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AGAINST THE WIND (2026)
The film is shot almost completely observationally, this allows the viewer to be fully immersed in the story. Following Ryan in the moments of failure and subsequent success. I find observational filmmaking to be the best way to share these stories with an audience, while there are moments of call-backs to moments of Ryan’s life that simply could not be captured, the majority is an in-depth dive into what the life of storm chasing looks like. I find these both dramatic and mundane moments important records to share for those who may want to follow in the footsteps of people like Ryan.
Storm chaser Ryan Shepard faces financial and personal challenges as he pursues tornadoes in his armored TIV 2. In the end, he intercepts a tornado in the dead of night, proving that perseverance pays off.
"The film explores a fine balance between doing what you love and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As film makers, some of us can relate to the position Ryan, the subject, puts himself in. Dumping his hard earned money and time into a project which at some point may seem unattainable. I’m drawn to his story because of his continued perseverance and outlandish, yet believable, goal to get his armored vehicle into a tornado. I’ve already spent a year with this rag-tag group of individuals for a previous production, focusing on their father son duo who help run critical parts of the team, but neglected to highlight the one who started this operation." - Jesse Gillett
STORM OF PASSION (2025)
Storm of Passion follows a family of storm chasers and their unique tornado intercept vehicle as they chase down extreme weather. The film explores the bond between father and son, shaped by their shared passion for chasing storms.
As a long-time fan of the Discovery series Storm Chasers, I was naturally fascinated by Sean Casey's custom Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV). The opportunity to document the story of its new owners was an easy decision. However, during the filming process, I uncovered something even more compelling, a complex father-son family dynamic.
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image: RYAN SHEPARD
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