Long Live The Mish: Freelance Drone Operator

When we were asked to create a short documentary on The Mishawaka Amphitheater the crew did a ton of research. One of the identifying factors of this beautiful, iconic venue were the winding roads, canyons, river and the mountains that you have to climb in your car to get there.

The aerial strategy was simple: Get as much flying around the venue, mountains, canyons and Poudre River as possible. Make it feel like a beautiful mountain destination in a peaceful place.

It was January when we shot this and it was cold. Really cold. The challenges with the equipment became making sure the battery was fired up and ready to rock for as long as possible. Cold weather does affect battery life, even with lithium batteries. Temperatures below the 32 degrees mark will reduce both efficiency and usable capacity of lead-acid noticeably, providing 70-80% of its rated capacity.

Otherwise, I used my piloting skills to maneuver around the venue and capture the gorgeous snowy mountains as well as the Mish at night and during the day. It was windy there but we managed to never have a crash landing. Long Live the Mish was a great project. It gave me tons of practical experience for upcoming spots.

The Mishawaka is a 100 year-old music venue nestled in the Poudre Canyon, north of Denver, Colorado. The Mish, as it quickly became known, was founded in 1916 as a canyon hideaway for family, friends and community to come together to play and listen to music while soaking in the beautiful sounds and sights of the canyon itself. Through nearly as many twists and turns as the Poudre River itself, Mishawaka has become one of the top outdoor music venues in the US, hosting many big name artists across all genres.

Today, the Mish remains a humble, special place to visit. A standing testament of our common, ancient desire to celebrate life through music amongst the stars. The Mish holds true to its roots of music, community, family and friends. A century-old Mishawaka is a rarity in our modern age, and this is its story.

We were so thrilled to be awarded a spot in the Napa Valley Film Festival with Long Live the Mish. It still stands as one of our most viewed videos yet. It plays on a loop in the music venue today so that everyone who visits can learn the history of this storied building.