On the slopes: New Warren Miller film at Mount Baker Theatre

Josh Haskins, a producer and cameraman who has been with Warren Miller Entertainment for 16 years, says bringing the popular film series to theaters is a kickoff to winter and an opportunity to celebrate the days getting shorter and colder, and the inevitable snowfall.

The 2015 film, “Chasing Shadows,” the 66th edition of Warren Miller Entertainment’s annual winter sports film, screens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Mount Baker Theatre.

People of all ages attend the films; audiences range in age from 8 to 80, Haskins says.

“Chasing Shadows” has something for everyone,” he says, “Skiing, snowboarding, pow surfing, mono boarding, speed-riding and global travel.”

“Our athletes show what it is that inspires them, and why they pursue their dreams of chasing snow around the world.”

Skier Marcus Caston, who has done a film for Warren Miller Entertainment once before, admits that as an athlete, the hardest part in making a film is communicating with the photographers, figuring out what they are looking for, and then making it happen.

Utah skier McKenna Peterson, in her first year with Warren Miller, agrees.

“I am an athlete, but I understand how hard it is to capture images on snow,” she says. “Not only are our photographers and filmmakers skiing the same terrain as us athletes, they are doing it with heavy backpacks and expensive equipment.”

Rob Kingwell, who has been snowboarding for 25 years and in his sixth year with Warren Miller, says the films have entered a new era.

“The production teams and filmmakers that work behind the scenes are really amazing people and great storytellers,” he says, “which is why I think this film and the last couple of films have been really outstanding.”

“Warren Miller has traditionally been about telling stories that people can relate to and be inspired by, as well as staying on the light side and having a lot of humor in them,” Kingwell says. “You don’t have to be hardcore to enjoy them.”

The challenge for the perfect shoot, says Haskins, is always dictated by the weather, snow conditions, the athlete’s schedule, accessibility of the terrain, and the ability to set up cameras in good position in relation to the athlete.

“Tracking weather patterns, being flexible, and planning quickly are all part of the production,” he says. “We also have to work with what we have sometimes and make the best of any given situation, whether that’s bad weather, lost luggage, or whatever other variable we’re dealing with at the moment.”

“Our crew of filmmakers and athletes adapts to the situation and always comes away from a shoot with a unique perspective. It may not always be the perfect combination of variables in the field, but by the time it reaches the big screen, it sure looks that way.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "On the slopes: New Warren Miller film at Mount Baker Theatre."