The Chase (4K)

I am forever in Kerry's debt for his kindness and generosity in donating this song for my film. I do not have enough words to thank him!

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This past spring I spent more time chasing storms on the plains than ever before. The most I had spent prior to this was seven total days and that was last year. What I came away with from that short time made me realize that if I could double that...the stuff I could capture would be amazing. Of course I long to be out there for a month or longer, but when you live in Phoenix and have a wife and three kids...you have to be realistic.

I turned 40 years old this year and I told my wife all I wanted was 10 days chasing on the plains. She loves me though and it ended up being 14! Two days in April and then 12 straight days from May 23rd - June 3rd. Those 12 days were absolutely incredible. I'm friends with other chasers via social media, met them on the side of roads while chasing, even grabbed dinner together...but never have I felt more of a part of the chaser community than being out there for almost two weeks. Living the life...seeing the same amazing chasers over and over...it was overwhelming to me. I missed my family, it was hard at times, but it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Both chases originated from where I live in Arizona. In April I drove out all night to Colorado, slept maybe an hour, chased all day, got a good night's sleep, chased the next day in the Texas panhandle and drove home that same night, stopping only for a quick nap in New Mexico. The second chase was the same. Left Phoenix late on the evening of May 22nd, never really slept and the chase was on the next day. All in all I drove well over 12,000 miles over the course of those two weeks, visited 10 total states (New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota) and shot over 45,000 frames of footage for this film.

I have many people to thank. Pat O'Brien for being my first private tour attendee this spring. Mike Mezeul II for one very big tip on a spot above Rapid City, SD. To James Langford who not only guided me to that spot over the phone, but "now-casted" for me many, many times. I may have missed out on four crucial clips in this film if it wasn't for him suggesting I punch the core in South Dakota. Thank you sir. And to my pal Andy Hoeland...who was with me for over a week of my time out there, driving, looking at forecasts, talking to weather experts and always helping us have a great target for that day. He's become my chase partner for most of these big plains trips and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Finally...above everyone else, of course...is my wife. To let me go for that long, to never complain, to never discourage me...but to only believe in me...how could I be so lucky to deserve a wife like that? We have three kids and that's tough on a parent to have her husband away that long. It will never cease to amaze me that I would not be here, doing this, if it wasn't for her support and encouragement.

Technical details...everything was shot on Canon 5D3's, along with an array of Rokinon lenses. I got sick of lens-twisting (mostly of FORGETTING to lens twist) so I mainly used those manual lenses on this trip. Everything was processed using LR Timelapse, Lightroom, After Effects and Premiere Pro.

I'm in absolute love with this film. The stuff I saw rivaled anything I've ever seen on the plains minus that insane Booker supercell in 2013. We saw four tornadoes (one of them appears in a deleted scene at the very end of the film), countless supercells, gorgeous shelf clouds, stunning mammatus and some awesome lightning shows. The song..well, the song for this film blew my mind. I loved it when I heard it, but then seeing how everything started coming together on the timeline, the pace, the slow build-up, the huge ending...I've said it before, but the song is 50% of the film. Thank you again Kerry for everything!

All this movie does it fuel me to want to do better next year and this summer in Arizona. Stay tuned for Monsoon II and for The Chase II next spring!

I sincerely hope you enjoy and share this film around. Thank you!

[richardrfpowell]

I'm 62 year's young I've been chasing storms since I can remember . You Mike give the power within all of us and let us see what we are all capable of I thank you as a brother.

[chrisl]

Mike, if you ever decide to roll up of your videos to be shown in theaters I'd go pay to see them. This is art.

[punkleruckus]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I would pay to see a full length (2 hour) film in the theater by this man. The imagery is breathtaking and intense. The music is the perfect accompaniment to the visual thriller that was produced. I'm in awe.

[ninjarider]

That looks like Capulin Volcano at 0:35. You can drive to the top and get a panoramic view of New Mexico. It's a great place for cloud watching with shadows drifting across the landscape.

[TheTigerFalkon]

How can you dislike this short film, I really don't understand, how can you hate the mother nature. Just amazing really great work!

[msalgado]

I was on that May 26 storm and saw several funnels and a tornado that day. I recognized it immediately. Thanks for this!

[syckasylums]

They say there's no adventure left out in the world, there is no discovery.... but some how you managed to adventure and discover the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. Thank you so much for

[pabshier]

I watch your films at .5 speed in order to see more details and STILL, I must watch each multiple times as I cannot get enough of the magic! I am overwhelmed by how many reactions and emotions well up in the course of viewing them... THANK YOU (and those who support you) for the incredible dedication in bringing such amazing scenery to us! This artwork is nearly as timeless as the weather itself-

[craigparker]

Thank you Jina for letting Mike chase his dream. He's bringing so much enjoyment to us that aren't that brave. May God bless him and keep him and his family safe and well. Thanks again, Craig in Alabama.

[bcbdrums]

The final clip is absolutely stunning.

[hectornunez]

Gracias Mike por tu grabación NO imaginas lo grato que es para mi recordar gran experiencia vivida en vuelo en ALA DELTA Dic. Ano 2985-1986 por más de 7hrs vuelo en tormenta de verano

[anderslangoks]

One of the best combinations of imagery and music I've seen.

[laoch]

That was one of the most beautiful things I've seen ever, ever

[Trouble-Clef]

Mike your films are fabulous!! I don’t live in tornado country but I still find them so fascinating. I live on an island on Canada’s west coast so no chance of me ever seeing one so I really appreciate the quality of your films. They’re beautifully stunning and fabulous, much like a tornado. Sometimes the rolling clouds look like you’re underwater looking up at the rolling waves. Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing them with us!

[matice]

Que raro es ver este video otraves luego de 5 años, pero me sigue pareciendo un obra de arte

[dr_dimensions]

Mike, you find amazing things and it is absolutely wonderful. I give thanks to you and your wife.

[ryanbrowning]

this was awesome. footage at 4:41 was phenomenal.

[doumepatrice]

MERCI pour ce moment de rage gracieuse ! Et merci a ton épouse pour l'intelligence de son soutien et toutes kes responsabilités qu'elle assume pour que tu puisse faire cet excellent travail

[chriskeentechnician]

Aaaaand we’re watching that simply stunning 😮

[arcadia]

Sir, for a full 6 minutes you had my complete attention. Those are some of the most beautiful storms I have ever seen. But I leave you with this. "What do you chase, your dreams, or the storm of your dreams?"