Ironbound Uncut: Sun, Strength, and Surreal Schedules in Miami
I just wrapped up a wild four days filming in Miami and Fort Lauderdale for Project Ironbound, and if the documentary itself is about pushing limits, this trip was certainly a crash course in that for me! From red-eye call times with pro bodybuilders to last-minute Uber deliveries and a heart-stopping airport sprint, the footage is locked, and the experience was incredible.
Day 1: The Shredded & The Serene
My trip kicked off right after landing in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, 10/1. After grabbing my rental car and a much-needed coffee, I headed to meet the incredibly shredded Torre Washington.
Setting up for an interview in a busy gym is always an adventure. I found the “quietest” corner – which is like finding the “least moist” spot in a steam room – and we got started. Despite a few rogue gym-goers wandering into the audio radius, we captured a fantastic 45-minute interview. Torre, who is already dialed in for his November competition, was so kind, sharing his powerful story of growing up vegetarian and choosing the vegan path later on. After filming his quick, intense workout, I got my own session in, grabbed some food, and drove 45 minutes to meet my friend, Akash Patel, who generously hosted me in Miami. We crashed early after some homemade spicy popcorn and some stand-up comedy, which was a welcome calm before the storm.
Day 2: Dawn Workouts and High-Protein Secrets
If I thought Day 1 was an early start, Day 2 laughed in my face. I woke up at 4 AM to meet professional bodybuilder Korin Sutton in Fort Lauderdale. Korin operates on military time (fittingly, given his background), and he was right – his gym was blessedly empty.
We filmed a full-body workout, chatting between sets about everything from his recent Hawaiian vacation to his impressive competitive track record. The real magic happened after. I followed Korin for some undercover grocery filming (always fun!) and then into his kitchen. He walked us through preparing a full, high-protein vegan breakfast, offering incredible insight into performance nutrition. The interview in his office flowed perfectly and he even had great lighting already set up! After a few final clips of him cycling, I headed back to Miami.
After catching up on my day job work, Akash and I had dinner with his friend Spencer Roberts and Spencer’s wife. Spencer, an ecologist and environmentalist focused on marine life, immediately sparked an idea. I couldn’t pass up filming with an expert who truly “walks the walk” in the environmental field, so we planned a shoot for Saturday morning.
Day 3: Gimbal Drama, Coast Guard, and late night filming
Friday, 10/3, was a whirlwind. After a balcony coffee with Akash, I drove to meet Natalie Matthews (@fitveganchef). We filmed her making a high-protein meal in her kitchen. Her husband, George Matthews (a competitive crossfitter and Coast Guard veteran), joined us, and the energy was infectious.
We headed to their CrossFit gym, and that’s when disaster almost struck: I realized I’d left my DJI RS3 gimbal battery on the charger 45 minutes away at Akash’s place.
Akash – the genius that he is – suggested an Uber Courier, and the process began! While the battery was en route, I filmed Natalie’s intense HYROX training and George’s CrossFit circuit training handheld. The timing was perfect: just as Natalie was about to head outside for sled pulls, the battery arrived! I quickly set up the gimbal and got a ton of beautiful, cinematic footage to finish the session.
Later that day, I drove to meet Anna Lena, a natural masters bodybuilder, in Boca Raton. We filmed her training and then hit up a local vegan bakery (Stephanie’s Bakery – seriously delicious!). The outdoor interview was fantastic, covering her experiences with bodybuilding, studying for her PhD, and her passion for veganism. Her excitement for Project Ironbound was incredibly motivating.
That night, back in Miami, Akash and I converted his room into a film set for his interview. He absolutely crushed it. By 10 PM, we hit his building’s gym for some training clips – a weirdly packed gym on a Friday night, no less!
Day 4: Farmer’s Market Hustle and The Airport Sprint
Saturday morning was a blur. Akash and I immediately met Spencer Roberts at Miami Beach. The ocean backdrop was stunning, and despite the wind, the audio came through perfectly. Spencer spoke brilliantly about land and marine conservation, and we followed up with cinematic clips of Akash running along the water.
Next stop: a local farmer’s market. Akash suggested I interview the vegan food vendors, and it was a brilliant idea. I chatted with four kind business owners, and yes, the food was legitimately delicious!
Then, the clock started ticking. My flight was at 4:00 PM.
- 12:00 PM: Left the farmer’s market. I needed to dump the footage onto my drives and film Natalie and George’s interview before my flight. Their place was a 45-minute drive away.
- Panic Mode: I rushed over, but realized I had accidentally plugged in the wrong address – their gym, not their home. I was in a full-blown panic and initially assumed the interview was impossible.
- The Save: Thanks to some supportive words from my girlfriend, I called Natalie back and said, “Let’s make it happen.”
- 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM: I rushed to their house. We knocked out the interview in 30 minutes flat.
- 2:45 PM: I was on the road to the airport, cutting it close.
- 3:15 PM: Got to the car drop-off, then realized I needed to take a shuttle bus.
- 3:30 PM: At the terminal, TSA Precheck was my only hope, but the bag scanner malfunctioned, delaying my gear.
- 3:45 PM: Made it through security and sprinted through the airport. I reached the gate during the final boarding announcement, the absolute last person on the plane.
The Gates Shut. We Took Off.
Reflections
It was absolutely crazy, but I couldn’t be happier with the results.
I filmed with incredible, inspiring athletes: a vegan bodybuilding legend (Torre Washington), a military-trained bodybuilding veteran (Korin Sutton), a culinary and crossfit power couple (Natalie and George Matthews), a PhD-track master’s bodybuilder (Anna Lena), and two key experts in medicine and conservation (Akash Patel and Spencer Roberts).
Everyone was so kind, dedicated, and welcoming to Project Ironbound. Now, the real work begins with the edit, but I can’t wait to share the story of these athletes who are truly forged by conviction.
Stay tuned for more updates, and make sure to follow us on social media for sneak peeks!
