Launched this year, Project: IKA is my attempt to bring dramatic, thoughtful storytelling to the YouTube automotive space. Music, editing and relevant content that drives home a message, that tells a story, that entertains and educates.
Watts Agency
Role: Senior Editor / Motion Graphics Artist / Camera Operator
After freelancing at Watts and having built a successful relationship, I was hired on full time by the agency as a Senior Editor. My role had me taking charge of editing top priority projects, working hand in hand with clients face-to-face, on tight deadlines and sometimes through the late hours of the night to deliver content for time sensitive jobs.
Clients included Microsoft, Amazon, Carbon, Riddell, American Cancer Society, Deloitte, Slalom and many other smaller brands.
Some of the pieces I was most proud of were those that were the most difficult.
A job for Microsoft’s Customer Support team, where we designed a project with fun in mind first, the interviews all done over Microsoft Teams and the final piece portrayed as a desktop of a support agent, all built in Adobe After Effects.
Massive, high resolution projections for Satya Nadella that required rendering out 8K files mere hours before they were to be shown on screen behind him as he spoke on stage.
Or pieces that had heart, that were important. Conveying drama, building a visual style through graphics, stills and color that delivered impact for the client, and the viewer.
All in all my time at Watts was rewarding, engaging, challenging and most of all fun. The team is cohesive, tight and camaraderie is paramount and in the air when you walk into their shop in Pioneer Square.
GoPro: FUSION
In 2017 I helped GoPro camera with their launch of the new 360 camera, Fusion. I was tasked with motion design for a few of their informative spots, and in charge of the spherical graphics that were presented on the dome behind CEO Nick Woodman on launch day.
Hero5 + Karma Launch / GoPro
Client . GoPro Camera
Role . Editor / Motion / Compositing / Color
Date . 2016
What an honor, to be part of the team behind the Launch Video of GoPro, arguably the most important piece of content GoPro makes every year. A massive undertaking by teams all around the world, the Launch Video is the yearly "stoke piece" that plays to the heart of GoPro and it's fans.
This year's launch was an especially challenging one as this video was still being filmed 2 weeks prior to the launch. Editing was done in 16-32 hour shifts over a month, day in day out until just hours before public release. The amount of dedication and craftsmanship GoPro editors put into their edits is beyond compare in any production I've been a part of.
Every shot has been carefully chosen, every shot as been color corrected to perfection, every spec of dust removed, every background element has been poured over and composited to present you the clearest and most beautiful image possible. This is why no one believes me when I say that yes, everything was actually shot on GoPro.
Session Commercials / GoPro
Client . GoPro Camera
Role . Director / Color / Editor / Motion / Compositing
Date . 2016
I played a big role in the 2016 advertising of GoPro's smallest, most user friendly camera yet, the Hero Session. The task was 3 commercials (starting with a Superbowl spot made in 3 days) featuring the three key-features of the Session. Simplicity, durability, and versatility.
For durability it was a team effort of many people in a small Oakland studio to put together this one-take assault on the camera in 30-seconds. The shot is mostly authentic with some light compositing to feature the camera in the best way, and to wipe it clean at the end.
For Versatility, as Director, I traveled the United States with a number of custom made GoPro rigs to capture this center-weighted match cut spot.
Final Bout II / KDF
Client . Keep Drifting Fun / Final Bout
Role . Motion
Date . 2015
Long time mentor / friend / overall rad guy Will Roegge and friend / beard god / video game partner Joshua Herron recently covered the grassroots drifting event Final Bout II, a carnival of beautiful cars getting silly on a racetrack. I was honored to be asked to design some titles for it.
I was asked to do something short and sweet, but I had way too much coffee and the footage was way too fun not to do something really special motion-wise.
So with a dash of comic books, and a bit of King of Fighters, I present Final Bout II :
Nitto Tire Auto Enthusiast's Day 2015
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2015
The YAER team is starting to bring in some high flying drone shots for me to play with, graphically, and I'm loving it. Check out this 4K video from the diverse and exciting Nitto Tire Auto Enthusiast's Day in Anaheim, CA.
All motion graphics and animation by Skylar Smith Media.
Nitto Tire NT555 G2
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2015
The new Nitto Tire NT555 G2 is a technical achievement for Nitto Tire, and I was tasked with showing that in animated infographics and text on their latest product video.
Nitto Tire Seattle 2015
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2015
Nitto Tire Drifts Orlando 2015
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2015
Having some more fun with subtitles and wooshy lines, here's the latest video from Nitto Tires, YAER Productions and motion by Skylar Smith Media.
Nitto Tire Commercial 2013
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
Tandem of Die // Team Yellow Drift
Client . Tandem of Die / Team Yellow Drift Team
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
2013 Nitto Tire Drifts Texas
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
2013 Nitto Tire Seattle
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
2013 Formula Drift Malaysia
Client . Formula Drift Asia / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
2013 Nitto Tire Palm Beach
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
The project was to add fun data, info-graphics and special effects to a video of Nitto Tire at Formula Drift Palm Beach.
Nitto Tire / Atlanta 2013
Client . Nitto Tire / YAER Productions
Role . Camera / Motion
Date . 2013
An explanation of what goes into the cars of the Nitto Tire Formula Drift team.
Graphics by Skylar Smith.
Formula Drift / Long Beach 2013
Client . Formula Drift / YAER Productions
Role . Motion
Date . 2013
Formula Drift is where I began my video career. I've been covering it since 2005 and have missed few events since then.
I was asked, on behalf of YAER Productions, to spice up some Formula Drift videos in 2013 with motion graphics. Here is the first of those pieces.
Nitto Tire / Long Beach 2013
And so began my partnership with YAER Productions and Ryan Davis. This is my first infrographics video as part of our team, the first event of the 2013 season of Formula Drift for Nitto Tires.
All motion graphics in this piece were hand made by yours truly! Enjoy.
Hoonin' With Hertrech
Client . Self
Role . Director / Camera / Editor / Color / Motion
Date . 2013
I love hanging out with Hertrech. The guy is always about having fun and breaking stuff, mainly, his V-8 RX-7.
I went with him to Las Vegas for a Vegas Drift event and covered the shenanigans we got into along the way.