Meathead Films was founded by Geoff McDonald in 2001 with the production of the first movie, A Natural Force. A ski, snowboard and skateboard flick, A Natural Force was distributed locally on VHS.
The next season followed with the release of Elevated, a ski specific movie that was the first film to showcase both freestyle and backcountry skiing in Eastern terrain. Receiving national praise, Elevated helped put Meathead Films on the map, and secured our place as the East's first ski film company dedicated to showcasing the region.
In the summer of 2003, Meathead Films athlete, Chris James (aka Rooster), took over as the photographer and marketing director, and became company partners with Geoff.
That following winter was the company's most ambitious season yet as a two-movie production schedule was planned. Both Schooled (the follow-up to Elevated) and Epoch (a historical/ adventure documentary) were filmed in the same winter.
Schooled was released on DVD in fall 2004 and went on a 10 stop tour, while Epoch became a two year project of... you guessed it: epic proportions.
The winter of 2005 saw Meathead Films starting production on their new movie, Born From Ice, as well as putting the finishing touches on Epoch. Both movies were nationally distributed on DVD in the fall of 2005. The films went on a combined tour of over 30 locations.
2006 proved to be another double-movie year for Meathead Films as the company released a Stowe Team Video, Stowked, in addition to the feature film, Snow Gods. The movie chronicled the struggle and glories of the unusually warm 05/06 winter and the DVD was picked up for international distribution by Ally Video. It became a region-wide hit as the Meatheads expanded the tour to 45 locations and premiered the movie to over 10,000 people. A new lead sponsor, Subaru of New England, provided an Outback wagon, dubbed "The Meat Wagon," that carried them everywhere on the Snow Gods tour and throughout the next winter's filming season.
This fall, Meathead Films will release their 6th major DVD, Wanderland, as well as the follow-up Stowe Resort movie, Stowked Again. Having used three full time High Definition cameraman to document the epic 2007 winter, Wanderland showcases ground-breaking new backcountry terrain and urban locales as well as the die-hard story of Ohio ski fanatic, Radio Ron. The movie will travel to over 60 shows including the IF3 film festival in Montreal and the Boston and Toronto ski expos. This summer, Meathead Films also took on an intern, Josh Malczyk, to help with the website, distribution, and tour promotion.
In the beginning their was... Rooster? Rooster at Stowe, March 2003
Photo: Geoff McDonald/ MHF
