Warren Miller (director)
Encyclopedia
Warren Miller is an American ski and snowboarding filmmaker
. He is the founder of Warren Miller Entertainment and produced, directed and narrated his films until 1988. His credits include over 750 sports films, several books and hundreds of published non-fiction stories. His annual films on skiing
and other outdoor sports are renowned for their stunning photography, witty narrative humor, and the impressive talents of athletes. He has received wide acclaim for his promotion of the sport of modern skiing through his films spanning over 50 years and is an iconic figure in ski movie filmmaking.
, surfing
, and photography
. At the age of 18, with the U.S. ten months into World War II
, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy
and served in the South Pacific. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1946 he bought his first 8mm movie camera
. He and a friend moved to Sun Valley, Idaho
where they camped in the parking lot of the Sun Valley ski resort, lived in a teardrop trailer
and earned money as ski instructors. In their free time, they filmed each other skiing to critique and improve their ski techniques. During the summers they shifted to the California coast where they filmed each other surfing.
, who then sold it to Bonnier Corporation in 2007. The company still produces a new film every year, however Miller himself has not been actively involved since 2004.
While transitioning out of his executive role, Miller still maintained his creative role as director and narrator for the films into the 1990s, but Miller has distanced himself from production in recent years. The makers of recent films such as, Warren Miller's Higher Ground (2005) and Warren Miller's Off the Grid (2006), opted to use Miller's narration from previous films rather than recording new narration.
Recent films have been criticized as a departure from the traditional Warren Miller films. Miller himself has indicated that he is not content with recent productions, and has been actively discouraged from involvement in the films bearing his name. "I have not been involved with my old company's films in any capacity for many years now, and I will not work with WME again."
In late 2010, Miller announced the re-launch of the Warren Miller Company, an organization representing his professional and philanthropic interests established nearly two decades ago. He made a return to stage, presenting 'An Evening with Warren Miller' to two sold-out audiences at Seattle's Benaroya Hall.
Movies released since 2004, while bearing Warren Millers name, were not directed by Warren Miller the Director, nor was he involved in their production in any way. See the complete list for all films bearing Warren Miller's name.
Skiing and snowboarding on film and video
Skiing has been recorded on film since at least the 1910s, but did not work its way into Hollywood features until the 1930s, when it began to be popular as a leisure activity in the United States...
. He is the founder of Warren Miller Entertainment and produced, directed and narrated his films until 1988. His credits include over 750 sports films, several books and hundreds of published non-fiction stories. His annual films on skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and other outdoor sports are renowned for their stunning photography, witty narrative humor, and the impressive talents of athletes. He has received wide acclaim for his promotion of the sport of modern skiing through his films spanning over 50 years and is an iconic figure in ski movie filmmaking.
Early years
Warren Miller was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and as a young man he took up the hobbies of skiingSkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, and photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
. At the age of 18, with the U.S. ten months into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and served in the South Pacific. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1946 he bought his first 8mm movie camera
8 mm film
8 mm film is a motion picture film format in which the filmstrip is eight millimeters wide. It exists in two main versions: the original standard 8mm film, also known as regular 8 mm or Double 8 mm, and Super 8...
. He and a friend moved to Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
where they camped in the parking lot of the Sun Valley ski resort, lived in a teardrop trailer
Teardrop trailer
A teardrop trailer, also known as a teardrop camper trailer, is a streamlined, compact, lightweight travel trailer, which gets its name from its teardrop profile. They usually only have sleeping space for two adults and often have a basic kitchen in the rear....
and earned money as ski instructors. In their free time, they filmed each other skiing to critique and improve their ski techniques. During the summers they shifted to the California coast where they filmed each other surfing.
Warren Miller Entertainment
Warren Miller would often show his skiing and surfing films to friends, making jokes about their exploits throughout the showing of the film. When he began to receive invitations to show and narrate his films at parties, it occurred to him that he could turn this hobby into a business. In 1949, Miller founded Warren Miller Entertainment and began a long-standing tradition of producing one feature-length ski film per year. He rented out halls and theaters, usually with borrowed money, and charged admission to his shows. He booked show halls near ski resorts so that he could film the next year's footage during the day, and show the current film in the evening. Before long he was showing his films in 130 cities a year.Current work
Miller continued to head the company both creatively and executively until the late 1980s when he sold the company to his son, Kurt Miller. Kurt later sold the company to Time, Inc.Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
, who then sold it to Bonnier Corporation in 2007. The company still produces a new film every year, however Miller himself has not been actively involved since 2004.
While transitioning out of his executive role, Miller still maintained his creative role as director and narrator for the films into the 1990s, but Miller has distanced himself from production in recent years. The makers of recent films such as, Warren Miller's Higher Ground (2005) and Warren Miller's Off the Grid (2006), opted to use Miller's narration from previous films rather than recording new narration.
Recent films have been criticized as a departure from the traditional Warren Miller films. Miller himself has indicated that he is not content with recent productions, and has been actively discouraged from involvement in the films bearing his name. "I have not been involved with my old company's films in any capacity for many years now, and I will not work with WME again."
In late 2010, Miller announced the re-launch of the Warren Miller Company, an organization representing his professional and philanthropic interests established nearly two decades ago. He made a return to stage, presenting 'An Evening with Warren Miller' to two sold-out audiences at Seattle's Benaroya Hall.
Personal life
Warren Miller currently resides with his wife, Laurie, on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle, Washington, and enjoys cruising on his 47' Bayliner Yacht. He is officially retired from filmmaking but remains an active writer. He has announced plans to publish a book about life in retirement called, "What Are You Doing with the Rest of Your Life?"Filmography
| # | Year | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1950 | Deep And Light |
| 2 | 1951 | California Skis |
| 3 | 1952 | Wandering Skis |
| 4 | 1953 | Ski Fantasy |
| 5 | 1954 | Symphony On Skis |
| 6 | 1955 | Invitation To Skiing |
| 7 | 1956 | Have Skis, Will Travel |
| 8 | 1957 | Anyone For Skiing? |
| 9 | 1958 | Are Your Skis On Straight? |
| 10 | 1959 | Let's Go Skiing |
| 11 | 1960 | Swinging Skis |
| 12 | 1961 | Many Moods Of Skiing |
| 13 | 1962 | Around The World On Skis |
| 14 | 1963 | The Sound Of Skiing |
| 15 | 1964 | The Skiers |
| 16 | 1965 | The Big Ski Show |
| 17 | 1966 | Ski On The Wild Side |
| 18 | 1967 | The Ski Scene |
| 19 | 1968 | No Boundaries |
| 20 | 1969 | This Is Skiing |
| 21 | 1970 | Sound Of Winter |
| 22 | 1971 | Any Snow, Any Mountain |
| 23 | 1972 | Winter People |
| 24 | 1973 | Skiing's Great |
| 25 | 1974 | The Color Of Skiing |
| 26 | 1975 | There Comes A Time |
| 27 | 1976 | Skiing On My Mind |
| 28 | 1977 | In Search Of Skiing |
| 29 | 1978 | Ski A La Carte |
| 30 | 1979 | Winter Fever |
| 31 | 1980 | Ski People |
| 32 | 1981 | Ski In The Sun |
| 33 | 1982 | Snowonder |
| 34 | 1983 | Ski Time |
| 35 | 1984 | Ski Country |
| 36 | 1985 | Steep And Deep |
| 37 | 1986 | Beyond The Edge |
| 38 | 1987 | White Winter Heat |
| 39 | 1988 | Escape To Ski |
| 40 | 1989 | White Magic |
| 41 | 1990 | Extreme Winter |
| 42 | 1991 | Born To Ski |
| 43 | 1992 | Steeper And Deeper |
| 44 | 1993 | Black Diamond Rush |
| 45 | 1994 | Vertical Reality |
| 46 | 1995 | Endless Winter |
| 47 | 1996 | Snowriders |
| 48 | 1997 | Snowriders 2 |
| 49 | 1998 | Freeriders |
| 50 | 1999 | Fifty |
| 51 | 2000 | Ride |
| 52 | 2001 | Cold Fusion |
| 53 | 2002 | Storm |
| 54 | 2003 | Journey |
| 55 | 2004 | Impact |
Movies released since 2004, while bearing Warren Millers name, were not directed by Warren Miller the Director, nor was he involved in their production in any way. See the complete list for all films bearing Warren Miller's name.