In this episode of You Win or You Learn, I chat with Cape Town-based filmmaker Thomas Sandell about his incredible journey in the world of filmmaking. From building DIY cable cams as a teenager to documenting some of the world’s top mountain biking events, Thomas shares how passion, persistence, and a bit of serendipity shaped his career.
We dive into his early days shooting BMX and downhill with a borrowed handycam, how he landed his first job with Monster Energy, and the full-circle moment of finally filming the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup—nearly a decade after he first dreamed of it.
Thomas opens up about what it means to stay creative, the pressure of freelancing, burnout, and learning to see world-class athletes as humans first.
🎧 Watch the full episode for an honest and inspiring conversation about filmmaking, growth, and chasing what you love.
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Thomas Links : https://www.instagram.com/thomassandell_/
In this episode:
00:37 What YWOYL is about.
01:22 Who is Thomas Sandell.
03:23 Starting with film making.
16:54 Getting a job with Monster.
20:54 Mountain Bike World Cup dream actualising.
28:43 Dealing with nervousness.
32:12 Trust in the process.
35:35 Clients are just other humans.
38:49 Goals
44:33 Working smarter not harder.
46:20 Biggest Challenge
49:29 Staying Organised
54:38 Advice for aspiring film makers.
01:02:10 Learning to let go
01:08:15 Personal Projects
01:09:43 Work Life Balance
Links
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/dylanhaskin
Website : http://www.dylanhaskin.com
Subscribe https://bit.ly/2H4LSmW
Work with me : contact@dylanhaskin.com
