Camera Operator

Client: Great Big Story

Logline: Documenting the routine and performance of professional climber Brian Zarzuela as he competes in the US National Championship.

A camera filming or photographing a group of young people, some in sportswear, in an indoor sports facility with a wooden floor and a padded wall, with clothes and water bottles on the floor.

Technical Execution

Operating solo in a live competition environment required high-level spatial awareness and a deep understanding of continuity editing while shooting.

  • Multi-Level Tracking: Navigated multiple vertical levels of the athletic facility to capture dynamic angles, managing the physical rigor of the space while maintaining visual and narrative continuity.

  • High-Volume Audience Engagement: Delivered pristine, broadcast-ready footage to the London-based team that cut together seamlessly, helping the final YouTube release secure hundreds of thousands of views.

  • Turnkey Remote Execution: Managed all on-the-ground technical logistics independently, fulfilling the international brief with little oversight.

People climbing on indoor bouldering gym walls with various colorful holds.
A smiling young man in a beige climbing harness standing behind a video camera in an indoor rock climbing gym, with a climbing wall featuring colorful holds and a sign listing different climbing routes and areas in the background.

Outcomes

The shots delivered on the brief, providing the studio with the US Nationals coverage needed to cut a human-centric sports documentary

  • High-Volume Audience Engagement: The finalized asset launched on Great Big Story’s YouTube channel, securing hundreds of thousands of views and driving massive audience retention through its premium documentary aesthetic.

  • Remote Client Delivery: Managed all logistics and on-the-ground technical execution independently, delivering pristine, broadcast-ready footage that met the required spec of an overseas production team with flawless communication.

The above clip shows my footage used in the final cut. Watch the Full Video on YouTube


Indoor bouldering gym with climbing walls and people using the facilities.
Camera on a tripod filming an indoor rock climbing gym filled with climbers and a hanging audience.

Special Thanks to:

Sportrock Rio - https://www.sportrock.com/rio

USA Climbing - https://usaclimbing.org/

Brian Zarzuela - https://www.instagram.com/brianzarzuela/

Great Big Story - https://greatbigstory.com/