"For this year’s project, I set out to capture a gritty, nostalgic energy—something that feels like those late ’90s and early 2000s skate and snowboard films that shaped how I see the world. The soundtrack, pulled from Jake Keeler's friend Mr. Dibbs, echoes some of the most iconic skate videos of that era. Back when I was working at The Youth Shelter Supply, that sound, those camera angles and that raw editing style got burned into my brain.
Aaron Przybylski of Thorne Bros Fly staring down a smallie on the Upper Mississippi River.
I wanted to bring that same feeling into this film. So I leaned into old digital cameras, Super 8 film, fisheye shots and long lenses—tools that don’t just document the moment, but throw you right into it. The goal was simple: make the viewer feel like they’re there, not just watching from the outside.
The more I’ve spent time filming flyfishing, the more I’ve realized how much it mirrors the skate and snowboard subcultures I grew up in. But the films? They don’t always reflect that. A lot of what you see now feels polished in the wrong way—product-driven edits, slow-motion casts, the same recycled visuals, predictable sound design, and stories about far-off destinations most of us will never experience.
Tim Landwehr of Tightlines displays his sin bin of creations.
What’s missing are the kinds of films that actually resonate with the people in this space—films that feel real, that spark something, that make you want to step outside and explore your own backyard.
That’s what we set out to do.
Jake and I took three short trips to connect with people who’ve shaped this scene in their own way—Tim Landwehr of Tightlines, Kyle Zempel of Black Earth Angling, and Aaron Przybylski of Thorne Bros Fly Fishing. Instead of scripted interviews or forced narratives, I focused on capturing real moments—natural audio, honest conversations, the kind of storytelling that unfolds on its own.
Jake Keeler & Tim Landwehr talking about basswussup action.
We didn’t make this for a national film tour. We made it for us.
Four years ago, Jake and I started hosting our own premieres—under something we call Water Sabbath. What began as a small Midwest gathering has grown into something way bigger than we expected. Each year it gets better—more people, more energy, more connection. We bring together nearly a dozen local artists, multiple filmmakers and a community of friends and family who just get it.
At the end of the day, that’s what this is about. Not just a film—but a feeling, a culture, and a shared experience. Zero disrespect to the accomplished filmmakers out there, but we want to create and promote visual art forms that are missing in the outdoor world."
Kyle Zempel of Black Earth Angling on the lookout for “the crash”.
presented by | Water Sabbath
production company | Rubinski Visual
film + edit | Mike Thienes
featuring | Jake Keeler
with friends | Kyle Zempel, Aaron Przybylski, Tim Landwehr
music | Mr. Dibbs
executive producers | Mike Thienes and Jake Keeler
aerial footage | Steve Fines