the arena

Client: Hero Games Charity

Sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company

“I want to do this hard thing so I can feel a small part of what your family member went through.”

“The Arena” — Inside the Hero Games

The Arena is about growing stronger together through hard things. It follows athletes, families, and friends who choose purposeful physical pain to honor those who gave everything.

We prepared with short pre-interviews and moved light on the day. The goal was to capture truth without getting in the way. What we found were raw moments you can feel. Rucks on shoulders. Cold water. Names read aloud. Arms around families who carried the heaviest weight.

“I want to do this hard thing so I can feel a small part of what your family member went through.”

This story asks a simple question. How do you honor a fallen soldier with your body. The film is ten minutes. I would love for you to watch and share what stayed with you.

Client: Hero Games Charity

Sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee.

Directed by Grant Knaus

B Camera Operator: Jeremiah Wyble

Young man standing in a field with a camera, setting up for filming, with trees and hills in the background.
A scenic rural landscape with green grass, trees, a mountain in the background, and a small black truck connected to a trailer, parked near a wooden fence.
A young person with curly hair and glasses holding a camera stands on a dirt path outdoors, with trees and buildings in the background.
A bearded man in a black t-shirt and shorts standing outdoors with his hands on his hips, smiling. A woman in the background near a black vehicle, with a green mountain landscape behind them.
Person walking across a grassy field with trees and hills in the background on a bright, clear day.
A man sitting cross-legged outdoors in a forested area, holding a water bottle, with trees and greenery in the background.