words by: Keir Johnson
Keir_Johnny, "Pack A Lunch", what it was all about?
J. Digital_Zach Laplante and myself did it, Zach came up with the name. We spent over a year filming and started editing in august 2002. We edited about half the video and then we had to finish it up at college. Zach was up in Pittsburgh and I was down in TN so each one of us would edit a part then mail it out so the other could see. I think we wrapped it up around Thanksgiving.
Keir_So you filmed a Jackson Curtin break out part, Bobby Worrest break out part, plus ill parts from Adam Graham, Alex Hansen, and everybody from Henry Sanchez and them some making apperances. What was all that hype like?
J. Digital_The hype around it was definitely bigger than any other video I'd done. Zach and I were trying to make the video so that everyone outside DC could see what was going down. For a long while DC got no attention, we just wanted to change that. I didn't think it was going to be as big as it got, I think it changed how people looked at DC skating. Definitely editing the video was the best part, as soon as Zach and I would get a little done we would watch it over and over and that would get us hyped up to go out and film a little more.
Keir_Lets rewind back to the beginning, how did this all start for you?
J. Digital_I started skating in 7th grade. I had some neighbors who were into it and we just started exploring around vienna and fairfax. Back then we would go to this classic spot called 'Foundation" near George Mason University and skate on the weekends, that spot was sick. After about a year or so I started skating a lot with Richard Hutchins and Kyle Jensen and would go to DC with them.
Keir_When did filming come into play?
J. Digital_My first video camera was a sony 8mm. I got it in 8th grade after saving up some cash. I bought a little snap on fisheye and started filming a few friends. After a few months I started filming with Richard and Kyle. With those two I was able to start to think about angles and styles of filming. After about a year I bought a Canon Optura mini DV. That's when I got into filming everyday. The first video I did was called the "Buddha Video". I made it for John at Metro Board Shop in Arlington, Virginia. I was pretty young and ambitious, so I think he told me to work on it out of sympathy. It was a pretty bad video, but non-the-less had a few good moments. It had some footage of Richard Hutchins, Alex Hansen, Sammy Weintzen , Bruce Vlk and some other heads.
Keir_Tell me about your next few videos after "Budda".
J. Digital_That was "Capital Crimes" although we were always editing up little 10 minute videos. I made around 100 copies and drove them all around DC, VA, and MD trying to sell them all. Alex Hansen, Bruce Vlk, and little Sammy Weintzen all had parts. Each of the 3 parts were good and the montage had some good skating in it. I then tried to make a more official video with "Four Letter Words". I had edited a video for this guy Ryan Ellis about a year earlier so I knew he could film. We decided that if we worked together a lot more people would see the video. Ellis and myself filmed for over a year and then started editing it in August 2001. I had to go back to college after about a week so I finished up the video there. Ryan basically filmed half the video with some Baltimore heads and myself the other half w/ Sam Weintzen, Jack Curtin, Alex Hansen and a few other parts. It turned out pretty good, I think we sold about 800 copies at the start. After that I worked on "Autonomous" with Mike Zorger.
Keir_Maybe one day you'll put PAL and those earlier vids on DVD huh... What are your favorite videos of all time?
J. Digital_"Eastern Exposure 3", the filming and skating were just 100% on point and "Transworld - Feedback", that video changed the whole skateboard video era to me.
Keir_Nice, so who have been some of your favorite skaters through out time?
J. Digital_Reese Forbes, for the pop/speed/style combo, Ricky Oyola for the pure street skating and Jack Curtin - nollie pop and trick selection.
Keir_Hey man, I know you had a personal vendetta with Gold Rail, tell me about that.
J. Digital_Haha, well I landed a lipslide in 2001, a half-cab nose slide, and half-cab board in 2002. I thought the lipslide was hard because I like to come at that trick at a big angle and the columns on the roll up got in my way. The half cab board was probably the hardest though, you've got to get the perfect amount of speed so that your weight is right and you can pop early enough but still get over the rail.
Keir_I'm looking forward to your new trick there man... So whats the latest Washington DC video you've been watching a lot?
J. Digital_"Time will Tell", I liked the style. Most new videos have gotten sloppy in my opinion, it will be interesting to see how everything keeps evolving.
Keir_Besides the rumor of your role in a possible PAL 2, what else have you been up to?
J. Digital_Well after being in school at UT in Knoxville for Nuclear Engineering, now I'm in Charlotte, NC working full time. There are some rippers here and I've been skating a good bit of tranny too.
Keir_Sounds good - until next time - ghost.
Jackson Curtin - PAL
Bobby Worrest - PAL
Adam Graham - PAL