How did you get started behind the camera?
As a kid, I was always around a video camera. My parents had one of those old huge over the shoulder cams when I was a kid, and I made my mom videotape me doing everything. Whether it was me doing Michael Jackson dances, or swimming, or birthday parties, she always had the camera rolling. So I think as I got older I eventually just started playing with the camera myself. I started to film all of our vacations and things like that, and the footage looked like something from The Blair Witch Project, just constantly shaking and nothing in focus. I mean the camera weighed half as much as I did! But when I first started editing with my videotaping, was when my friends and I started a backyard wrestling league. We were around 12-13 and we started taping us having extreme death matches. After the matches, I would want to make the highlight reels, so I would hook up 2 VCRs together and edit back and forth from them. What a pain! After the wrestling days went away, I created a stunt group to film with, stuff like Jackass. That’s when I upgraded to a camera that shoots on miniDVs, and then eventually got an editing program for the computer. After that was when I started getting into music related project, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 4 years.
What is your weapon of choice when it comes to your camera?
Mine is the Canon XH A1. It’s a great camera that I’ve had for a couple years but I’m wanting to upgrade. Right now my eye is on the Panasonic AF100. Its basically (and finally!) the DSLR look in a video camera format. Interchangable lenses and all that good stuff. Looks amazing, but I need some more money before that purchase. So if you know anyone who needs video done help me get that camera and have them hire me! As for editing, I edit with Adobe Premiere Pro CS3. I’m sticking with PC.
What was your first music related video?
I think my first real attempt at a music related video was when I was out of just out of high school, Four Letter Lie let me videotape them live at The Toybox. I had a camera I had borrowed from my work that I barely knew how to use. The video was so lame. I think I’m gonna go watch it right now for a cheap laugh.
Do you prefer shooting live shows or music videos?
Music videos for sure. As much as I love taping live shows (that’s why I started filming live shows, because I was so sick of going on YouTube and seeing videos of my favorite bands taken by cell phones with horrible audio and video), it’s just so hard because there is so much out of your control. Sound is the hardest thing by far. You never know what it’s going to sound like whether you plug into the board or take it off your camera. Then there are lights you worry about, whether the lights will be bright enough, if the lights even change at all. Then of course security guards, stages you have to work around, all that stuff. With a music video, everything is in my control. We can find a good set, get exactly the lights we want, all that. I love shooting music videos, it’s what I would love to do full time.
What is your personal favorite project you’ve worked on?
Man, so many fun projects I’ve been lucky to have. Off the top of my head, I did a live video shoot with After The Burial at First Avenue, and everything that night was just going right. I remember telling the guitarist Trent in the middle of the set “This looks fucking amazing!” The guys in the band were throwing down hard, the lighting was amazing, the crowd was incredible, and I was just in all the right places at the right time for shots. So that was a blast filming. A lot of times while filming I end up having a lot of fun, which is awesome. Of course there are tons of shoots where it is all stressful, but let’s not talk about those. Other than that, my two music videos I have done for the band Vendetta Spoken I am proud of, also the music video I did with the band The Goondas. Those three music videos are probably my favorite pieces of work as of now.
What are your ultimate goals as a videographer?
My ultimate goal is to produce quality videos people will enjoy and to still be able to pay the bills. Being a freelance videographer is hard, really hard. And no one said it’d be easier either, but I’ve been very lucky and blessed to keep as busy as I have. Looking out 5 years from now, I’d like to be doing official music videos with signed bands with a small crew. I’ve got a long way to go though! On a side note when we are talking about goals, today my YouTube channel (youtube.com/RicoAM) hit 5 million views. I know that’s not anything much compared to viral videos that get 20 million views in like three days, but I’m still really excited to think that my videos have been viewed that many times!
Big plans for 2011?
Just keep busy and keep progressing. Learn to shoot and edit better, get better equipment, and just keep pushing Rico Roman Productions to everything it can be. Thank you to all my supporters too!
More info: RicoRomanProductions.com
