You can't win 'em all!

This Spring, a few tempting job opportunities have popped up on my radar that left me drooling about my next adventure.  HELLO, who wouldn't want to win one of the 'Best Jobs in the World' or skip across the globe ticking off your 'Biggest Baddest Bucket List'.  DREAM JOB ALERT!

The catch?  You just have to beat out 1,251 other folks who want to go galavanting around the world for 6 months--or rise above 600,000 contenders to win a 6 month stay in Australia.  The $100,000 paycheck didn't hurt either.  Yeah, the odds weren't good.

I have to say, it's nice to see companies PAYING people for positions like this.  These days, many companies are hosting similar competitions, offering up a desirable opportunity and then asking for everything but your first born child.  You make an original piece of work and then you heavily compete for the title by pestering your friends, family, everyone you've ever met to vote for you, all to work for free.  It has happened before.  On the other hand, no one ever asked my parents if they wanted to win their 'dream travel job'.  These opportunities didn't exist back then.  It's an interesting world we live in.

While I did not come out a winner this time, I am certainly proud of my work, and wanted to share these clips with you.  I have produced a lot of awesome content over the years, but very little of it belongs to me.  Often times, the companies who have hired me have ownership of all the footage, so it's tricky to come up with entries when all of your library is untouchable.  So, for the My Destination piece, I decided to start from scratch, shooting 100% original content.  I spent a fair few hours writing scripts and planning out the segments.  I wrangled one of my best friends, Heidi McGuire, to come up to Vail, skip a day of skiing, and make some movie magic!  Then, I hid out in my edit baby cutting the clips, adding music and graphics, and viola: perhaps one of my best pieces!  :)  Tough I didn't make the top 10, I'm proud to be among the Top 30!  While you never know what they are looking for, you'll never win if you don't try.  My advice: Put your best foot forward every time.  They won't all pay off, but when it does, you'll be grinning ear to ear.

After winning Viator's Dream Travel Job contest last year in a competitive online video contest, I still feel like a pretty lucky gal.  More and more of our videos are popping up on YouTube daily.  I hope they inspire you to get out there and see the world.  Head on over to my YouTube channel and have a peek at the Dream Travel Job playlists:

Dream Travel Job Host Juliana Broste


Dream Travel Job Filmmaker Juliana Broste




Alright, the moment you've been waiting for:

My Destination's Biggest, Baddest Bucket List Competition - TravelingJules explores Vail, Colorado

View Juliana's entry here: http://www.mydestination.com/users/travelingjules/bbb

Australia Tourism's Best Jobs in the World Competition - Lifestyle Photographer



Australia Tourism's Best Jobs in the World Competition - Chief Funster


Australia Tourism's Best Jobs in the World Competition - Taste Maker


Thanks for watching!  More adventures to come!

Winter Recap

I've done a pretty terrible job blogging this year.  I think it's because I was trying to be in two places at once.  After hearing about Vail's new Super Pipe, I was quick to sign a lease to secure my nest in Vail this winter.  If I'm freelance, I can live wherever I want to live, right?  Well...if that's true, then this is perhaps more true: as a freelancer, when there's work, you work.  And even when there is no work, you work.  So, I was quite the busy bee working while also splitting my time between Denver and Vail!  I was constantly packing my computer, hard drives, cameras and the like, community from Denver to Vail, Vail to Denver.  But let me just say...it was worth it!  My soul demands the fresh air and deep powder.  I could live without the cold, but I can't live without my Vail.  It's my comfort food.  

Where do I begin?

Shout out to all my buddies who came out riding with me this season.  

 

 

Some of my favorite Vail traditions:

Wee Davey's Cedialh

Snugglers.  Mmmm.

The superbowl pool.  I won, for the first time in nine years!  Whoo hoo!  I almost made all my money back.

Kylie's citrus pasta...MMM!  My fave!

Randomness at Mezzaluna.  Even though they changed the restaurant's name and the menu and management, it will always be Mez!

And randomness in general.

 

 

Gotta love bumping into old friends!  Gareth is half the reason I moved to Vail--one of my first friends in town!

And I FINALLY got initiated into the penguin brigade!  Happy Penguin Day!  

And here's one for a new tradition: The Burton US Open!  Go Shawn White!

I got a few days in this year,

Even a few days in blue,

  

This year, I discovered the GoPole, which is honestly my favorite new toy...and probably the least expensive of them all.  This telescoping pole allowed me to film myself while snowboarding.  It was quite amazing, I have to say.  And I didn't snap it in half like I did to two X-Shots.  Yeah!!

Like all seasons, the year winds down with a celebration at the top of chair 4.  I have so many memories of this day from each year...lots of friends come and gone...lots of skills learned...lots of terrain covered...what a blur.

Cheers to a great winter!  2012-2013!

Who doesn't love to ride in the gondola?  Even when it's not going anywhere!  :P

VOTE FOR TRAVELINGJULES!

TravelingJules is on the hunt for her next big gig, and she needs your help!  She's set her sights on winning a 6-month trip around the world for My Destination's Biggest Baddest Bucket List competition, including $50K to cover trip expenses and a check for $50K upon completion of the project!!!  One lucky winner will be selected to travel to 25+ world-wide destinations and create blog and video content!  Was I born for this or what?  During the selection process, five people will be selected based on votes, and five people will be selected by My Destinations HQ to move on to the next round--which is an all-expense paid trip to London!  From that stage, only one winner will emerge.  Think we can win this?  Let's do it!

Here's how:

Watch my video and if you like it, SHARE IT!  Every Facebook / Google+ post, tweet and stumble and counts as one vote:

TravelingJules explores Vail, Colorado
http://www.mydestination.com/users/travelingjules/bbb#tab

http://www.mydestination.com/users/travelingjules/bbb#tab

Thanks, team.  Happy watching!

Kata Test Pilot

I'm very honored to be one of Kata's Test Pilots!  That means I'll get to try out all the latest camera bags, and give YOU an update on all my favorites...There's a bag for every occasion!  Learn more about the top notch Kata crew here: http://www.kata-bags.us/Media+Center/Kata+Test+Pilots/?f=c&v=15810332

Or click here to see my profile: http://www.kata-bags.us/Media+Center/Kata+Test+Pilots/Juliana+Broste/36196715

An Outside Adventure

Every once in a while, you hear about something kinda crazy you wouldn't normally consider doing, but for some reason, you just say YES.  That was the case when I heard about the Colorado Backcountry session with Outside Adventure Film School.  In some ways, it suited me perfectly.  It was the marriage of two things I love: filmmaking and snowboarding.  In other ways, it was like going to the moon...

I was one of six filmmakers selected for an outdoor adventure into the wilderness.  We would each produce a short film while trekking into the Colorado backcountry during one of the coldest months of winter.  Living just around the corner in Vail, I kinda knew what I was getting into...and it didn't sound like fun.  There would be long hikes, painfully cold nights, snow mixing with camera gear, let's just say, I could think of a few other things I'd rather do.  

Another interesting element--Outside Television would be sending a crew to document the entire journey.  Yes, this would be a reality TV show.  Have you ever thought about being in a reality TV show?  Have you seen the crazy stuff that's on TV these days!  Um, is someone going to be voted off?  Is there going to be a 'twist'?  This could either turn out to be totally awesome, or really terrible.  True to reality TV form, there was an almighty competition: the filmmaker who produces the best film would be awarded a paid assignment with Outside Television!!!  Now we're talking!

Needless to say, the call of adventure steered me straight into the fire.

THE TEAM

Under the wing of our fearless leader, award-winning filmmaker Michael Brown--a man who has been summited Everest MULTIPLE times--we prepared for an amazing adventure.  Michael has been running the adventure film school for years, so I knew I'd be in good hands.  Joining Michael on the esteemed mentoring team were two very, and I mean VERY, talented and accomplished industry leaders: Chris Davenport, one of the world's most accomplished all mountain skiers, and Carrie Regan, a 13-year veteran at National Geographic Television!  Talk about an impressive team!

We also had daredevils Rex Pemberton and his wife Melissa along for the ride.  He just so happens to be the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, and she is one of the world’s best aerobatics pilots.  No biggie.  And then there was Nasa Koski and Tyler, the glue that tied the whole operation together.  It was really cool to be surrounded by so much talent!

TRAVEL JOURNALIST, TRAVELING JULES
Filming for the TV show began with a day in the life of travel journalist, TravelingJules!  Cameramen filmed me filming Denver--a mere preview of the camera-on-camera action that would soon follow.  Boots, a dress and pink lipstick were all part of the DSLR package, baby!  

It was a fun day of reflection.  After working in television in a variety of roles, it was cool to see how all roads have lead me right here.  Over the years, I've learned so much in working in news and reality TV and in the commercial world.  One lesson I'm often reminded of is this: the more you know, the more you don't know--especially for someone like me, someone who does it all.  I produce, shoot, write, edit and even host videos as a one-woman show.  There's a lot to think about: cameras. batteries. rigs. tripods. focus. exposure. composition. color. audio.  lighting. content. story. characters. interviews. releases. insurance. permits. directions. lunch. yeah.  When big TV crews have one entire person dedicated to capturing great audio, and another whole person who has the sole job of obtaining all the releases, it's kind of crazy to think that somehow I manage to do it all as a team of one.  It's a challenge.  And as much as I've grown, so have my expectations.  So, there's definitely a fine balance to maintain.  With this in mind, I embraced the opportunity to take on the Outside Adventure Film School, testing my skills to work under pressure, under deadline and under 'pack weight'.  I wanted to make something cool, get to know some amazing people, and most of all, have fun!  

That said, there was just one challenge staring me down...the actual adventure.

READY, SET, GO!

Packing was not easy.  Huh?  We have to hike uphill for five miles carrying everything we own on our backs?  Luckily, I had a good bag.  I organized my snowboard gear--my new super sexy new Roxy Banana Smoothie EC2 split board & skins, my helmet, Oakley goggles, jacket & pants ...I gathered (well borrowed) the camping gear: a winter sleeping bag, sleeping pad, bowl & fork, down booties, etc., plus an array of camera gear.  Things I just couldn't live without?  A Canon 5D Mark III, a 24-70 f/2.4 lens, the Zacuto EVF Pro viewfinder, Manfrotto fluid head monopod, Manfrotto tripod, and a Zoom H4N. Plus, hand and toe warmers and Hot Tronic boot heaters were a must.  Somehow, I squished it all into one bag, piggybacking my Kata 3N1 camera bag onto the top of the pack.  Into the wild we went!

INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY

Day one, we set out towards Leadville, Colorado for a little snow camping.  Of the few times I've been camping in my adult life...I've actually been camping in Leadville during the height of summer, and even then, the freezing temperatures were unbearable...down sleeping bag, and toe warmers and all.  I don't think the area is even open for camping half of the summer because it's too cold.  So, be it as it were, we would be camping there in a tent in the middle of January!  Lucky us.

The strangest part, people think this is fun.  I had a lot to learn.

We stop along the way to take in the scenery.  Pit stops like this truly make a trip for me.  I had a ball getting out all my camera gear.  Talk about geeking out!  I plugged in my Zacuto EVF Pro viewfinder, got out my fancy new Manfrotto tripod--WOW!  The 502 head feels like butter--super smooth and divine.  I never knew what I was missing!  I got some magestic panning wide shots, extra close-ups of the sparkling snow, it was fabulous!   We also set up a little slider and had some fun filming my own hero shot.

Here's our crew--my fellow filmmaking buddies: Fil Deandrade, McKenzie Barney, Nayla Tawa, Jordan Yeager, and Jason Basnett!!  Expect great things from these guys.  

A few more miles down the road, we arrived at our snowy campsite.  It's hard to believe we would be sleeping on snow tonight.  I bundled up in my warmest duds, ripped open the hand warmers, and turned on the boot heaters...but still, so jealous of the folks who packed down onesies!  What!!!  

Lucky for me, pro skiier Chris Davenport shared some of his secrets about keeping warm in the freezing cold.  A little shoulder shimming goes a long way...

We set up our tents, cooked by the fire, and stood amazed by the glittering stars overhead.  Did I freeze my butt off?  Yessss...waking up on the ground, frozen like an ice cube is not how I like to start my day.  But did enjoy the glittering stars, the talks by the campfire, the hot cup of cocoa in my hands?  Yes I did.

Alas, we charged on to Copper Mountain to sneak off into the backcountry enroute to Janet's cabin.  And I got to try out my new splitboard!  This thing is so cool!  I think I would have died if I had to also carry a snowboard and boots instead of having a snowboard that split into two and became skiis (so I could put on skins and go up the mountain)!  Bonus!  

That said, it was the longest five hour hike.  I would have loved to slow down and take in all the scenery, maybe sit in the woods and listen to the sweet sound of nothing, or have a little picnic.  Instead, it was a race to the top.  And, being the last person to start the hike, having the shortest legs and smallest stride, and really having little interest in art of hiking, it was hard to really pick up the pace.  What I love to do is film, but there wasn't even time for that...we needed to get to the hut before dark, and well, that didn't happen.

I arrived, hungry, dehydrated and exhausted, but happy to have a roof over my head.  Janet's cabin is a rustic little hut that's part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, a place with no running water--we melted trash cans full of real snow from the back yard over a wood burning stove to create our drinking water!  Imagine that!  There were compositing port-a-potties and solar powered lights..just a little detour from that place called "home." 

A brand new day began searching for beacons and doing some avalanche training...working up a sweat, and hitting up a few powder stashes.  No one said it was going to be easy.  This is what they call, "earning your turns".  Hiking minutes and hours uphill to enjoy a few seconds back down.  I'm not a big fan...unless the snow is amazing.  I'd rather ride the chairlift up, sneak off to my secret stashes on the sides of the trails, and enjoy run after run pure powdery bliss.  :P  I'm so spoiled!  

All and all, we got some great shots!  

 

 

And once in a while, we got in a few good turns, too!  I was amazed the splitboard felt just like a normal snowboard!   On that note, snowboarding with a heavy backpack is still not my thing.

The highlight of the trip was on our final day.  We woke up at 4:30 am to hike up yet another mountain.  We pushed on step after step into the darkness, with headlamps on our heads and cameras in tow.  As we approached the summit, I was amazed at what lay before me.  Brilliant pinks, oranges, and purples reflected off the snow revealing a stunning sunrise over the mountains.  It was pure magic.  Meeting my team at the top was just the celebration I needed--we were a wild collection of outdoor enthusiasts battling the high winds without a care in the world.  In one direction, we saw the most beautiful sunrise.  On the opposite side, you could see the Gore Range in the distance--a mountain range I've seen many times before from Vail Mountain, but never like this before. That was really spectacular.

 

MAJOR CAMERA ON CAMERA ACTION

Several times on the trip, I looked up from my viewfinder only to see see a swarm of people with cameras in their hands.  It was kind of hilarious, actually.  Between the filmmakers, the mentors, and the Outside TV crew, it was as if we were at tribe of villagers who had cameras as extensions of our arms.  We were quite a sight for sure.

I didn't realize I was such a big camera geek until now.  While sorting out my essential kit, I realized how many gadgets that were left behind.  It was memorizing to watch the crew operate.  I watched as they hauled around their heavy tripods up the hill, how they busted out sliders, how they positioned their bodies to balance the gear, how they utilized every possible audio set up you can imagine...it was just so super cool to see all these pros in action!

It was a unique opportunity to be in front of the camera, while also being behind the camera.  As I filmed my story, I was being filmed by the Outside Television crew.  Emmy Winning Roman Gackowski and his team of hard working blokes followed us around day and night with cameras over their shoulders.  Their team of 7 shot late into the night, working with a fun collection of Canon 5D's and C300's, plus one traditional ENG camera.  They worked hard!  Sully, Willy, Chris, and especially Josh, who was assigned to follow me on the hike.  He filmed me as I plodded by, then he sped up and passed me in two strides, only to be hiding behind the tree, filming me again.  Talk about embarrassing!  Don't you have somewhere to be right now??  JK.

EDITING UP A STORM

Back in Boulder, we were busy getting our edit on! Coming back to editing felt like coming home--something I knew how to do and I was good at it.  It was tough trying to get the whole story edited in just 24 hours, but we worked around the clock and really jammed to pull it off.  Even with a technical syncing problems matching my audio to the video, I was able to get the full story layed out in a day.  I was happy to have feedback from my mentors periodically throughout the process--Carrie and Michael and Rex and Chris were all over my shoulder at one point.  It's not often a one-woman band has so many contributors!  Loved it!  With only a few hours of sleep, I awoke to record my voice over, trim out the extra length of the story, and download some catchy music in the final moments!  I didn't have enough time to find all the music I wanted, but like they say, a film is never finished.  You can only do what you can do,  I'm very pleased with the way my film came out.  I can't wait to show you in April when the show debuts!

THE BIG PAYOFF

The best part of the whole experience had to be the grand finale: the film fest.  It felt great to sit among my peers and watch all films we had all created. We watched each other pitch our concepts, we stood side by side in the field, and shared a room editing, but the final products were still a mystery.  It was wonderful to see what everyone had done.  Filepe's film was so sharp, really a work of art, McKenzie's film, a really wonderful profile on characters, Yukon's film, an great representation of his can-do-it attitude, Nayla's film, a tear jerker--she's an inspiration to us all, and Jordan's film, beautiful cinematic eye candy.  It was fun to see how different everyone's film was--though we had a similar experience throughout the course, everyone's film had a really unique point of view and story.

It was a real treat to watch my film on the big screen--I've never seen my films on a screen that big.  And, what made this day really special was the audience--I've never shown my work to so many people all at once!  It was something I will never forget.  It was fun to hear when people laughed, when they didn't laugh, how long they laughed and so forth.  Hearing the crowd laugh during MY film--it was a great feeling.  I didn't even know my film was funny.  :P  Haha.   Typically when you watch TV, you don't get that.  You don't know when the audience is surprised or touched or happy.  So, seeing my own film at the film fest was pretty darn cool.

ONE HAPPY FAMILY
Three cheers for all the films!  This is our crew.  All the filmmakers, all the mentors, and all the folks from Outside Adventure Film School, and the guys from Outside TV!

  

Bravo to the Outside TV crew as well, RGTV!  These guys work hard!  Watching them carry even bigger packs to the top filled with C-300's and big tripods and sliders...yeah these guys know what they're doing.

Catch the show, The Final Cut, when it debuts on Outside TV in April!

Did you love these photos?  Huge props goes out to the photographers: Michael Brown, Nasa Koski & Tyler Jones for their great photography skills.  Enjoy more pics from the 2013 Outside Adventure Film School Colorado Backcountry on their Facebook Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.579080955440153.147583.138507829497470&type=1

Special thanks to Manfrotto, Kata Bags, Zacuto, Oakley and Roxy who kindly provided some really cool gear for this project.  I can't wait to make more videos with all my new toys!

Learn more about the Outside Adventure Film School here: http://www.adventurefilmschool.com.  They have several adventures each year, some of which are not so snowy, like the Teva Mountain Games.

And keep and eye on Outside TV's new original series, The Final Cut.  Our show will be six episodes of pure fun with plenty of film on film action: http://outsidetelevision.com

Special THANKS to my sponsors: