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Frontier Stories The Vantage

D’arcy Olnyic dives into the heart-pounding action of the Bamfield Tuna Shootout. It’s man vs. nature as he battles monster tuna, crashing waves, and fierce competition on the open Pacific. Can D'Arcy handle the chaos and reel in the big one? Find out in this epic, action-packed adventure on the high seas!

  • ERIC Orton
    Director
    The Big House, Frontier Stories, Champ Promotions Round 4
  • ERIC Orton
    Writer
    The Big House, Frontier Stories
  • ERIC Orton
    Producer
    Frontier Stories, Champ Promotions Round 4
  • ERIC Orton
    Editor
    Hunt Warz, Frontier Stories
  • ERIC Orton
    Sound
    ScareBnB, The Aristocrat and The Banker, Frontier Stories, Her Last Tear
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Television
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    S35 Blackmagic BRAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • International Clown Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    November 14, 2025
    European Premiere
    Award Winner
  • Cine Vista Oasis Film Awards
    Jakarta
    Indonesia
    January 6, 2026
    Indonesian National Premiere
    Award Winner
  • Cult Movies International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    United Kingdom Premiere
    Finalist
Distribution Information
  • Wild TV
    Distributor
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Free TV
Director Biography - ERIC Orton

Eric Orton is a Canadian filmmaker, cinematographer, and founder of YYJ Soup Productions, known for raw, human-centered storytelling set against the rugged Pacific Northwest and beyond.

A Toronto Film School graduate with a background in sales and athletics, Orton has built a career tackling ambitious projects often with limited resources and small crews.

His documentary series Frontier Stories has aired two seasons on WildTV and streams on WildTV+. The Season 2 episode The Vantage earned international acclaim, winning Best Documentary by a First-Time Filmmaker — International Clown Film Festival (Paris, 2025) and Award Winner — Cine Vista Oasis Film Awards (Nov–Dec 2025), and has been viewed over two million times on WildTV.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Having spent years chronicling real, unscripted lives The Vantage became an opportunity to distill that ethos into a singular, visceral experience. I was drawn not just to the spectacle of the shootout itself, but to the emotional landscape of the participants. Their preparation, fear, determination and the quiet introspection that follows extreme challenge.

Visually, the film leverages the rugged beauty and unpredictable conditions of the Pacific Northwest to reflect the internal states of its subjects. The choice of dynamic handheld camera work and intimate close-ups was intentional, designed to place the viewer shoulder-to-shoulder with the anglers, feeling the spray of the sea and the tension of each cast. I aimed to let the environment become a character in its own right, shaping the narrative through sound and movement as much as through story.

Ultimately, The Vantage is about risk and resilience. It’s my hope that audiences walk away with a sense of awe for the natural world and a deeper appreciation for the passion that drives people to test their limits.