Changemaker Speaker Series Bryan Smith: Capturing the Impossible

A decade ago Bryan Smith bought his first camera at Walmart and started calling himself a filmmaker. Armed with a $500 handycam, he embarked on a kayaking expedition to the far reaches of Arunachal Pradesh, India. While his imagery barely cracked amateur status on that first expedition, his passion and persistence would carry him through the ranks of the industry in the span of just 10 years.

His first film, 49 Megawatts, documented a community’s struggle with a hydroelectric project on British Columbia’s Ashlu River and eventually led him to the hallways of National Geographic. He received an Expedition Council grant to lead a team of kayakers into the wilds of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia and went on to direct The Man Who Can Fly for the National Geographic Channel. After several years as a freelance director of photography for National Geographic, Bryan founded Reel Water Productions— boutique production company based in Squamish, British Columbia, specializing in documentary, expedition, and commercial content.

Bryan currently leads a team of like-minded creatives in the pursuit of authentic storytelling. Their award-winning films have graced festival circuits, television networks, and the online community. Bryan looks for projects that pass a 60/40 rule *just 60% chance of success). He believes that a high chance of failure produces the best work and creates unforgettable stories.