Meet Tom Wells, an avid skier and retired college professor turned filmmaker. Catch his work at our next screening on the third Sunday of every month.
How many Minute Movies have you made?
35 — half solo and half with partners (mostly Leslie Hogan)
A little background about yourself outside of Minute Movies.
I spent forty years as a college professor teaching Exercise Physiology, Health, and Nutrition and too many different P.E. course to list here. I also coached a number of sports with my main expertise in volleyball. I am retired but still coaching girls’ volleyball, getting back in to rock-climbing, and ski 50+ days a year. While I haven’t traveled as much lately as I would like, I have lived in 7 states, spent a year in Okinawa while in the Marines, and taught physicians two summers in Venezuela. For the past four years I have lived out past Greenwater twelve miles from Mount Rainier National Park and 22 minutes from the parking lot to Crystal Mountain. I usually drive up there with my ski boots on as I hate putting on boots in the parking lot!
What is your film background?
My film background is definitely hobby. While I did use visual media in my college lecture as much as possible and film my athletes for performance evaluation, I didn’t get into stand alone movies until my friend Leslie Hogan talked me into getting involved with Seattle Minute Movies over 5 years ago.
What is your favorite submission that you’ve made?
“Dance your Heart” out submitted for the theme of “heart”. These music themed videos I have made with Leslie Hogan are fun to film and especially good to learn editing skills.
What is your favorite submission that someone else made?
“He Ain’t Heavy” by Jesse Torres. I enjoy all of Jesse’s submissions but this showed both his writing, filming, and editing skills to the max!
Why do you like to make Minute Movies? What keeps you coming back?
At first it was just to create something and then I got involved in the editing aspect. And a big part of Minute Movies now is the relationships with the other filmmakers. I am so looking forward to our in-person screenings!
What does your setup look like? Camera? Software?
I have a Canon XC10 (which can take 4K although I usually just keep it in 1080 mode), a GoPro6, and, of course, some iPhone 8 footage seems always to be useful for catching clips on the go. I edit with Premier Pro.
What is your filmmaking inspiration? Films? Filmmakers? TV? Your own imagination?
Free Solo and any other outdoor film shot by Jimmy Chin. Although this production was a highly involved, big bucks production, the filming done by a crew hanging from 3000 foot high vertical cliffs who only had one take to get it right was just amazing. They deserved the Oscar they won!
What is your favorite genre?
Outdoor Adventure films. Both to watch and to make.
What is one of the biggest technical challenges you’ve overcome?
Probably the biggest technical challenge has been working remotely from a slow internet connection with a film making partner to edit the finished film before the Minute Movie deadline of Sat evening. Many frustrating moments but always every one worth it when the finished product was submitted. (And Sarah’s patience when we were a little late was always appreciated.
Is there a story regarding something you learned from the MM community to help you in your filmmaking?
I don’t think I can point to one single thing that I have learned from Minute Movies. It is been more the creativity shown by others that has sparked ideas on editing tricks, special effects, acting and filming skills. A month does not pass where my interest isn’t piqued on something I have seen other film-makers do.
Do you have any tips to share with other filmmakers?
Got an idea? Try it! And have fun doing it.
Do you have any other film projects you’re working on that you want to share?
I am collecting footage on my return to climbing after 30+ years away as a seventy-some year old climber. I say seventy-something as I am now 73 but this project will certainly last over the next few years. If I do!