Immerse Yourself
-interview by Jackie Baker
It's been three years since Scott Gaffney brought skiers the hilarious parody There's Something About McConkey, a film marketed as "The most ridiculous ski film. Ever." Gaffney emerges from another season behind the camera with his eighth creation, Immersion, ready to release this fall. This film is as different from its predecessor as Saucer Boy is inseparable from his little purple sled and bottle of bourbon-and that's not a bad thing. Gaffney, one of the industry's most influential ski cinematographers, approaches Immersion with a simple goal and a small cast of skiers. He captures the natural behavior of Shane McConkey, J.T. Holmes, Robb Gaffney, C.R. Johnson, and Skogen Sprang as they ski their native habitat. Immerse yourself.
POWDER: Explain the title Immersion.
Scott Gaffney: This was the first time I came up with the title
early on. It ended up fitting really well. It explains a state of being: immersed
in a way of life, immersed in the snow, immersed in the sport.
POWDER: Each of your movies has been unique from its predecessor. For
instance, breathe travels to exotic ski locales, while There's Something
About McConkey stays close to home and focuses on Shane and humor. How do
you explain your filming progression or change?
SG: It's a purposeful change. I don't like to do something over and over.
I don't want people to know what they're going to get from year to year. I like
to keep it fresh.
POWDER: Immersion has a greater focus on art than many other
current or recent films.
SG: There is totally a place for ski porn. I help make a lot of it and
there's a lot out there. But the feel of skiing was getting lost. Everyone sees
these guys as rock stars-they're just like everyone else. They're not always
traveling. Immersion shows them skiing in their home areas.
POWDER: What would you like people to take away from this film?
SG: This is the one place where this movie comes back to being like every
other ski movie. The point is to be inspired to ski-to live it, do it, appreciate
it a bit more.