Marshall Krasser has a special connection with the wild. Growing up in the Ozarks, he learned to hunt, fish, and embrace the outdoors. “Being a Missouri hillbilly meant the outdoors was my playground,” he says. Camping trips with his grandparents sparked his love for nature, shaping who he is today.
Krasser’s path led him to study music and art at university. He spent 20 years in San Francisco at Industrial Light & Magic, where he worked on big-name films like Avatar and Titanic. But a city life didn’t fit him. Now, at 61, he’s combining his outdoor skills with his love for videography in Kamloops, Canada, creating backcountry survival videos.
“So many people live in cities and don’t know how to thrive in the wilderness,” he notes. He aims to bridge that gap, teaching survival skills and sharing stunning visual experiences of British Columbia’s outdoors.
After moving to Canada for work, he bought 23 acres of forested land north of Kamloops in 2012. This remote spot offers him easy access to hunting and fishing, essential for his well-being. “The outdoors helps me reset,” he explains.
Collaborating with friend Marc Gilbeau, Krasser is producing videos on various topics, including hunting and cooking over a wood stove. Influenced by American outdoor shows, he’s tailored his own series called Canadian Mountain Men. Excitingly, he uses artificial intelligence to enhance his content. “AI is just another tool,” he says, comparing it to a pencil. It depends on how you use it.
In his videos, Krasser narrates while a synthetic voice reads the script. He tinkers with AI to find the best way to convey information. Recently, during a video shoot on archery, he encountered hiccups with pronunciation but managed to navigate them creatively.
“It feels like coming full circle, returning to the outdoors,” he shares. His goal is to reconnect others with nature, especially those who might have lost touch with it. “I hope to inspire people to explore the backcountry.”
As we see a growing trend in outdoor survival content, many are eager to learn these skills. Recent surveys show that interest in outdoor activities has surged, with about 62% of urban dwellers expressing a desire to try camping or hiking. Krasser’s work is right on time, filling a need for practical knowledge in nature.
To discover more about his journey, check out his videos on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMGVdVpoTHo). By blending his artistic flair with survival wisdom, Marshall Krasser not only demonstrates essential skills but also illustrates the beauty of our wild spaces.