
This was shortly after Matt had won Race Face's Ultimate Freeride Challenge. He had some sponsors and some notoriety but he had yet to make a big splash. In his own words, "at the time I had just pried my foot in the door of the bike industry. I was completely clueless about what I was doing."
Luckily he had a feeling about how he wanted to make his mark. "I thought about it often; the footage I had seen had really made an impression. Months later, when I got a call from the boys that they wanted to come to Kamloops and film with me, I just about had a heart attack." That phone call took Matt from watching mountain biking videos to starring in them, and it was a massive stepping stone for his career. As he puts it, "Working with the Collective changed everything."
Jamie and Darcy Wittenburg talking strategy with the riders and crew during an early shoot in Utah. Screen cap from Forest for the Tree, from The Collective Anthology box set.
Matt summed it up like this, "The Collective's style elevated the whole game of mountain bike filmmaking. Every single second of footage since then has been influenced by it. Thanks to them, mountain bike films are now some of the most progressive and innovative in the action sports film world."
Check out The Collective Anthology here.
Did the collective influence you? Share your thoughts below...
Comments
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Nice work, lads. Great to get a little more background info on someone who has had a profound effect on the mtb film side of things, who happens to also be a really solid guy. Looking forward to the next segment!
The Collective came out right before I had bought my first downhill bike, and it was a game changer for me. I was always stoked with NWD and some of the smaller films, but the way these guys showcased a lifestyle was next level.
I still remember going to the Calgary premiere. It was down on Stephen Ave at the Globe Cinema, and was dreadfully cold. To be honest, I didn't even really know what I was going to, because at the time I was a park/dirtjump rat who still didn't have a driver's license, let alone a truck and DH bike. I saw a poster of a stunningly saturated, mossy green tree trunk in the local bike shop, and underneath it read "Movie Premiere". Tickets were $10, so me and some friends made the purchase. Who would've thought than $10 could have changed the entire outlook I had on riding.
Thank you guys, for being a game changer.
The Collective was a game changer for MTB films and it's even better when they are local. What is Jamie currently doing to pay the bills? Any more plans for a film project?
Great to hear what makes Jamie tick and a bit of background behind the collective. They were definitely a huge influence on pretty much every mountain bike video that has been released since, and the producers of possibly the best Whistler segment ever made in Roam.
What a great video and insight. Thank you Matt and Cam. I can't wait for the next sections.
That was awesome, just what i needed to watch after another epic day in Whistler. GTS!!!!! getting those shots, nice work
Nice Work Jamie! Gotta get you to autograph my Collective DVD. I still remember your Ski video from back in the day.
Three cheers for the new nsmb motion graphic. Looks sharp!
Wade's section really got me stoked when I first saw The Collective; I think it was the bassy music and that one nose manual off a log. Since then I've watched it so many times since then I appreciate all the parts for their details.
More Friday Night Beers! I'm gonna crack one now.
Honestly, I think this is the best thing I've ever seen on NSMB. Loved it. Nicely done.
Awesome work Matt. Very stoked on how this is rolling out.
Thanks a lot!!!
I still remember watching The Collective for the first time - soo beautiful, and it still is. For me, it felt like it was from riders for riders, including big balls and all that, but in a more "realistic" fashion that focused on more than just big stunt riding.
It still is so much more, and the series captured it in a way that gives me a lot of remedy for the soul if I cannot ride myself.
Loving this series guys. Can't believe The Collective is 7 years old, still one of the best movies ever. I think every mtb videographer owes a huge debt to his work. Really hope Jaime makes another film some day.
Great interview, would love to see another film from Jaimie when is part 3 up??
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