Perhaps in the world of free snowboard movies you’ve seen the Taco Trip crew out of Europe, perhaps you haven’t. Dennis Ylikangas is the main filmer and editor of this wily crew that has put out more than their fair share of web based content. We asked him a few questions and he gave us a few answers.
Where did the name Bees Knees come from?
Dennis Ylikangas: I was sitting in the back of our rental, on our way to the spot in Montreal and this truck passes me on the highway. Its a furniture truck, and under one of the pictures of a chair it says “Bees Knees” and I first asked myself, isn’t this a great name for the movie? And later on I asked the crew and everybody was feeling it so we stuck to it!
What cameras did you film with for this project?
DY: I used a HVX-200, Canon 7D and my iPhone 5s.
How would you describe your editing style and who were some of your bigger influences?
DY: There are a lot of crews and people to thank for my own style of editing, Johannes Brenning showed the way early how to do your own thing. My biggest influence were for sure Finga On Da Trigga, they had their own style to it and I think no one edit or ride like them nowadays… So I’m trying to bring my own style to it just like they did, but with a touch of Scandinavian to it!
Slams happen, who in the crew would you say mangled themselves the worst?
DY: Haha they sure do! This winter had been easy with the hard slams which is good, but Niels Schack had a few. But Jonte Lindhe takes the price for cutting three leading-strings in his fingers with a knife, non snowboard related!
Were there any unique stories from making this movie that people reading this should be aware of?
DY: It was a turbulent year, a lot of great stories and memories for sure! After a month in Canada me and Ludde missed the flight home and we had to fly all the way to Turkey and then home to Sweden which gave me a few hours at home before leaving for Kiruna (1,300km drive) with Kareem and Jonte, so I lived in the same board bag with the same clothes for over 1.5 months.
The Internet has been great at getting films from all over to a broader market. Some people are arguing that all this free content much like what you do with Taco Trip is diluting the essence of snowboarding. How do you feel about the content distribution the Internet allows all of us as snowboarders?
DY: Well it’s great that people are out shooting movies and above all, riding! It’s hard to keep up with everything that comes out on the internet. But I think in general its good, like I said its nothing bad with people riding, filming and making movies, we just need more engagement on the filming aspect from the sport itself. I think “The Reels” was a perfect example of it! I want to see movies on the big screen, in the same way I want to see a picture printed in a magazine. We need to engage the kids, not only how to do triple corks and hate on the internet!
Any advice you would give to aspiring snowboard film makers?
DY: Well have fun first of all! Its a big playground out there. Try to have an idea ready before you go out filming of how you want your footage to look. Try to have a red-thread, I’m not saying my movie/movies is any different than others but I want people to get inspiration from elsewhere and not just go out and do what everybody already is doing. That’s why people are arguing about all the free content, because everybody is doing the same thing, me included.
Thanks and shout outs?
DY: First of all, Analog and Picture who made the whole thing possible! All the filmers who helped me and of course all the riders and homies that been hanging in there and supported me with this. One love!
Follow the crew on Instagram @tacotripsnow
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