Clayton - “Reforestation”

Client: Clayton Homes
Location: On-location – New River Gorge, WV
Role: Camera Operator

Overview

With Clayton Homes, I joined a small crew to document their reforestation efforts at New River Gorge. Shot in a single day, the film aimed to showcase the long-term environmental and generational impact of planting trees. My focus was on balancing cinematic visuals with grounded, human-centered moments, working efficiently in natural, uncontrolled environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Camera Operation in Varied Terrain: Ran handheld and mounted setups to capture both sweeping landscapes and intimate volunteer interactions.

• Efficient Coverage with Small Crew: Maximized storytelling with intentional shot selection, ensuring transitions between large-scale visuals and close details.

• Naturalistic Cinematography: Leveraged framing, movement, and available light to create a documentary-style tone that felt authentic.

• Collaborative Execution: Coordinated closely with the director and crew to adapt coverage on the fly and align visuals with Clayton’s mission.

Outcome

The final commercial combined expansive natural imagery with human-driven storytelling, authentically reflecting Clayton’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Client: Clayton Homes
Director: Benjamin Mason
Assistant Director: Caleb Akers
Production Manager: Marisa Roncaglione