Volunteer Spotlight: Andrew Jandt & LaDawna Wert

As students, film makers, successful business owners and the proud parents of two cats (Harley and Bella), it’s hard to believe that Andrew R. Jandt, 26, and La Dawna L. Wert, 25, have time to volunteer countless hours shooting video footage of Life Rolls On events. Dedication is an understatement when it comes to their commitment to LRO, as these two have even volunteered to bear the icy roads to Mammoth Lakes from their home in Long Beach, CA to shoot a single afternoon of LRO’s first They Will Ski Again.

When they aren’t battling the waves for good footage of surfers at They Will Surf Again, interviewing celebrities on the red carpet at Night by the Ocean or spending hours in the edit bay to make LRO’s video just right, you can catch Andrew and La Dawna surfing, hiking, traveling, checking out music and, of course, filmmaking. In addition to their successful business at IOBON, they recently embarked on a new business venture, The Wedding Clique.

LRO: How did you come to start working with Life Rolls On and what makes you keep coming back to support the organization?
AJ/LW: We started working with LRO after we stopped by the booth at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach in 2007. We were interested in the cause and saw an opportunity to help the organization. We come to events and volunteer our time because of the cause, the people, and the fun we have every time!

LRO: What goes in to making a video for LRO? Since there are two of you, do each of you have different responsibilities?
AJ/LW: Blood, sweat, and tears! No, just kidding, but we do put a lot of thought into how every shot we take is going to play in the story of the event. Andrew’s responsibilities are mainly getting everyone excited about the event and La Dawna helps to organize our thoughts! We both do the camerawork and editing.

LRO: What has been your favorite LRO video that you shot and why?
AJ/LW: They Will Surf Again March 9, 2008 in La Jolla. This was our first video for LRO and we found a perfect way to help the cause. In the first 48 hours of being on Myspace featured videos, it had over 90,000 views and over 1,000 comments from a worldwide audience. This made us realize how much we can make an impact by helping out with our camera.

LRO: What are your future goals for working with LRO?
AJ/LW: Attend as many events as possible, make as many videos as possible, and develop a long-term relationship with LRO, so we can be around for years to come!

LRO: What impact do you think (or hope) your videos play in supporting LRO and its participants?
AJ/LW: We hope that our videos make it easier to understand how much of an impact the programs make in the participants lives.

LRO: What do you think is the most important message for readers to know about Life Rolls On?
AJ/LW: LRO makes things possible for those affected by spinal cord injuries that many have never gotten to experience otherwise. Many people have never been surfing and/or skiing, so not only do they benefit from the programs, but also, through LRO’s programs, volunteers make a positive impact on the world and bring out the best in all people.

LRO: Any other comments?
AJ/LW: See you soon, and check out our new They Will Ski Again video!

Photos Courtesy of IOBON Cinema