JDM produces documentary on Ashland Balloonfest

For one weekend in the summer, Freer Field in Ashland transforms into THE place for great music, food and of course, hot air balloons! To help promote Ashland's famous Balloonfest, JDM captured all the sounds and high flying sights in a new documentary. The department's second documentary film produced by the Ashland Film Group features amazing point of view aerials shot during a high flying balloon ride taken by JDM Operations Manager, John Skrada who (naturally!) brought along an HD video camera.

"I thought I was going up on a short, tethered ride." Skrada said. "I was concentrating on working the camera and wasn't paying attention at the beginning, when I looked up, I realized we were really high!"

Skrada's "short hop" turned into a two-hour long flight over fields and farms surrounding Ashland. Skrada says he and pilot Greg Miller soared up to 11,000 feet.

"We were so high I could see Cleveland!" Skrada said of his once-in-a-lifetime flight. Skrada's aerial footage also features an amazing sequence when they were skimming just feet above houses and farm fields.

Your can check out Balloonfest now airing on AU-TV20 and here on the JDM YouTube channel:

Up, up and away!

The JDM crew is putting the finishing touches on a cool documentary featuring Ashland's famous Ballonfest. This year's festival lifts off June 28th! Bring a chair, sunscreen, sunglasses, an appetite and a pair of binoculars to see the balloons. It high flying fun for the whole family.

Check out the TV promo!