Savage River Canoes

Name: Inner Action Media
Address: US

The Problem

Savage River Canoes, a renowned manufacturer based in Oakland, Maryland, is known world-wide for its expertly crafted, handmade custom racing canoes. However, while the company has established a strong presence in the competitive racing canoe market, they sought to expand their reach by promoting their high-quality recreational canoes to a broader audience.

The Solution

The challenge was to create a compelling video that effectively communicated the craftsmanship, performance, and versatility of Savage River’s canoes while appealing to outdoor enthusiasts looking for leisure paddling options.

InnerAction Media was tasked with developing a video that not only highlighted the company’s legacy and expertise in custom racing canoes but also conveyed the inviting nature of their recreational models, with the goal of driving global sales and enhancing the brand’s visibility in new markets.

The Process

Pre-Production

Production

Post Production

The pre-production process for the Savage River Canoes video involved careful planning and collaboration between the InnerAction Media’s production team and the Savage River team to ensure an authentic and impactful final product.

To begin, InnerAction Media’s Creative Director, Liza Heiskell, conducted pre-interviews with John Diller, the founder and designer of Savage River, and his son Ben, who handles sales and marketing. These interviews provided valuable insights into the company’s history, design philosophy, and the craftsmanship behind their custom canoes.

Following this, Liza and other team members, Director of Photography, Gabe Ofca, and VP, Dylan Sheldon traveled to Savage River’s facility in Oakland, Maryland, for an on-site visit to learn more about their process and to assess the best locations for shooting both the interviews and b-roll footage. This visit allowed the production team to identify key spots for capturing the interior craftsmanship and design process, as well as outdoor locations for dynamic action shots. Notably, the team discovered a serene small lake nearby, which offered the perfect backdrop for filming the canoes in action on the water.

During this visit, the team also determined the necessary equipment, ensuring they were fully prepared to capture the essence of Savage River’s racing canoes, from the story, to design and performance.

This video production was captured in one shoot day. With a crew of four, InnerAction Media spent the day with the Savage River Canoes craftsmen capturing exactly what was envisioned through pre-production. This involved aerial and surface level shots of paddling through the water on the lake, interviews, and shots of the hand crafted manufacturing process. In all video productions, the team at InnerAction Media gives special care and attention to ensure an efficient production without sacrificing quality or forgoing key details.

Using non-linear editing software our Director of Photography (DP) Gabe Ofca spent hours crafting and polishing the Savage River Brand Film. From cutting and sequencing clips to color grading and sound design, a vast amount of creative tools were used to influence the tone and viewer perception of the video. For this brand film, the focus was to clearly identify John Diller and his son Ben Diller as the Canoe experts for over 40 years. The sequencing of the shots demonstrate the quality craftsmanship and performance of the worlds lightest and fastest canoes.

The Impact

Through careful storytelling and cinematic visuals, the video successfully positioned Savage River as a brand offering both competitive excellence and accessible outdoor experiences for paddlers of all levels. The focus on craftsmanship and expertise helped establish trust and admiration within the paddling community, reinforcing Savage River’s commitment to quality. The video also broadened their appeal beyond competitive athletes, reaching outdoor enthusiasts who value well-crafted, reliable equipment.