A q&A about Fuel, her short film with Madison rose.
Photos: Rocko Menzyk
Alta Ski Area teamed up with two rising stars in the ski industry—Iz La Motte and Madison Rose Ostergren—to create the short film, Fuel. Filmed at Alta Ski Area and the powder-filled peaks of the Wasatch during the 2020-21 season, the piece tells the story of a young skier, Madison Rose, learning to embrace her own personality in a world that often convinces individuals to fit into certain boxes.
"Slow down. Listen to yourself. Listen to your heart—remembering that, your story is your story." - Madison Rose Ostergren
We recently sat down for an interview with principal videographer, Iz La Motte. Iz was born in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where she fell in love with skiing and photography at an early age. After graduating from the University of Vermont, she made her way out West, eventually settling in the Salt Lake Area. While she pursues a career as a freelance photographer and videographer, she has been working as a staff photographer for Alta Ski Area for the past four winters.
How did this project get started?
Madison and I met during the 2018-19 ski season. It was her first year as an Alta athlete and my first year working as a photographer and filmer for Alta’s marketing department. We hit it off immediately during our first shoot together. Both of our desires to work hard and create the best imagery we possibly could lead us to work together a lot that season. When we shot together our wavelengths aligned so well, sometimes we barely even had to talk at all to communicate the type of shot we wanted to get. That next fall as projects started to line up for the upcoming season Madison and I decided to pair up to do something even bigger. As young females in the ski industry, both ready for our next professional launching point, we were excited to put all of our energy behind something we could truly be proud of. It was important to us to create something that felt artistic that came from our own hearts.
What was the inspiration for the title, Fuel?
It was important to Madison and me that we created a piece with a message. As a filmmaker, my biggest goal is to help people tell their stories in ways that feel true and authentic to them. I think over the past year and a half during the pandemic a lot of people have had time to reflect on so many parts of their lives and realize that society often tries to tell us who we “should” be. Madison and I both really resonated with the idea that the most important thing we can do is stay true to ourselves. That brought us to the question of “what fuels us”? From there we decided to focus on the concept of what makes Madison who she is and what lights her spark.
Why was Madison Rose the ideal person to work with on this project?
From the very first time Madison and I shot together, it has been a collaborative process. She is a very creative and visually focused person. So from the first mention of this project, both of us were on the creative side of things. As an image creator, I think that’s a very unique experience to work with someone in front of the camera who has such a beautiful vision and grasp on the entire piece. Madison dreamt big when it came to storyboarding this piece and was constantly raising the ceiling in terms of what she saw possible.
An interview with Madison Rose | Backcountry Magazine >
Why Alta Ski Area?
For both Madison and me, Alta is a really special place. We both have kicked off our professional careers here. We both have communities and people we love here. And to make a film that was supported by those people and this community was a really incredible experience.
Oh, and as a bonus, the Wasatch has the best snow I’ve ever skied and provides pretty stellar filming conditions.
What did you learn about the filmmaking process?
I learned a lot during this process. I think we both did. There were high highs and low lows but I think at the end of the day the biggest lesson I took away was the importance of making something you’re proud to stand behind. This film could have gone a thousand different directions but I think we both feel really happy with the end result and when the time came to put it out into the world we knew it was ready.
What was the hardest part of making this film?
I think the hardest part is learning that it’s okay to pivot as conditions change or ideas develop. In this line of work, there are so many factors that are out of our control. The earlier you learn to adapt, the better time you’re going to have.
It was important to us to create something that felt artistic that came from our own hearts.
What did you find most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of this entire experience was when we actually got to show our film to our community. We hosted the premiere at Lone Pine Gear Exchange in Salt Lake City and were overwhelmed by the turnout. It’s a really special experience to put so much energy into something and then be able to put it on the big screen and watch it surrounded by friends and strangers alike.
Everyone's favorite question: what’s next?
I think it’s safe to say that Madison and I both are excited for more skiing, more opportunities to create and to see where that journey takes us. Madison was in the Warren Miller film this year and it was so cool to see her on that stage, she has big things coming for her. As for me, I’m looking forward to continuing to make art and to help people tell their stories.
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