This year we produced two pieces at the PPIHC.
The second and longer documentary video follows BBI Autosport as they prepare Jeff Zwart’s 997 GT3 Cup Turbo – Hill Climb Special for the 2014 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. BBI Autosport is based in Huntington Beach, California they specialize in Porsche and exotic car performance tuning.
In this 10 minute documentary I wanted to capture what made Betim Berisha’s story so special. It is his determination and commitment. Betim didn’t take an easy road to becoming a race engineer – he took on lots of risk and challenged himself. He left his life in Washington state and was homeless for a few months while trying to make a career in Southern California. It paid off when he eventually was hired by Porsche Motorsport North America. After a few years of building customer cars in his spare time, Betim started BBI Autosport and recruited talented friends to come work with him. Their commitment to doing things with passion and creativity caught the attention of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champion Jeff Zwart who hired BBI to build his next Hill Climb race car.
We conducted interviews in Colorado Springs during the week of the hill climb as well as shot BBI’s facilities while they were prepping the car. Due to a fuel pump failure, we weren’t given the championship winning ending that looked certain during practice and qualifying – however that made the overall message more important. To me, that message is don’t quit. Keep pushing and taking opportunities. Passion will make you successful.
Director of Photography: Will Roegge
Camera Operators: Joshua Herron, Will Roegge, and Skylar Smith
Motion Graphics: Skylar Smith
Edited by: Will Roegge with additional help from Joshua Herron