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 ever 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.
Wanderland was a movie that once again thrusted Meathead Films into the national spotlight in 2007 after being nominated for "Best Powder" and "Best Jib" at the Powder Magazine Video Awards, considered to be the Academy Awards of the ski film industry. So naturally, the Meathead staff traveled to Aspen for the ceremony. No hardware was won, but the movie was also invited as an Official Selection at the 1st annual International Freeski Film Festival in Montreal. Wanderland showcased the crew's second visit to the backcountry of Newfoundland, amazing urban locales, as well as the die-hard story of Ohio ski fanatic, Radio Ron. The movie traveled to over 60 screenings including the Boston ski expo. The follow-up to the Stowe Resort movie, Stowked Again, was another project tackled by Meathead Films in 2007. That year also marked Meathead Films' first intern, Josh Malczyk, to help with the website, distribution, and tour promotion. Mr. Malczyk is now the Global Marketing Manager for Line skis, Full Tilt boots, and Planet Earth clothing. Not bad!
This fall, Meathead Films will release their 9th annual DVD, Work It Out, as well as their 5th Stowe Resort movie, Get Stowked. Having used five full time cinematographers to document the funky 2010 winter, Work It Out showcases the craggy White Mountains of New Hampshire, urban alleyways of Maine, custom park jumps in New Jersey and Vermont, and documents the only cat skiing operation in Eastern North America located in Quebec. The most unique segments of the film are undoubtedly an urban trip to Washington DC and the company's first ever overseas voyage to the "Far East" of Hokkaido, Japan.
In the beginning their was... Rooster? Rooster at Stowe, March 2003
Photo: Geoff McDonald/ MHF
