Arc’teryx Winter Film Tour: Weazy Q&A
A behind-the-scenes conversation with Craig Murray & Jules Bellot - two of the freshest talents in ski filmmaking
He has podiumed on the Freeride World Tour, raced the mountain bike World Cup, and produced some of the finest ski segments in the game. Craig Murray’s ‘Weazy’ is a captivating blend of nature, family and the early life experiences that have shaped his achievements across multiple outdoor sports. In this review, we recap the inspiring Q&A that followed the film’s premiere at the Arc’teryx Winter Film Tour London; an evening in support of community impact partner United We Climb.
Phil Young - founder of Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO) and MC for the evening - set the scene by inviting Craig to take us back to where it all began. “We're fortunate to live in a place like New Zealand where we have amazing access to wild places” reflected Craig. “I think that shaped us a huge amount because a lot of the time, you're just out there in the middle of nowhere. There's no one around and it's quite raw.”
From the off, it was clear that Craig’s formative years in NZ were closely intertwined with the natural world, which has been a constant source of inspiration throughout his life. “Growing up, I just developed a deep connection to nature. Out there is where I feel the most comfortable, the most confident, the most myself.” The influence of Craig’s profound relationship with the outdoors reveals how he has managed to excel not only on skis but also in mountain biking and film production. As Weazy director Jules Bellot put it, “He's going to be pushing himself and trying to be the best version of himself no matter what the medium is.”
When prompted to expand on the film’s purpose, Jules neatly summed it up: “Deep down, I think it’s an expression of Craig and nature is a platform where he can express himself.” Looking back on the pairs growth over the 8 months Weazy took to film, Jules acknowledged that ‘what’ they had been pursuing had evolved through the process. “That's why this film could be turned into twenty versions. It could be so different, yesterday or tomorrow.” Fortunately, we got today’s version.
Despite being the frontman of the film, Craig’s first words of the evening came only after the credits had rolled. Jules explained that the decision for Craig not to speak in the film was entirely intentional. “When I got to know Craig and when we started working on the project, the first thing that I noticed is how humble he is. I just wanted to think of ways where we could show that.” Instead, it’s Craig’s friends and family who guide us through the immersive 15-minute run time, encouraging the audience to intimately view the subject through the lens of those closest to him.
Unsurprisingly, Weazy had the room feeling reflective, and the conversation turned towards the time we often spend on screens and social media, sometimes at the cost of pursuing our own ambitions (ironically, we’re at the BFI IMAX, which is the biggest screen in the UK). Craig thoughtfully shared, “I do work super hard but you don't have to be a professional athlete. With some hard work you can still achieve great things and find a lot of fulfilment. I've been trying recently to leave my phone at home for an afternoon and I'll go out. I don't have to be climbing a crazy mountain but it could just be sitting in a square or going for a run. Just ‘being’ a bit more.”
As the questions came to an end, the close bond between the two on stage was evident, alluding to the the emotional journey that underpins such projects. “I think he is one of the best human beings I've known on this planet.” expressed Jules, of Craig. “The values he has and the way he does stuff with intention. It can be on his sport, on his own achievements, it can be with people, it can be with anyone he sees on the streets, the way he treats people. I think that's something very inspiring and that's one of the little things I wanted to show in the film.”
For now, Weazy will remain exclusively on the Arc’teryx Winter Film Tour. As soon as it’s released, we highly recommend giving it a watch! If you can’t wait and you want to see what Craig is all about, check out his last film - ‘Terra Incognita’ - below. Expect more great projects to come.