Cadillac – CTS “The Challenge”

Agency: Fallon

Production Company: @Radical Media

Project: The Cadillac CTS is engineered with perfect 50/50 weight distribution – to test it we lined one up going forward and one in reverse then took them around Willow Springs Raceway.

Role: Director + Director of Photography.

Shot on the RED Epic with the Pursuit Systems Cayenne.

Team Need for Speed/World Racing – Chris Rado’s Scion tC 2.0

Production Company: WR + CO

Project: Chris Rado is a mad man when it comes to speed. He is constantly pushing the limit of whats possible with his cars. His platform isn’t your traditional race car, in fact, its a Scion tC! In Time Attack, Chris has broken records with his innovative FWD and AWD machines – here with Rob Cardona, he explains his love of speed and why using a unique platform is important to him.

Role: Director + Director of Photography, Skylar Smith – Camera Operator + Editor, special thanks to Larry Chen & Andrew Escarcega for additional footage.

Shot on the Sony EX1, Canon 5D mii & Replay HD cameras.

Special thanks to Rachel Kelly & Charles Kha at Need for Speed.

The full short film coming soon.

Recently, Skylar Smith and I set out to test my RED Epic’s 300fps capabilities. How did we test them? By having Skylar throw water balloons, tomatoes, and spray diet coke and mentos at my face – all while letting the EPIC capture the action at 300 frames per second and a shutter of 1/2500th of a second. Enough to capture some of the quickest of reactions, movements, and water droplets. Enjoy and expect more high speed action in our future projects.

Long awaited teaser trailer for Keep Drifting Fun. Vimeo or YouTube. Directed/Edited by Joshua Herron and Will Roegge. Motion Graphics by Andy Sapp.

BFGoodrich Tires –Rich Minga – G-Force Sport Comp 2

Production Company: TMA

Project: Rich Minga is a veteran racer, stunt man, and an awesome guy to work with in the film business. In this behind the scenes promo for BFGoodrich Tires – I interview Rich and we follow him on the set of our commercial shoot for the BFGoodrich Comp2.

Role: Director & DP, Camera Operators (Skylar Smith, DC Chavez, and Colby Liebelt), Sound by Gypsy Sound/Justin Gay, and Edit by Mondial

Shot on the Canon 5D mii

Special thanks to Rich!

BFGoodrich Tires – G-Force Sport Comp 2 promo

Production Company: TMA

Project: My friends at BFGoodrich/The Martin Agency came to me with a new tire and concept for the launch video. The concept was two cars equipped with Comp 2s playing a game of “skate” with cars – one upping each other each round with more challenging driving. I then scripted the driving sequence and worked with the stunt drivers (Rich Minga & Steve Holiday) to push the Hurst Camaro SS & Hurst Challenger SRT to the limit. Utilizing Pursuit System‘s Cayenne and ultimate arm – to keep the camera moving and the footage dynamic.

Role: Director & DP, Edit by Mondial

Shot on the Red Epic.

Special thanks to Eric, Val, DC, Skylar, Colby, and Josh!

Made the switch back to an iPhone. My favorite application on iPhone is instagram. If you are an iphone user and on instagram follow me @willroegge. I update regularly and post all iphone photos from my daily adventures.

Surprisingly impressed with the iPhone 4s’ built in camera – works much better than my HTC EVO. The medium format square aspect ratio is neat, even though I’m more of a wide aspect ratio person myself!

Keep Drifting Fun – Irwindale 120 FPS

Production Company: Self Produced

Project: Use motion graphics to track info graphics to RED One footage from Irwindale 2011. Test the RED One with the RED 18-85 and RED 300mm lenses.

Role: Director, DP, and Editor. Motion Graphics by Skylar Smith.

Shot on the Red One MX.

Special thanks to Formula Drift and Skylar Smith.

K&N Air Filters – Limited Edition Vaughn Gittin Jr. HPI RC Drift Car Sweepstakes

Production Company: Self Produced/K&N Air Filters

Project: K&N teamed up with HPi RC Cars to give away Vaughn Gittin Jr’s HPi 1/10th scale RC Drift cars – they contacted me to direct a chase between Jr and his 1/10th scale version. I’ve worked with Jr on several stunt driving shoots this year and he is always a pleasure to work with on projects. For this project we had one of HPi’s best Pro RC drivers and half a dozen of the 1/10th scale cars to use abuse. I brought in Skylar Smith and Jr brought in Andy Laputka – both filmmakers I’ve worked with in the past and good friends of mine. We knocked out the spot and Skylar did a great job of cutting the entire piece together.

Role: co-Director & DP. Also directed by Andrew Laptuka and Skylar Smith. Edited by Skylar Smith.

Shot on the Red One, Canon 5D, and Contour + POV Cameras

Special thanks to everyone at K&N & HPi

Hyundai Motor Company North America – Speed Golf with Rhys Millen

Production Company: Self Produced/Rhys Millen Racing

Project: While working on the Leadfoot festival promotional material in New Zealand – Rhys brought up his idea to do a golf cart video with his Hyundai Veloster Rally Car. We had a down day of filming from the Leadfoot spots and we shot this piece – which has been released by Hyundai North America. A golfer uses Rhys and his Hyundai Veloster Rally Car to get to the green the quickest way possible – Speed Golf. Shot in one day.

Role: Director & Editor. Behind the Scenes & golf ball vfx by Skylar Smith.

Shot on the Canon 5D & Panasonic HPX

Special thanks to Rod, Shelly, Rhys & Eddie.

Electronic Arts – Need for Speed “The Run” Promo

Production Company: Self Produced/Need for Speed Branding

Project: Need for Speed was launching their newest title – The Run and asked me to come up with a chase sequence between two of its featured cars. The cars, Vaughn Gittin JR’s 1969 Mustang RTR-X and the present day RTR Mustang GT. We shot out in a highly confidential location in Arizona and were able to pull of some awesome stunt work thanks to the talents of Vaughn Gittin JR and Chris Forsberg who were the stunt drivers in the spot. In post, we cut in Los Angeles with Gypsy Sound doing the audio post work and Jerimiah Morey doing the final color grade. This project was a blast to work on from conception with Charles Kha and Rachel Kelly – all the way to the finishing.

Role: Director & DP, Camera Operators: DC Chavez & Skylar Smith, Color by Jerimiah Morey, Sound by Justin Gay & Gypsy Sound

Shot on the RED One, Canon 5D, Sony EX1, and Canon T2i

Special thanks to Justin Gay & Jerimiah Morey.

The end of 2011 has been crazy for me. The last few months of this year have kept me very busy and one of the projects I’m looking forward to finishing up is a piece on Team Need for Speed driver Chris Rado. Here are a few screen grabs from the video. Still editing it currently between a host of other projects. I really am liking how these few frames have turned out with some simple grades.

Low fall sun and some morning time attack = nice flaring. All of these shots are from my Sony EX1R. Which I was operating hand held to get Chris as he was about to go out in his first session at Infineon Raceway.

The light even caught some of the particles in the air – check out the bottom left part of the frame. I love atmosphere like that.

FWING 2.0 ready for battle. Stay tuned for the upcoming video. I’m excited for it, Chris and Rob were fantastic interviews and it makes it easy when Chris breaks the Front Wheel drive record at the event to make the story end on a high note!

The coldest I’ve ever been has to be…Wyoming. Prior to this most recent trip, wind chill and cold temperatures combined to make a few snowboarding trips – extremely brisk. However, Wyoming in December at 3am has to take the prize for the coldest I’ve experienced. -16 degrees will make you want to curl up and quit. When temperatures hit positive later in the day – it felt insanely warm!

This was my first trip to Jackson, WY and I really loved it. Compared to the mining towns of Colorado – Jackson had a very cowboy western feel. This motel, the four winds caught my eye as its the title of a Bright Eyes song I dig.

The town also has a thing for antlers which make up arches, lamps, and furniture randomly around Jackson.

We setup a time lapse inside of our rental car to capture this epic sunrise.

Having stayed two nights at the Rustic Inn, I highly recommend it! Awesome breakfast and friendly folks.

The Tetons are actually very grand.

Team Honey Badger, my sound recordist Justin has been through snow and cold with us in the past. Here we wait in between takes just inside of Yellowstone.

AHHH. REAL Mountains.

We then headed to Idaho.

Stanley, Idaho – not many people live there, but the ones that do are amazingly nice and make excellent food. Niceness and Yuminess per capita is high.

DC reps our Motel. Jerry’s Motel.

Friends of mine think the mountain roads are fun to drive in Southern California. The roads outside of Boise, are nothing short of a motorcyclist or driver’s dream. So many sweeping curves and switchbacks.

We ended up getting our last shots at sunset outside of Boise, Idaho.

Magic hour, get it right, get it tight.

Until next time. Keep em turning.

Leadfoot Festival – :90 Promo 2012

Production Company: Self Produced

Project: Rod Millen must have one of the greatest driveways in the world. Over a mile long of twisting tarmac with some of his favorite features from courses and roads that he has raced – from around the globe. Now in its second year, the Leadfoot Festival is Rod’s celebration of speed – on his own driveway with his friends, family, and invited top drivers. This :90 spot was made to promote the 2012 festival.

Role: Director & Operator /Co-Editor (Skylar Smith)

Shot on the Panasonic HPX-170, Canon 5D and T2i cameras.

Special thanks to Rhys, Rod, Shelly, and Eddie.

After leaving Tucumcari, New Mexico we headed further west to Albuquerque – home of the second longest tramway in the world. We rode the tram up to the top, which provided spectacular views of the state and city. We didn’t stay long because the winds at the top were blowing and it was very chilly.

These tubes marked different points on the horizon – the national laboratories, the city of Santa Fe, and the airport. We were there at a perfect time of day and the light was amazing – as the sun was setting to the west.

I had to hold Tailyr’s hair back from blowing around just to take this photo. We look cold!

The ride down was even more fun than the ascent. The tower in the foreground is the higher of the two towers. Underneath the tram car is a massive drop at this point over the last canyon before the top station.

The two tram cars pass at the mid point of the tram way. On the way down, I got a hold of my friend Dan who met us for dinner with his roommate Tyler.

All of us pose with Dan’s daily driver s13 and Westy. White kids.

Next day, we rolled into Arizona. Here is Westy at the Flinestones campground outside of the Grand Canyon.

“I DO DECLARE, this CANYON IS GRAND!”

Back on the highway, we played tag with a long train.

Until we pulled off for gas in one of my favorite Route 66 towns in California – Ludlow. It has a few abandoned buildings – a diner, gas station, and a few houses.

Westy takes a break under the canopy of an old gas station. I really like the decay and old hand painted signage.

The window frames of the nearby burnt out diner provide a good frame for Westy. After 6 days, 2,600+ miles, and lots of fun stops – we had made it back to California and Los Angeles.

Keep the wheels turning.

Chicago, Illinois November 2011. The leaves were golden and hanging on like the last warmth of summer on a fall afternoon. It was time to bring my 1974 Volkswagen Westfalia Van back out to California from the midwest. The van, known as Westy – short for the Westfalia camper conversion it sports, had been at my parents house since the end of Keep Drifting Fun’s road trip. Westy had been through two motors. The replacement motor had lasted for less than 2,000 miles – before total failure. The carburetors were missing adjustment screws and in need of a freshening up. Luckily, the van broke down in Minneapolis, Minnesota – the home of VW shop Further Performance. They set Westy up with new Weber Carbs and installed a new motor.

A criticism of modern cars is that they have no soul. Westy is all soul. The VW van is a toaster on wheels – tall and narrow. It drives like a truck, with the power of an overweight VW Beetle, and has all the quirks of a a hippie that has had one too many trips.

So if speed, safety, and comfort are none of your concerns – its the perfect road trip machine. It’s like turtle. It has a massive shell that can house all of its occupants comfortably. It can easily sleep 2, if not 4 adults who are willing to get close. It has a fold up table, plenty of storage, and originally came equipped with a stove, refrigerator, and sink. Westy has been modified with solar panels providing the van with power, a modern stereo system head unit, and new speakers.

My girfriend was adventurous enough to come with me on the cross country trek. From Chicago, we headed past St.Louis and the Arch. Chugging along at 55mph.

In the past few years, after criss crossing the United States at least 10 times – I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of Route 66. The interstate highway system is the worst way to see the US – its vanilla and all the same. Route 66 is the US at its best: entrepreneurial, unique, and filled with personality. Here is the World’s largest Rocking Chair outside of Cuba, Missouri.

Back onto the highway, we zipped past Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We wanted to stop off in Oklahoma City, to check out the bombing memorial and downtown area. Oklahoma was sleepy and quiet on a midweek afternoon.

The memorial was beautifully done and modern. It remembers all of those who were killed, injured, and survived the Oklahoma City Federal building bombings. The reflecting pool was low and shallow – book ended on both sides by arch walls that commemorate the time of the attack. It really made me think about how violence is pointless. Its awful to think about how many innocent people lost their lives because of a few men’s hate of the government.

Chairs commemorate those who were killed. The smaller chairs represent children.

After grabbing a couple cupcakes and coffees we were back on the road. The van’s speedometer is off at higher speeds – I used the GPS to help keep the speed in check. Cruising around at 55/60 is frightening when trucks fly past at 70/75 in the southwest.

Next spot for photos was Tucumcari, New Mexico. Another Route 66 stop bypassed by the modern highways. Check out the Westy Camper can in the mural!

Legendary mural. This is the second time I’ve stopped in Tucumcari to take photos by the town’s murals.

Until part two. Here is one for the road.

Need for Speed – Fredric Aasbo 2011

Production Company: Self Produced

Project: Fredric Aasbo was 2010 Formula Drift Rookie of the Year. In between the 2010-2011 Formula Drift seasons he won several major international drifting competitions and was set to drive for Papadakis Racing in the Scion tC. A new car for Fredric and a new challenge – going from being a privateer to driving for one of the most successful drift teams in the world.

Role: Director/Operator (with Skylar Smith, Joe Ayala, and Justin Shreeve)/Co-Editor (Skylar Smith)

Shot on the Panasonic HPX-170, Canon 5D and T2i cameras.

Special thanks to Charles Kha, Rachel Kelly, Matt Powers, Skylar Smith, Joe Ayala, and Justin Shreeve.

This is my car, this is me driving, this is as fun as it looks…photo by Skylar Smith.

Rhys uses his hands to explain car positioning for a video we shot in New Zealand on his family’s property. We ended up mowing sections of the long grass down to make a golf course like setup for his rally car.

Some of the other residents were curious about our project. Rod Millen has a few sheep and cows on the property. They help to keep the property’s grass in check.

These rolling green hills were our set location for the day. Not a bad view in any direction.

Even downwards. The cliffs were not for those with a fear of heights! Doesn’t bother me, so it provided some awesome views.

Apparently, Disney’s the Chronicles of Narnia did some of their shooting on this outcropping for one of their films. I can imagine a castle or battle staged one one of those bluffs.

More than meets the eye, the bushes by the cliffs conceal several natural blowholes – sea arches that connect to the land side. The previous owners even build stairway to access the bottom of this one on the property.

Inland the property feels more like a farm. A ridge hides the ocean from sight and grassy fields fill your view.

That and awesome race machines – like Rod’s record setting Pikes Peak Toyota Celica and RX7 rally cars.

I’m happy with the picture quality from my Canon 300 HS. Great pocket sized point n shoot. Thanks Dad!

Until next time, keep the wheels turning.