“We’ve known each other since middle school. We both decided to pursue the same careers put in the time. And here we are, 20 years later, working together on a large scale.”- Co-Founder Beau Larson.
Co-founders Emily Tidwell and Beau Larson have known each other for two decades, starting as theatre kids and teammates on their high school ski team.
As teens, both decided to pursue careers in action sports media and moved west from their midwestern upbringings to find their success.
“Beau and I took different paths and wound up at the same place. I went off to be a photographer and ski bum, spending my summers chasing snow at Mt Hood and my winters anywhere across the West Coast. Beau chose college and film school at UofM-Missoula. I spent a lot of time crashing on his floors and couches during those early years in our 20s.”- Co-Founder Emily Tidwell.
The two’s careers paralleled each other until they found themselves working on the same film a decade after they began.
“I realized I had big ideas, bigger than what I could produce. I had been dubbing in the thought of starting a production company for a few years and finally sparked the nerve to ask Beau if he’d ever wanna join me in that…and here we are about to wrap production on our first film…”-Emily
While 218 (Two One Eight) is a new endeavor, the two sport a legacy of friendship and produced media for world-renowned brands and organizations.
“We’re excited to show you what we can create as a team.”-Beau.
Their first film, Saving Silence, is premiering this Fall. Stay tuned to find out more in the upcoming weeks.
“It’s not so much a departure from what I’ve been doing as an opportunity to expand and push my ability to tell stories”- Co-Founder Beau Larson.
Meet Beau Larson, Cinematographer, Editor, and CFO at 218
Based in Crested Butte, Colorado, Beau has fostered a lengthy career documenting extremes in the outdoors. From winter camping in the wilds of Alaska filming steep spines to diligently capturing wolves, cougars, and rattlesnakes in their natural habitats, he has found himself working tirelessly to get “the shot.”
“I have a lot left to capture…” Beau states, “I still feel like I’m just at the start of my career. With so many greats of film in the outdoor industry, I look forward to the day I feel I can hang my hat next to theirs. Saving Silence, our first of many projects, is one step closer to that day.”
While we already think Beau is well on his way, we are beyond eager to see what he will create with 218.
As we enter this film’s final weeks of production, stay tuned as we learn more about our founders and see behind-the-scenes footage from Saving Silence.
“I needed to discover more about who I am as a creative…, and I’ve found that with 218…”—Co-Founder Emily Tidwell.
Meet Emily Tidwell, Photographer + Filmmaker + CEO of 218.
Based in Reno, Nevada, Emily has been making waves in the outdoor industry for over a decade, capturing action sports for some of the top names and brands around the globe. Her work has been featured in print many times, but she prides herself as a Senior Photographer for @mountaingazette as a prized personal accomplishment.
“Seeing your work on such a grand scale is something you dream about as a photographer. Each magazine is a treasure and a trophy I proudly display in my home.”
218 is currently completing their first film project. In her debut as a Director, Emily was compelled to get a little personal.
“I am so proud of our first documentary. Saving Silence explores more than just my childhood backyard, The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, but how I’ve seen the outdoors save my life and many others. The topic of mental health is often labeled as taboo. We’ve seen this shift slowly over the past few years. With this film, we hope to continue opening that space and allowing others to feel comfortable knowing they aren’t alone in their struggles.”
As we enter this film's final weeks of production, stay tuned as we learn more about our founders and see behind-the-scenes footage.
In the heart of Northern Minnesota lies a place that inspired the powerful film Saving Silence. Join POW Creative Alliance Captain Emily Tidwell (@emily_tidwell_photo ) as she returns to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, reflecting on how this wild landscape saved her life. 🏞️
‘Saving Silence’ (dropping 10/2) dives deep into mental health, the critical importance of public lands, and the unsettling presence of microplastics in some of the world’s most remote places. Emily reconnects with Arctic explorer Lonnie Dupre and Clare Shirley, owner of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, to discuss why protecting this pristine wilderness is more crucial than ever.
🎥 Full film dropping 10/2, stay tuned!
📷: @emily_tidwell_photo@beaularsonmedia
