We talked to Cam Keith and Robert Crenson about Toronto, DV tapes and the pressures of self-funded skiing.
The gang of us all grew up skiing together for the most part, day one park buddies.
Rob Crenson aka 6 Daddy, is based out of Toronto and knows that city inside and out.
I have been filming and skiing with Matt Wilcox and Jarrad McCarl since my first camera purchase.
Matt holds it down as one of Canadas top slope skiers and Jarrad truly needs no introduction.
Matt Crawford can do it all when it comes to ripping park, triple threat.
Adam Finn rips like a GX1000 skate video, long tech lines and fast.
From the 416 to the 604.
What did you learn from working with the likes of Max Hill?
Cam: Go fast, be friendly, and laugh a lot.
Rob: Ive learned a lot more from Max Hill on things outside of skiing haha!
Oh…and how to cure a hangover.
What were some of the challenges you faced in self-funding this operation?
In what ways did you have to shape your expectations to the realities of production?
Rob: Yeah, Cam said it well.
That more or less has been on repeat for me for the past 3-4 years.
That leads to the second biggest challenge…timing aka weather.
I’ve got trust issues with Mother Nature.
The east coast got majorly starved last season of snow.
When we did get it, the windows of opportunity were short and we had to move quickly.
We made the best of what we got.
Cam and I both want a whole uninterrupted winter season to be able to create.
That’s the goal.
Describe the process of working with HV tapes.
What do you like about the medium/what dont you like?
How does analog media fit into the A6ENCYs aesthetic?
Cam: Working with DV tapes is a long and intricate task.
I really enjoy cutting footage frame by frame, citing a whole tape.
Camcorders are perfect for Run n Gun filmmakers and that is how I would define theA6ENCY.
What you have should never be valued as much as what you might do.
My little VX style Sony could do it all in my opinion.
You guys are tapping into a lot of popular representations of Toronto: the 6ix etc.
Can you talk a bit about the freeski scene there?
What about the city inspires you?
Rob: I dont care if this sound cliche…but Toronto is on a wave.
The city has an energy to it right now that cant be matched.
You kinda have to spend sometime here to understand that.
Theres a lot of things to pull inspirations from.
I live around the corner from Drakes primary producer and sound engineer.
The freeski scene though…is slim to none.
But thats something I hope to change.
Both used to have parks when I grew up skiing, but dont anymore.
Thats where the Ontario freeski scenes thrive.
In the actually city though…everyone who I consider a freeskier has or will eventually moved west.
Any advice for other crews who might be looking to pursue a similar projects or concepts in the future?
Cam: Focus on the skiing, and making memories with like minded people.
Rob: Make it happen from where you’re at, period.
Appreciate what you have around you, and find ways to create within your boundaries and abilities.
All you really need is a couple like minded people, a camera, and a pair of skis.
Thats the basics, everything else above that is great, but really just a luxury.
What else can we expect to see from the crew in the season ahead?
With street of Calgary down the road and still lots to achieve in the 6ix.
I can guarantee to see more from us this winter.
Im also hoping to organize a park/street inspired event at one of Torontos city runned ski hills.
