I’m a story-driven guy. I’ll go ahead and get that out in the open. Story-driven projects vs artist-driven projects. The great debate, if you will. I’m much more of a story guy because great artists encapsulate both ideas simultaneously. They allow the story to take center stage. They don’t have to tell you anything about their talent because it’s right there staring you in the face. Artist-driven projects put the artist at the center stage. Look at me. I am the most important thing. When I was younger, I knew a lot less and was enamored by artist-driven things. I would look at books by my heroes and didn’t even really see the work. I saw the hero. Now that I’m older, always in some version of chronic pain, I find myself less inspired by the artist and more inspired by the story they are trying to tell. I still love the artist, don’t get me wrong, and I admire their talent, but it does not supersede the work itself.
I guess I’m a Beau Miles fanboy. I would deny this if anyone asked, in an effort to maintain my machismo, but it would be difficult to deny if they found this post.
Beau knows how to tell a story. This might sound easy, and for some of you, it just might be, but for most of us, telling a great story is a tremendous lift. I’ve been telling stories with my camera and pen since 1988, but I’d still guess I’m hitting a 50/50 success-to-failure ratio all these years later. In my mind, I tell great stories every day, but translating those little tales for the general public, you jackals, is more difficult than it seems. This challenge is one of the main reasons why I do what I do.
Beau has a series titled “Bad River.” The series focuses on paddling some of Australia’s most challenging waterways. The films carry a message delivered in a variety of ways. Some things are serious, some not so much, and yes, Beau is the protagonist, but his efforts are running on top of the underlying message or theme. It’s the “never leave your wingman” method, with the wingman being the story he wants to get across. A Top Gun reference makes everything better, and we are dangerously close to July 4th, the day when Americans get drunk in public and lay claim to artificially high pride ratings, so I felt it appropriate. (I just became privvy to the unfolding story of the America 250 Fair in Washington, and can’t stop laughing. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.)
Take this linked Bad River film about the river near Sydney. The film starts with Miles walking across the harbor from the Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s most recognizable structures, but the title reads, “Somewhere in Australia.” That, for me at least, sets a tone of, “Okay, guy has a sense of humor,” and in a world of influencers with ZERO sense of humor, this means a lot. The closest to “cinematic” footage is his drone shots, which are also used intelligently. His scriptwriting is very good, and the use of this script in voiceover form works incredibly well.
He sometimes works alone and sometimes with an additional camera operator. He will also recruit friends, which, as an American, also adds to the comedy factor. His projects and stories are quirky, some veering dangerously close to stunts, something I LOATHE about so much of what I see on YouTube. What saves Miles in this regard is talent. Physically, the guy is a beast. He’s done incredible expeditions ranging from runs to paddles. These take real skill, something that alludes most YouTube types. He’s also handy with the hands. He can build, and he can teach. Again, this puts him in the 1%. He’s a real documentary filmmaker, and even with over 800,000 subscribers, I don’t see him as an influencer. He’s a doer. Big fuc$%^$ difference.