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In this interview, we sit down with Melbourne filmmaker Aaron Garcia, behind Wolf of Wingsuit, a captivating film that follows the thrilling and dangerous world of wingsuit flying. We discuss the challenges behind both the shooting and post-production processes, the journey to getting the film into the prestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival, and what drives Aaron to continue pursuing his passion for capturing the extreme sports and travel world. Along the way, Aaron shares his background, his creative journey, and what’s next on the horizon for this emerging filmmaker.
Tell us about yourself and how you ended up making the film Wolf Of Wingsuit?
I’m Filipino, raised in Melbourne, Australia, since I was 2. Growing up, I was fascinated by Hollywood action films and later developed an interest in action sports and adventure documentaries. After earning a Film & TV degree from Swinburne University, I moved to Vancouver, Canada where I honed my skills working in wedding videography. Post-COVID, I returned to Melbourne and shifted focus to doc cine-style work.
Wolf of Wingsuit was created purely in the edit with a mix of footage captured days before meeting Avalon. It was by luck and curiosity that led to such a rare, spontaneous experience. I just went on a trail walk with my camera, saw a man land with his parachute in the distance, introduced myself, and simply asked, “May I film you?” He turned out to be a super chill dude. We got to hang out for a day and a half, and I filmed his dangerous wingsuit journey at one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Fast forward months later after travelling overseas, I knew that with my footage captured, it wouldn’t work without Avalon’s 360 perspective, so thanks to social media, he was nice enough to send me several clips of his jumps. I put the pieces of the puzzle together with 360 editing, sound design, and pro-grade colour correction from a Ukrainian colourist, and Wolf of Wingsuit was created.
You said that you had to put together a few different snippets of footage, sound design, etc. – what was the most challenging part about making the film? What was the process like?
Shooting in Murren (a Swiss mountain village) wasn’t easy. The trek to the exit platforms involved long, muddy hikes and scaling the Via Ferrata, all while managing a camera rig and keeping up with Avalon, who was determined to squeeze in as many jumps as possible. Thankfully, the jump routine became a bit of a rhythm—Avalon would suit up, take a breath, and gaze down from the platform. It gave me a moment to catch my breath before capturing his jumps from multiple angles, making for a seamless edit.
In post-production, the real challenge came with the missing 360 footage. My rough cut was flat and lacked direction, feeling more like a travel film than a gripping story. Avalon, not very tech-savvy, took weeks to send me his footage, thanks to our hectic schedules and time zone differences. But once I had it, the real struggle began. Editing 360 video was a whole new world, and I ran into issues like black stitch lines in the exports. After a bit of trial and error—and a lot of Googling—I was able to make it work. The sound design, however, was a blast. I layered in-camera audio with imported sound effects from Artlist and FreeSound.org to really bring the experience to life.
How about funny stories and mishaps—if they happened, please tell us about them!
Oh goodness, the 20-30 minute hike and climb through muddy, difficult terrain to the mountain edge platforms were challenging. There were times when I had to de-rig and re-rig my camera because some of the pathways required some climbing on the Via Ferrata before reaching the jumps. Plus, there were a couple of moments where Avalon would offer to hold my camera for me as I got down some awkward climbing paths. I remember him saying, “Gosh, this thing is a brick.” There was also one quick moment where I briefly got to see one thrill-seeker suit up and dive with his pet dog. That was such a rare sight, but later, I learned he’s YouTube famous because of that!
When you were putting together this film, when did you decide to enter it in the Banff Mountain Film Festival? Can you walk us through your thought process?
In early 2024, I narrowed down my search to only outdoor adventure-focused film festivals. This was when I first found out about the Banff Mountain Film Festival and how prestigious it was, but unfortunately, they weren’t accepting entries until later in the year. I just kept the thought at the back of my mind, and FilmFreeway had a good ‘Watchlist’ notification to remind me. As time passed, there were a few successful international official screenings and awards which gave me the confidence to enter Wolf of Wingsuit into the Banff Mountain Film Festival. When I finally got the email that the film was to be screened and take part in the World Tour, I couldn’t believe it, but I was super thrilled!
Is this your first work to be featured in such a prestigious film festival? If so, how does this make you feel and how does it position you for reaching your future goals in this space?
Yes, it’s my first one. It definitely gave me confidence because, for the past several years, there have been times where you doubt yourself, especially as a video creative. But in the end, you realise none of that matters. Honestly, after a full year of self-promoting the film, it’s nice to take a step back and just observe what’s next on the horizon. I do look forward to creating more unscripted, immersive passion projects with no dialogue, like Wolf of Wingsuit, in the extreme sports or travel space.
If you could make a Doc Cine-style film about anything, what would it be?
Right now, I’m interested in filming three subjects:
- The Kecak Fire Dance in Uluwatu, Bali
- Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo, Japan
- The Art of Kyudo, Japan
I’ve always been fascinated by different world cultures and their unique ceremonies and traditions. Capturing the Sanja Matsuri up close back in May 2024 was a chaotic and exciting experience that I’ll never forget, but I hope one day I’ll get access to film it from start to finish.
What feelings would you like to invoke in audience members as they watch Wolf of Wingsuit?
I think it’d be a mix of fear, suspense, adrenaline, and probably, by the end, awe and wonder. We all know how dangerous wingsuit flying is, but I wanted the film to reflect what Avalon told me a while back. Behind all the fear and adrenaline, there’s a sense of beauty and peacefulness to wingsuit flying, which is the sole reason why he loves to keep doing it. The POV (point of view) footage we see from his perspective, flying over one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, is proof of that. In one way or another, I hope this film helps people see what wingsuit flying looks like up close and the incredible experience it offers if they were to try it someday.
Aaron Garcia is a new name to watch out for in the extreme sports and documentary space. With a bright future ahead, we look forward to seeing more unscripted passion projects that leave us in awe. Keep an eye out for this rising talent as he makes his mark on the film festival circuit and beyond.
Tickets for the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Festival are now on sale at https://banffaustralia.com.au/tickets/
Don’t miss out!
