It’s no secret: We love our dogs. And I would venture to say that people in
the mountains really love their dogs. Sun Dog, the latest film
from Sturgefilm and DPS Cinematic, captures this unique and joyful bond between
skier Santiago Guzman and his dog Conga in the rugged and wild peaks
overlooking Bariloche, Argentina.
We caught up with filmmaker Ben Sturgulewski to hear a little more about
the story of Sun Dog.
Adventure: You didn’t have the best conditions
when you got to Bariloche. How do you deal with tough and variable conditions
when you’re on the line to make a film?
Ben Sturgulewski: When you’re dealing with tough conditions, it’s all about
the story. You just have to approach it from a different angle, a unique aspect
that you may not have thought of before. We decided to go to Refugio Frey
because it’s such a beautiful and iconic place. Even with the conditions what
they were, I knew we could go there and it would be a beautiful backdrop for
whatever story we found there.
A: How did the story of Conga and Santiago come
about? How did the story develop while you were out there?
BS: I had no idea what the story would be for this film before we got
there. I’d just met Santi and Conga and I didn’t know either of them. Our first
experience was when we went to the ski resort, and he just picked her up and
sat on the lift. I immediately saw a really cool connection between them. The
next day, we went to the hut and I got thrown into the backcountry with the two
of them and a four-hour skin up to Frey through some seriously icy and rough
conditions. Even before we got there, Conga was proving to be pretty badass,
and I was immediately impressed. By the time we reached the hut, it was clear
that I had found my story with these two. They shared a really cool, special bond.
Photograph by Ben Sturgulewski
A: What is it about mountain people and their dogs?
BS: Dogs just have this energy, and Conga’s energy was so infectious right
from the beginning. So much stoke and happiness to be out there. When we got to
the hut, conditions were bad. We had no snow and it was super windy, so we were
bummed. But then we went outside with Conga, and she was just so stoked to be
there that we caught on as well. It’s so simple, and it’s good to be reminded
of that kind of pure and childlike enjoyment of the mountains.
A: You’ve been to Refugio Frey before and dealt
with similar conditions. How was it going back this time?
BS: I actually shot another segment for a ski film up there. When I was
working with Sweetgrass Productions, we spent a few days at Frey, shooting Solitaire.
It was kind of funny. It was a similar kind of bad spring conditions, but we
were able to create a really cool story then too. The first time we constructed
the story around this cat named Chaz. This time it was a dog. Even though we
were faced with super tough conditions, both times we found a really cool story
around an animal.
A: At the end of the film, you dedicate it in
memory of Chaz the cat. What happened to Chaz?
BS: Chaz was the cat we featured in Solitaire. They sort of have a
rotating posse of cats at Frey. When we went back this time, Chaz wasn’t there
anymore. He had disappeared into the hills. It’s kind of sad, so I decided to
give him some love in this film.
A: You’ve got a pretty short timeframe to put
together these films in one season. How is that working out?
BS: It’s been crazy, but totally rewarding. It usually takes weeks or even
months to put together a ski segment, but we only had three days in bad
conditions and somehow we were able to create a full segment that I think is
more entertaining than your average ski porn. To top it off, I edited this
piece in a week. So in less than two weeks… despite all craziness and short
timeframe, I think it’s my favorite episode.
A: You spun off from your former company,
Sweetgrass Productions, and started Sturgefilm this year. How’s that going for
you?
BS: Honestly, it’s been awesome. Really frenetic and busy, but awesome. I
can do exactly what I want to do right now, which is a blessing and a curse.
I’m taking on almost everything that comes my way, and there’s a lot of
pressure to get it all done, but at the same time I’m challenging myself and
growing as a filmmaker. Being on my own allows me to be true to myself and my
creative vision in a really undiluted and pure way. I love collaborating as well,
and I’m constantly working and sharing with others, but I’m really digging
going after my stories in the way I want to tell them right now.
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