Introducing Francesca Casagrande a.k.a. Grobes Haus Video Productions
Thanks to the internet there is each day popping out more and more riders, not to start talking about entire crews from everywhere, even where you might not have expected people to actually snowboard at all. A different sort of people in this game, many people tempt to forget about pretty quickly are the filmers who are essential for you, since not everything out there is filmed in POV, nor would you have all those edits on the web to make your Monday in class or work make pass faster. Francesca Casagrande with her Grobes Haus Video Production is one of them, but this babe isn’t only about filming, but also pulled off a snowboard camp in France a few years ago and is all about pushing it for anybody out there, who’s got the same passion for Snowboarding as she does. We caught up with Francesca and wanted to know more about her.. READ ON.
ShredOn Mag: Hey Francesca, ciao! How are you?
Francesca: Ciao Mike!! All right, thanks!!
SOM: Could you introduce yourself, so that our readers know a bit more about who you are and what you do?
F: My name is Francesca Casagrande, I’m 24 and I’m Italian. I live in Aosta and I have always lived in the mountains, even as a child and I love it. My passion for filming was born here let’s say. I love making videos that feature nature, landscapes, plays of light – the mountains are always there! It’s not been that long that I started filming, but I wanted to learn, got involved and improved more and more as much as possible!
SOM: Cool. So tell me, how did things get started for you in snowboarding in particular? Was it always planned to take the part behind the lens, or did that just turn out like that?
F: Honestly, I’ve always liked the art of photography and video and first of all I just started taking pictures of snowboarding, but wasn’t that much excited really and so started with video pretty quick. Since I started filming then, it immediately encouraged me and who first of all started believing in me was Mitch (Dalle – comment by Charlie Comment Coconut) and thanks to him I really began with it.
SOM: What gear do you use?
F: I use a Panasonic GH2 and a Sony Nex VG20. I always try to have good gear to film with, even though it’s very expensive as you know.
Some of the gear Francesca uses to film and she even has got a drone, pretty cool.
SOM: Today, since we’re barely 24/7 online and everything, the “traditional ways” of filming and getting your work out there changed and you see filmers popping out on the web like crazy. Do you see that more as a threat for your own thing or as a motivation?
F: For me, it’s definitely not a bad thing; in fact sometimes it can be a motivation that helps you to do your best and keep on working. Watching videos of other people is very important to learn new things, also to find new inspirations for example.
SOM: Different topic: YesWeCamp. Would you do me the favor and explain to our readers who might not be that familiar with it, what exactly that is and what your part is there?
F: Well, YesWeCamp is a snowboarding camp that we do at Les Deux Alpes and was born 3 years ago. For our team that is in charge there and work, it can be very tiring but at the same time it’s also good times straight, of course ..you know, a lot of people, especially from other countries and this is definitely the most interesting aspect in the camp. In first place I make the edits for it, I go every day to the glacier to film and beyond that, same as all the other guys, I take care of the house and keep it in order, prepare breakfast and yeah ..bottom line: All the tasks in the camp are split among all of us involved and it really is a wonderful experience! For those interested, get in touch with us, check out our Fanpage YesWeCamp Snowboardcamp or via E-Mail: yeswecamp@live.com.
SOM: Will you repeat this year?
..pretty comfy that is looking. good to have a chill, a kitchen next to it, plenty of space for everyone
and one of Europe’s best parks nearby. What else do you want? | photo by: YesWeCamp
F: Yes, of course. From June 22nd to July 27th ..this is definitely the best time up there!
SOM: You also released a short flick via Grobes Haus Productions earlier this year, which is your own production company now, right? How did that happen, what can you tell me about that Three Colors film and the work behind it?
F: Exactly. Three Colors came out this year, which is also the first year for Grobes Haus and considering that, I’ve been very pleased with the work that I could do! The name of the production is not completely random and derives from the German translation of my last name „Casagrande“, what means Big House (my dad is Austrian). Three Colors got completely shot where I live (Aosta, Italy – comment by Smartass Solo) and it was intense work. Some nights we were even filming until 4 am, but it was worth it. The film is divided into three parts, basically three „shades“ or different ways of Snowboarding you might want to say so. I filmed with Gian Marco Maiocco, Mitch Dalle, Jacco Bos and Daniel Van Keulen, who I first met at Les Deux Alpes. I told them about the project and first of all was a bit concerned, since they’d have need to take the plane from Holland to come to film in Italy, so I definitely was lucky that it all worked out that well and was stoked! In addition, there is also the part of Marco Donzelli, that got completely filmed in Livigno.
SOM: So what is planned to be next? Another film for this year’s fall, a web series maybe?
F: I honestly don’t know yet, I have many projects in mind that I want to do, most likely it will be a snowboard movie, but not only..well, we’ll see.
SOM: Keeping some secrets and ideas for your own, that’s okay! It all sounds pretty cool so far. We wish you all the best for your plans and hope to see more of your work on the web soon Francesca!
Any last words?
F: First of all I want to thank you for this interview and for your support, hoping to do more and more and especially to be able to grow with my production Grobes Haus! CIAO A TUTTI!!!
SOM: Ciao girl!
| Grobes Haus VP | YesWeCamp |
