Jackson Hole, Wyoming is my refuge.  It is where I go to visit family and friends at least once a year.  My winters are filled with snowboarding and snowball fights underneath the high rising Grand Tetons.  But, during the summer, I spend most of my time on the Snake River.

The Snake River

For me the beauty of it is this; ever since I caught my first Rainbow, I was a dreamer. Fly-fishing is an activity that calms the soul.  It is what I do to slow down and experience every moment.  To wade into the surging river, underneath the shadows of the Tetons, in search for an adversary that is elegant, powerful, and cunning can only truly be experienced.  So of course I wanted to try and show, rather than tell, my “Californian” friends of such beauty.

Sunset on the Teton Range

I woke up with the intent to go fishing in the morning before the temperature of the river was too warm and the trout had stopped feeding.  I usually fish with the 8ft bamboo rod my grandfather brought back from Vietnam; but today was different.  I chose the fishing rod that my brother had given to me as a present last trip.  With a little help from the family dog, Mac, I assembled my fly rod and went to Schwabacher’s Landing.  It was a gorgeous day, all the animals were out feeding and it only made me think about the strikes that the unassuming fish would have on my Prince Nymph fly.  As I set up the camera and tripod to capture how serene and peaceful the day was, I became enveloped in the moment, as I stood there alone in what I can only describe as, “the most beautiful place on earth.” – Ben

A self-portrait as shared by Benjamin Brackin. All filmed by Ben with a tripod and his camera.

“The water you touch in a river is the last of that which has passed, and the first of that which is coming; thus it is with time.” – Leonardo DaVinci

They say that sometimes the best stories are those that are non-fiction. . . Michael and Wendy’s story is easily one of the best we’ve had the joy of telling.

Imagine texting, chatting, skyping and talking to someone. . . . someone you know could be the one. . . . for TWO YEARS before you ever actually see them in person. How incredible would it be at that first in-person meeting? What emotions and anticipations would you experience? Would you battle the 6000 mile gap that separated the two of you for multiple years knowing that one day it would all work out and be worth the wait?

It’s seriously a story taken straight out of a movie, only this story is real. The wedding day at the one and only Nixon Library in Yorba Linda was spectacular and filled with beautiful and immaculate details, but we (as you are well aware if you follow our work) are suckers for stories and keeping all of our films relevant to our couples. . .and as the Rabbi presided over the afternoon ceremony, the story of Michael and Wendy unfolded in a manner that spoke to us as the backbone for this trailer. Come see for yourself.

A very special THANK YOU to our good friend, Ashley Powell, from Agape Planning. Always a pleasure to be included in your events as they go off without a hitch and the planning and execution is always spot on.

In this installment of the player series vignettes for Mission Bauer Hockey, we take a look at veteran Aaron Moss. Coming off the last vignette with Taylor Kane, this edit focuses in on a player whose approach and style of play has changed over the years as he has transitioned into a leader on the team.

Sometimes the best and most effective journey to a solution is to simply set aside how others have arrived there and start from scratch. There are tons of clichés that speak to this: “It’s about the journey, not the destination”, “It always happens when you least expect it”, “Patience is a virtue”. Regardless of the phrases, sometimes we have to sit back, set aside all the preconceptions and ways it has been done before and simply start from scratch. . . a theme that would carry deep into Tracy and Logan’s wedding day.

With the day held upon the grounds of the one and only SaddleRock Ranch in Malibu, Tracy and Logan’s ceremony and reception had all the details brought in along with the generator to power them. With the hills and rolling lawns as their canvas, these two custom tailored the day from the ground up. . . all from scratch. From the linens, to the quilted guest book, to the Paradise Cocktails (Vodka + Lemonade + Blueberries & Love as Tracy puts it). . . . everything was done from scratch. As you’ll see, every detail was accounted for down to the individual ice cube.

As the guys fumbled to find a way to get the bow tie on and the girls gathered anxiously to see the gift that Logan had delivered to his bride, the grounds were being set up and arranged for what was to be an epic day indeed. . . . full of love, heartfelt intentions, and all started from scratch.

**FRIENDLY WARNING** – For the younger audience, there is a little “groomsmen chatter” in this one that involves the accidental release of the “S” word. . . . so earmuff it around the 0:36 mark 🙂 Don’t say we didn’t tell ya’ so!

Last winter, we were hired by a law firm to come up to Jackson, Wyoming and tell their story. So, we packed our bags, headed up north and let the storytelling begin. Perhaps what we found most interesting is that this team of lawyers (arguably one of the most recognizable team of trial lawyers in the nation) are all storytellers themselves. While we apply our craft to the screen, they apply their craft to the courtroom and the jury.

One of the greatest parts about working with The Spence Law Firm is the fact that we find parallels everywhere between the way we interact with our clients and couples. . . . and the way the lawyers at the firm interact with their clients. For us, the relationships we build with the people who commission us to tell their stories is just as important as the final films we create for them. For The Spence Law Firm, this concept is very familiar as they only work with individuals and often invest multiple years into their clients getting to know them and their story, so that they can accurately and passionately fight for them in court. For their bio film, we had the challenge of staying true to the message of the firm and the practice of trial law, but also keeping the visuals interesting and dynamic in a field of practice that is not necessarily known for it sex appeal.

To do this, we decided to incorporate some of the natural surroundings of our filming as it truly says as much about this firm’s personality and values as their approach to law. While they take cases across the country and act as counsel on many high profile trials, their roots are planted in the calm, soothing locale that is Jackson, Wyoming. We found that this footage created a nice undertone to the film and reflected the gentile and caring approach that the firm takes with each of their cases.

The edit concludes with a commentary from Gerry Spence, the founder of the firm. If you follow the Fray, you may have seen a separate bio film on Gerry Spence. One of the most celebrated and famous trial lawyers of all time, Gerry brings a wonderful closing to the film. His firm follows the principles and approach he started over 60 years ago.

When people ask us what we do, our answer quite often is, “We tell stories for a living”. Having the opportunity to travel the country and tell the stories of people and their businesses and passions is a lesser know side of Threaded Films, but we certainly LOVE when we have projects to share with you like The Spence Law Firm // A Bio Film.