The guys behind the digital media company Cirque Productions are responsible for “Trek,” the best selling Appalachian Trail documentary on the market. They’ve also just released “Share the Road,” a 60-minute documentary that details a coast-to-coast bike trip. Cirque has filmed everybody from equestrians to snowboarders and now, Brian Burnham, cofounder of Cirque, gives BRO readers a primer on outdoor video. Whether you want to film your buddies eating it on the half pipe or document your next overnight camping trip, Burnham and Cirque disclose the know-how to make your next homemade video worth a second viewing.

Get the Goods: Video camera selection is key. Keep the weight down to below two pounds and get a three-chip camera as opposed to the cheaper one chip cameras. A three-chip will get you a noticeable improvement in quality, color, and resolution. Also, try to find a camera with a decent optical zoom. Aid the digital zoom because you’ll lose resolution. Expect to pay about $1,000.

Light is everything: Lighting is tricky in the outdoors. Shoot in the morning or in the afternoon. The first two hours of daylight or the last two hours will deliver a golden glow effect.

Establish the scene: Take your time and set up an establishing shot and get plenty of footage so you have lots of material to work with. This will allow you to pick the best 10 or 15 seconds of film.

Be schizophrenic: Shuffle the angle and get a little coverage from everywhere. The worst thing you can do is show the same side angle over and over. If you’re filming snowboarders, step into the pipe. Hold the camera at chest level.

Get dirty: Don’t be afraid to get in the action. Have your buddies ride close to the camera. Eventually, invest in a mono pod. It’s like a boom for the camera that extends the angle by ten feet, so you can hold it over your head for a bird's eye view.

Go overboard: Most people don’t shoot enough footage. If you want to make a five-minute segment, you should get an hour’s worth of footage. We typically shoot a ratio of 25 to 1. Quantity does equal quality.

Be Ruthless: Personality is key in outdoor film. Luckily, everyone in this industry wants to show off for the camera. People are extroverted. Capitalize on that. Get crowd reactions and friends talking trash to spice things up. After a wipeout, pan instantly to a friend to get their reaction.

More info: visit www.cirquevideo.com.