Marco Morandi is the brains behind DVP. He's filmed with the best riders around and consistently delivers banging full movies, slick mini edits and all the angles you want to see. He's been instrumental in getting all the creative lines and all the tricks captured on film, straight to your screen for viewing pleasure. What these guys do in the streets and the backcountry would never see the light of day in such a way without Marco's vision and skill. So, we thought it was about time that the lensman had a chance to tell us more. Read on for all the dirty gossip about how Different Visions Productions came to be, filming for Method Movie 1 + 2, his latest edit 'Lines' and upcoming project 'Italian Madness'. Thanks, Marco!
The Lines edit was so sick. How did that idea start? How long did it take to film all the lines?
Last winter, well two winters season ago now, I filmed a lot for the first Method Movie and for "The Fourth Wall" by Postland Theory.
During the summer season when I have free time, I check all the footage filmed during the winter to make shorts edits or something.
I realised that I filmed more than 40 lines, so I decided to select the sickest ones and make an edit based by follow cam.
Who was the most creative line maker?
Probably Jonte Linde. It was the first time that we met each other, we were in Sundswall filming for the first Method Movie and when he showed me the line, well I was stoked but surprised at the same time, cause I been twice at that spot, but I never thought about it, especially in a line. It was rad!
Is it more challenging to film lines?
Well, it's the worst, but at the same time, it's the best, especially in the street. You have to walk a lot first and to care about the speed, yours and the rider ’s one, try to stay close as much as possible to the rider, looking into the LCD but at the same time riding in the street. Not easy.
Usually, it takes a while to get the line perfectly, but when you do, it's so sick watching them.
What gear do you mainly use for filming?
Panasonic AVCHD cam and Century death lens.
What sources of snowboard edits do you follow apart from Instagram?
I spent a couple of hours a day on Vimeo or Youtube as well, cause sometimes Instagram I guess is kinda cramped, sometimes in one minute you can’t really see what’s behind the video, so I prefer to spend my time watching full edits.
What do you think will change about snowboard movies in the next few years? What will never change?
I used to buy all the snowboard movie since VHS. Actually, I have almost more VHS than DVDs, so unfortunately no more hard copy. Videograss are the only one that keeps making hard copies and it’s great. I would love to have the chance to make a hard copy of my own movie someday.
About snowboarding I hope nothing gonna change, to me is like the beginning, hang out with your homies and have fun.
Who are the best/ worst riders to film with?
I got the chance to film with a lot of riders in the last 3 years, but there are still a lot of riders would like film with, so till now the best riders I spent time with are Max Zebe, Simon Gruber and Marchino Grigis, cause they are good friends of mine, they are Italians (almost), so they are the only guys I can speak Italian with…hahah.
No...to be honest all the riders I got the opportunity to film with are really good and I love to film with different riders because it's something different all the time. I love to film street but even pow and backcountry so it has never been boring to film and I guess filming with different riders in different location helps a lot.
Tell me about the Italian Madness Movie? How did that project start and who is involved?
"Italian Madness" is the new Different Vision Production project. Last year I asked Simon Gruber and Ethan Morgan if they were down to film something behind their main projects. We didn't have a lot of time, so we decided to spend 3 weeks in the Alps searching for the best snow conditions to film backcountry. Halldor Helgason and Marco Grigis joined as well and at the end, everyone was stoked about how the movie turned out.
Actually, "Italian Madness" is the sequel to "Searching For", a short film following Ethan and Simon (plus friends) around Italy.
We drove from Innsbruck to Sicily on the Etna Volcano and to other unusual locations to film pow...but well I don’t want to say more about it ;-) Teaser will be released soon.
How did Different Visions Productions start life? Do you do any work outside of snowboarding?
DVP started with the Garbage Gang about 10 years ago or maybe more. I have been always more into filming that into riding, so when my “snowboarding career” was over I focused into filming. I bought the first proper camera and I started to film with a bunch of Italians. After 3 full movies (“Shadows", “Octopus” and "Broken Circuit”) I got the call from Method and Postland and Salomon Snowboards to film with them. It takes time, but I'm stoked how my work life turned out.
Fortunately, I’m able to live my life just filming snowboarding.
When did you first pick up a camera? What was it? What other sides of film making/ editing are you interested in?
My dad loves photography too, so that is the main reason why I started. The first camera was a small compact camera, probably a JVC one.
After that, I bought the VX1000, a couple of Panasonic P2 and now still the Panasonic but I love filming sometimes with my dad's Super 8mm, it's just fucking expensive to convert the footage.
Tattoo, travelling, Beer and Good Food last but not least my dog Houston.
Which other projects have you been filming for this winter?
In pre-season, I followed Ethan Morgan in Australia, the States and around the Austrian Alps filming for the Intergalactic Web Episode. That was the best time ever! After that, I spent most of my winter time filming with Max Zebe and Flo Cornelius for Method Movie 2 and a couple of trips in Sweden and Finland with Jesse Augustinus for “Loose”, the new Postland Theory movie.
Do you have any plans for summer?
Well until the end of June I have to edit and work a bit on "Italian Madness", so basically, I will be in Milan.
Les Deux Alpes the first two weeks of July at Garage Camp for the DVP Summer Session and Ashbury Demo and after that, I will be in Mtn Hood with Salomon Snowboards at Hight Cascade for the Session 3.
August definitely a holiday in a warm place…Need sun, ocean, palm trees and fresh beers…Road trip around Spain and maybe few quick surf session!
Words: William Sleigh
Photos: Zane Kraujina, Roby Bragotto and Daniel Tengs.