Behind BUFU with Lupe Hagearty
For the past year Planks Pro Team rider Lupe Hagearty has been chasing his dream of putting together a killer section with his own unique mix of urban and backcountry bangers. However, without the backing of a major production company he was forced to put together his own crew and create his very own movie. Having recently released his passion project, we decided to catch up with him to get a bit more info about the project.
Photos: Emily Tidwell
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How did the project originally come about?
Last fall I reached out to Keegan and Lai-hipp expressing that I really wanted to make a movie. I have wanted to do this for a while and this year things really fell into place with having a crew and the right resources.
What made you want to make you own film rather than getting involved in an established production?
Ironically I have reached out to numerous production companies over the past few years. It has always been a dream to put out the best segment I can each season with a dope crew. I was just never able to link up with anyone like Stept, Level 1, PBP, etc. So instead of waiting around for that to happen, I tried my best to construct a crew and make my own movie this year.
Can you tell us a bit more about the name?
B.U.F.U ( By Us For U ) is very self explanatory, it is a project by the homies for the homies. We got no budget or support for this, we just went out and made something that represents how we view skiing and how we want other people to see it. This is what we do and how we do it. If you don't like it then to bad for you. haha.
What aspects of the project were you involved with?
I took on all the different roles to make this film possible. There's a lot of planning that goes into making a movie; organizing trips, filming, editing, directing, producing, etc. At times we even used my personal budget to pay for cameras and other equipment to film or make building more efficient in the streets and backcountry. It was super sick to have Evan Lai-hipp on board to help with a lot of this. I found that when ever I was having trouble with something or couldn't figure out what to do, I could talk with him and he would help me come to a decision. There were so many people that made B.U.F.U a reality this year but at the end of the day I had the final say in the decision making for the crew.
What are your biggest inspirations for this in terms of other projects out there?
Watching Phil and Henrik create their legacy in our sport over the past years with the way they approached filming, editing, and film making has been my biggest influence by far. I also have tons of inspiration from the STEPT crew and 4bi9. Plus the Bunch is on one as well!
Is there any major message behind this film?
You dont need a crazy budget or loads of sponsors to make a film. You just need a dedicated group of people who all have a similar goal and even more importantly you need to do things for yourself and for the love.
Who did you most enjoy working with on the film?
All my friends and every single person who made this possible, I couldn't have done it alone! But more specifically Lai-Hipp and I grew up in the same neighborhood back in CT just fooling around skiing and making little edits for fun. Its crazy to be at the level I am now and still be filming together years later. Keegan is my room mate and someone I really connected with right away. It doesn't matter if we're setting up a spot in the streets, skateboarding, or just kicking it, we're on the same page with a lot of stuff. We've got a flow when we're working together and get shit done.
Are there plans for another film next year?
YESSIR!!! We're still in the early stages of planning but definitely expect another project from myself this coming year! Are there any other riders who would love to get involved? My goal is to create a line up this year that features some younger up and coming guys along with OG's of the sport who I idolized as a kid and now call my friends.