Fd: How did the idea of producing fly-fishing videos come up?
Hooké: I have always had the drive to do business and a great interest in video production and graphic design. I used to be a skateboarder and dj when I had time. It's at the age of 18 that I decided to launch my own business, Fokus productions, and merge my passion for extreme sports and music together by producing snowboard and skateboard videos. In 2001, I launched my first skateboard movie, Retrospect, and put the company Fokus Productions on the map. Year after year, the productions grew and my business came to life and I expanded my services into video production, graphic design, motion design and began creating visual content for big companies such as Red Bull. Fokus grew to become a major company and continues to innovate everyday. I have always worked around my passions and what I loved to do, this is what brought me into creating Hooké. I have always loved Fly Fishing and one day I decided to film one of my fly fishing trips and put it online. There was a great impact and people seemed to love this new approach to Fly Fishing. I then realized there was a place for a new project around fly fishing. The goal was to show people how fun it is and bring a younger image to the sport. To be honest, it just happened by itself and by uniting my two passions, fly fishing and film making.
HOOKÉ 2013 SOUVENIRS from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
Fd: What spots have you visited to make your films? What are the places that surprised you the most?
Hooké: We have visited a lot of places including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Patagonia, and most of our Canadian territory and the Gaspé peninsula which holds our favorite fish, the Atlantic Salmon. The most amazing place we have visited is without a doubt Patagonia for all its amazing sceneries and beautiful trout. There is also the Bonaventure River with its crystal clear waters and a great combination of fishing for Atlantics as well as Stripped bass in the Baie des Chaleurs.
Fd: What kind of camera system do you use when you go filming outdoors?
Hooké: We use a lot of different cameras depending on the type of video we want to make. We mostly use Canon 5D’s accompanied with the GoPro but we also have the FS700 for great slow motion action. All in all, it’s not about the cameras for us but more about transmitting how we live out trips and share the positive vibes around fly-fishing.
Hooké Adventures / Salmon River from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
Fd: How is the pre-production process? Do you think ideas, stories and particular sceneries or do you let stories emerge in each fishing trip?
Hooké: The production process is very simple for us, we just improvise and film what is happening and put a short story together afterwards. We also have some great help from our friends at Fokus Outdoors for all the postproduction and design.
Fd: Regarding filmmaking, do you have any influences or particular styles that you like?
Hooké: I love everything that is real and especially videos with emotion and great cinematography. I am inspired by everything that surrounds me and always want to evolve and find new ways to film and produce our videos.
Fall fishing on the Cascapedia river! from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
Fd: What kind of message do you want to give through your films?
Hooké: The main goal behind our films is to promote the amazing sport of fly-fishing. We want to motivate the new generation of anglers to get out there, log off, get some fresh air and reconnect with nature. Hooké is all about the preservation of our fish and making sure we do our part in promoting catch and release. With so much technology around us everyday, we want to show people we can all have good times being outside whether it be fishing on a lake, river, stream, pond or ocean. No matter where you are, being out there in the water is a great way to relax, shut down and take some time off.
Fd: Do you recall any special or funny anecdote from a filming day?
Hooké: Oh yeah, so many. We have so much fun every time we go out on a trip, there are anecdotes for everyday. I remember when we had been fishing for 4 consecutive days for atlantics with me, Jeff and Maude, and all of a sudden we each caught a salmon back to back and we just went nuts. I think these moments only happen once and that’s what keeps us going. There are tons of jokes and pranks we also pull on each other and that’s what makes it so fun.
Bonaventure Hooké! from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
Fd: Nowadays, most fishermen can film and edit a fishing video; what aspects do you think should be taken into account to make a good one?
Hooké: If you want my advice, first of all to make a good film you need to be passionate about what you are doing and understand how your camera fully works. You need to diversify your angles and points of view. Making a good movie is the perfect combination between your images, the editing and the music. They are all connected and if one is slightly off that is where it goes wrong most of the time. Not everyone has the same taste when it comes to movies, so make sure to make one that reflects what you think and feel. You need to remember that all films should be made for you and they must reflect and respect what you believe. A good movie is the one you love!
Fd: What do you enjoy the most from the whole process of making outdoor productions?
Hooké: I enjoy being outside and disconnecting from my everyday life. Most of the places we go to have no internet access and no telephone connections. That is what I love the most, we are disconnected and that’s what makes it so real and refreshing. The world is becoming so technological its kind of scary and when I get a chance to be far away from all this and back to the roots with just my fly rod that’s what makes me happy.
Hooké Adventures / Miramichi Fall! from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
Fd: What’s next? Any upcoming material?
Hooké: What’s next! We´ve got a lot coming for real, we have a full length movie planned for next year as well as a new clothing line and also several small adventures here and there. We want to get more implicated with saving the fish and educating the new generation to come. The best way to keep up is to follow us on our social media channels.
Fd: Finally, what does fly-fishing mean to you?
Hooké: Disconnecting from everyday life! My medication to keep me going!
For more of their great videos please visit: https://hooke.ca/en/