I consider myself among the fortunate few who discovered a single, all-consuming passion early in life—environmental filmmaking.

This passion first took hold at age ten through high-altitude mountaineering, leading me to summit Mt. Whitney, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Aconcagua, and Denali—all while attending high school in Carlsbad, California.

By divine intervention (or dumb luck), my high school also happened to have a nationally recognized broadcast filmmaking program, which I eagerly joined. The combination of these two early teenage experiences—balancing exploration of extreme environments with understanding impactful storytelling—has shaped nearly every facet of who I am today.

Joey Szalkiewicz (Shawl-Kev-Itch)

Above Sea Level. An approach to the summit of Denali (Alaska, 2016)

After high school, I continued my educational ascent as a student at UC Santa Barbara with a course of study dedicated to both the art and business of the film industry.

During my junior year, I studied abroad in the Czech Republic, with the aim of understanding the European model of both economics and filmmaking… all while traveling and filming across Iceland, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway.

Back in Santa Barbara, I was fortunate to be mentored by Harry Rabin of On The Wave Productions, collaborating on projects ranging from filming Great Whites at Guadalupe Island to editing a short film on the ‘whale jail’ of Srednyaya Bay, Russia.

All these experiences broadened my perspective on the diverse applications of environmental filmmaking. This period of life culminated in my graduation in 2020 with dual degrees in Economics & Film/Media Studies. Then began the search for work.

Near Sea Level. A poor choice place to stand while directing (Utah, 2023)

Shortly after graduating, my first professional gig was as a Field Assistant & Additional Camera for America’s National Parks on Disney+, living and filming in Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Voyageurs National Parks. When production wrapped, I returned to Santa Barbara to direct and produce my first short film, SONDER (2022), which addressed the experience of homelessness in Santa Barbara. The project premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival just a month later. These two early experiences remain cornerstones of my journey, marking the first major steps into filmmaking as a career.

However, the natural world should never be treated solely a workspace. You can still find me in the outdoors even when just for fun. I am an active scuba diver, multi-pitch climber, sport/trad climber, surfer, fisherman, mountaineer, hiker, backpacker, kayaker, whale-watcher, golfer, and even disc golfer.

Happy Trails - Joey

Below Sea Level. A serene moment underwater (Archipelago Revillagigedo, 2025)