Photo Epic: Brandon Semenuk's One-Shot as Seen by Sterling Lorence

Jul 27, 2015 at 7:43

by Anthill Films

Last week, Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and Anthill Films released one of the most acclaimed segments from unReal, Brandon Semenuk’s “One Shot” segment. It’s the first full segment in a mountain bike film shot in a single, continuous shot. The beautiful simplicity of the segment hides the extraordinary amount of work and coordination it took from the entire team to create. In this episode of Mind the Gap and this exclusive photo epic from Sterling Lorence, we go behind the scenes in Cambria, California to show you how the crew pulled off this cinematic achievement.

Mind the Gap Episode 8

by anthill

Views: 13,460 Faves: 141 Comments: 4

Brandon Semenuk in his 1 shot segment for unReal movie in Cambria California USA 2015 Anthill Films

Double rainbows are a sign of good things to come!

It all seems so intimidating at this stage. We're all in now!

Kyle J discusses road crossing options. This was one of the crux's of the build, the GSS can only pan so fast so the flow between vehicle and rider had to match.

This skidsteer doesn't weigh nearly as much as the weight Brandon carries on his shoulders at this stage in game. Brandon has been through many film shoots and knows all too well how much time and effort everyone has put in to get this point. We all want this shot badly, but only this young man knows what it's like to have all eyes on you.

Brian Wulf prepares the GSS.

Kyle J down and out. The boys put weeks of early mornings and long days to get the course built.

Another rain delay, too wet to build or ride. The dirt here turns into sticky clumps when touched in the rain, the waiting game is all part of the process.

Brandon preps his body for another day of battle on the slope. He came into the shoot with an injured wrist which limited how hard he could push the practice sessions. As a result he only hit the caveman drop and the final air once.

Endless practice to learn the line.

Fuel.

The track is complete and it's time to finish the road. With only one perspective to choose from it was critical to get the road at just the right height. This wasn't the path of least resistance but it's the only line that was neither too high or too low to capture the lower stunts just right.

Weapons.

The view from the flat drop, still a long way to the bottom with most of the slope course above us.

Practice, practice and more practice.

The big drone coming in for a landing, those blades will cut ya!

Anthill cinematographer Darren McCullough looks on as TGR's Brian Wulf changes out a capacitor on the GSS. After the few practice runs down the rough dirt road the GSS kept losing power which would be devastating mid-run. With some troubleshooting Brian was able tweak the system so it could handle the big hits on the vehicle mounted set up.

Frustration sets in as the days go by and the wind continues to plague our efforts.

Kyle J offers a little moral support on the shuttle up between practice laps.

Final touches are small but important!

Darren operates the pan and tilt while Dr Drones pilots the bird.

The One Shot

by anthill

Views: 62,341 Faves: 1,514 Comments: 59

unReal is for those of us who escape. A film that celebrates breaking free from the confines of reality and venturing into a boundless world. This place isn’t remote or hard to find, and yet many never see it. Here, glacial walls transform into mountain bike trails, rain and snow aren’t the only elements to fall from the sky and thousand pound mammals become riding partners. Breathtaking visuals conjure feelings of awe and pure joy; feelings that only those of us who venture outside can truly understand. This film is dedicated to you — the dreamers, the rule-breakers, the ones who never grow up, the ones who know the secret — the ones who know the way into the unReal world.

Riders: Brandon Semenuk, Brett Rheeder, Cam McCaul, Graham Agassiz, Steve Smith, Tom van Steenbergen and Thomas Vanderham, with Brook Macdonald Finn Iles, Ian Morrison, James Doerfling, Matty Miles and friends

All Photos by Sterling Lorence

Sony presents unReal with Shimano & Trek, a new film produced by Teton Gravity Research & Anthill Films starring Brandon Semenuk, Brett Rheeder, Cam McCaul, Graham Agassiz, Steve Smith, Tom van Steenbergen & Thomas Vanderham, with Brook Macdonald, Finn Iles, Ian Morrison, James Doerfling & Matty Miles. Written, directed and edited by Anthill Films. Art direction and additional writing by Good Fortune Collective. Additional support from Bike Magazine, Evoc, Knolly, Pinkbike, Rocky Mountain, Western Digital & Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

#theunRealmovie

Download unReal:
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MENTIONS: @anthill / @sterlinglorence

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anthill

Member since May 17, 2009
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50 Comments

67 0

kusa (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:41)

im so stoked that i dont know what to write....

l8igz (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:46)

same dude. but all these photos are incredible

MrEtnie (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:59)

stoked outta my mind...

sunday06 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:41)

That's the most amazing 4 minutes of filming I have ever seen...

kubaner FL (Jul 29, 2015 at 18:51)

Yo man, I'm Kyle J. I love this shit!

21 0

sino428 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:34)

This segment is just awesome. I'm not even sure what exactly it is that makes it so awesome. It's not the gnarliest line, and the tricks aren't anything amazing (not for Brandon anyway). It's just everything. The smoothness of the one shot, the smooth casual style that Brandon puts down on the run, the music scenery.... It all just works. I've watched it about a dozen times and it doesn't get old.

Steezwhip (Jul 29, 2015 at 18:09)

It's literally mesmerizing

CRUmbach (Jul 29, 2015 at 19:14)

Exactly what you said

10 2

dynamatt (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:49)

As riders we all know how hard it is to do a run like that in 1 shot. That is the one thing that blew my mind was knowing that he probably attempted this line quite a few times to get that super clean final edit. And it looks so easy and effortless

10 1

ldhbaker FL (Jul 29, 2015 at 12:52)

Apparently the one shot is the only time Brandon rode the entire line - not to say there wasn't a huge amount of practicing each section...

csermonet (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:02)

he only hit the complete line one time.

adrock-whistler (Jul 29, 2015 at 12:39)

Is it okay to like the behind the scenes footage more than the original? I love seeing what goes into something like this. I'm surprised they weren't freaking out more when they bagged the shot.

CRUmbach (Jul 29, 2015 at 19:14)

I loved all of the extra footage that came with the film

steelpolish (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:06)

Lizard looks pissed

dtax (Jul 29, 2015 at 12:43)

It's a Semenuk-eleon

devanish (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:35)

OUTSTANDING!!!! The audience at the premiere, were mesmerized during this segment, nice edit with the music too. Great work crew, this will be watched over and over again for years to come.

iamsx (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:41)

Probably one of the greatest scenes of all time, but it does make me feel bad for Brandon because the hype has been about the shot rather than the riding. It was progressive from both fronts, and everyone who was involved should be proud.

Makk-daddy (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:06)

That BTS edit with the three camera angles capturing the riding, the filmers and the driver is amazing. Even though I've watched the One Shot segment probably a dozen times, you can feel the stress build the further Brandon gets down the trail and the relief and adrenalin is almost tangible when both the rider and camera crew nail the take. Hats off to you gents, and also to Sterling Lorence on some banger stills!

pumptracker120 (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:56)

This is my favorite shot of the year so far. The scenery, the rider, the music, and of course the shot all came to gather so nicely it is truly amazing to watch.

wipz07 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:00)

I could watch Brandons segment all day

jakecallcut (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:31)

I'm so happy, Awesome photos big enough and good enough quality for desktop background!

raleightheodoresakers (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:42)

Probably one of the most fluid, transcendental bike films I've ever seen.....simply beautiful. I think it's safe to say this was a perfect mountain biking film....

robd420 (Jul 29, 2015 at 21:26)

Epic shots as always from Sterling Lorence. That was one hell of a seggy to pull off in one shot, let alone the first full run of the trail. Props to filmers, rider, and build crew, you guys done good!

rideRB (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:28)

It's not connected with biking but I am stoked that Semenuk has old Praktica camera from Eastern Germany made in 80's. I have also one piece. It made me happy.

duckcrisps (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:10)

I think it's an olympus. You can see it in the photo where he's sat down. They have very similar styling though

NebsterC-3PO (Jul 29, 2015 at 15:15)

yup it's an Olympus OM-1

rideRB (Jul 29, 2015 at 22:09)

Oh, the shape is quite similar then. Thanks for enlightenment.

DaRoOo (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:38)

I definitely have to buy this movie !!

bikesandfun (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:33)

Great photos. This fullscreen article format is kind of overwhelming though

kerberos FL (Jul 30, 2015 at 4:11)

That segment impressed me so much, when seeing these pictures I immediately hear the song and feel the flow vibe, even after seeing unReal only once.

gio910 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:45)

amazing video, brandon is a phenomenon rider.

urgost (Jul 31, 2015 at 0:02)

I could just keep on watching it over and over again forever and a day. What a masterful piece of art.

rockyflowtbay (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:55)

I love seeing the behind the scenes stuff. One thing you dont get with the itunes purchase.

andrew8404 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:33)

Actually you do.

boyblue1973 (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:22)

wow, very nice trail build, very good flow and obstacles, yet the rider BS is so good and matches him right on.

darrentheclaw (Jul 29, 2015 at 11:46)

Your photographs are truly stunning. You really know how to capture the essence of each moment. Respect.

RedBurn (Jul 29, 2015 at 12:05)

this trail looks so perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zaeius FL (Jul 29, 2015 at 12:24)

That lizard looks pissed.

wanleggedwinston (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:15)

The weather gets progressively better in each photo until it gets to the day of the shoot.

Steezwhip (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:06)

I know it might not be the right place to ask this, BUT, does anyone know how much to powder coat a bike to get a trek anywhere near as cool as the ones that their pros ride?

vincentlevrat (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:21)

Feels so good to see some such important work shot on film !!

Terrafire (Jul 29, 2015 at 10:52)

Sterl as always providing the best that a still image can give you.

AndyMandura (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:23)

Will this line be destroyed now? because it looks too perfect.

gaoyiyang (Jul 29, 2015 at 17:59)

This is awesome, even more!

eddieoc3499 (Jul 29, 2015 at 22:31)

am i the only one that saves the amazing photos to look at them later

jeremyclark (Jul 31, 2015 at 2:55)

thats so good!!! He should ride more his big bike!

piranah (Jul 31, 2015 at 21:20)

$750k video camera and no catering. Thats whats up.

hokiedoc2010 (Jul 29, 2015 at 13:05)

I love it. Semenuk has the best case of RBF I've ever seen.

baftijari (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:14)

He is more then perfect!

Hyakian (Jul 29, 2015 at 14:17)

Epic.