Kriss Kyle: Don’t Look Down

Client: Red Bull

Type: Campaign, Ride film & Documentary, Photography

Role: Producer

BMX athlete, Kriss Kyle rides 2000ft in the air on a carbon fibre skatepark suspended below a hot air balloon.

A concept born in lockdown whilst isolated; Kriss found himself riding in his native Scottish highlands, looking up at the sky and dreaming of possibilities. The concept was quick to flesh out, but the world first execution took over 2 years to come to life.

We captured the nerve-shredding stunt with co-ordinated helicopters, drones, fixed cameras and a ground team chasing the balloon along the country roads like a scene from Twister.

In addition, we captured the progress of the project in a 40 minute behind the scenes documentary for RBTV. Seeing the initial wooden prototype bowl being lifted from the ground with a crane, through to the RedBull Advanced Technology team designing and engineering a carbon fibre version of the bowl with supporting structures, through to the painstaking preperation for the final successful flights in the cold mid-winter Cotswold skies

I produced both hero ride film & 40minute documentary.

Full documentary on Red Bull TV

My Role & challenges

I led the production of the ‘Don’t Look Down’ films for 2 years, from early proof of concept tests to the final flights in December ‘22 and January ‘23. I collaborated with Director Matty Lambert on a hero ‘Ride Film’ and worked with Director Tigao Kingwell to create a long form behind-the-scenes documentary for Red Bull TV, highlighting the project’s numerous technical and creative challenges.

At times the concept seemed impossible, requiring engineering innovation, perfect weather conditions, and insane bravery from Kriss to work out how to ride a bowl swinging in the air like a ship in stormy waters. This required patience, clear and consistent communication and flexibility to coordinate the key crew needed for the shoots. Balancing the budget with growing shoot requirements. With my clear communication and stakeholder management, we were able to engage the wider Red Bull organisation to stick with the ambitious project despite it’s over-running timeline.

Doc Dir - Tiago Kingwell

Ride Film Dir - Matty Lambert

Red Bull Producer - Jim Holmes

Assistant Producer - Dana Leonard, 

Assistant Producers - Ana Tapia, Kristina Toffi

Camera Assistant/ Operator & 8mm - Marko Steinberg

Camera Operator (flight days) - Jack Bailey

Drone - Andy Lawrence, Tobi Richmond, Lec Park

Fixed Cameras - Extreme Fascilities

Editor:  Ross Casswell

Editor - Ride Film: Matty Lambert

Post support & social edits: Sophie Pham.

Colour by Vlad Barin @ CHEAT

CHEAT Producer: Sarah Banks

Sound design & mix by Sound Disposition

With original composition by Louis Souyave

And additional ride film sound design by Keith White

“Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's a hot air balloon with a suspended skatepark of course”!

- Chris Evans – Radio DJ

Kriss Kyle: Don’t Look Down