Logan Reynolds is a recognizable name around the midwest scene from edits to the WisBMX website back in the day. He’s one of the many real good dudes apart of the Milwaukee crew that has been just killing it the last few years in all aspects of BMX. About two years ago, Logan started working on a video project featuring the likes of Jeff Dowhen, Jeff Klugiewicz, Jon Wells, Grant Castelluzzo, Mikey Luplow, Reed and Kyle Stark, Dan Kruk and more. The video had its ups and downs in the making, but it’s finally done and premiering this Saturday at 4Seasons. I figured it would be a real good time to get ahold of Logan and talk a little bit about the making of what’s looking to be a hell of a video. Check out what he had to say, a few screengrabs and photos, along with the trailer and Jeff Dowhen’s scraps edit from the video.
Name: Logan Reynolds
Age: 24
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Years riding: 15
Years Filming: 10
Jeff K
All right, let’s start this out from the beginning. What was it that first got you into filming and editing? Was it something that happened because of BMX or what?
I got into filming and editing completely from BMX. For the first couple years I would use my parents video camera and film my friends just for something to watch later. I didn’t even know how to edit. My senior year of High School I took a video class that used iMovie. I made BMX edits for all of my projects and it pretty much started from there. I got my first 3CCD camera (TRV-900) shortly after that.
I ran a website for a while called Wisbmx.com that was started by my friend Enrique. I started posting on there once in a while and using it as a place to post my videos. Enrique never posted anything on there and it pretty much became my website after that. There wasn’t as many web videos back then. This was before The Come Up even existed.
What kind of a setup are you working with from cameras, lenses, lights, batteries, tripods, computers, editing programs? Basically, everything you use to get the job done.
I’m already in the process of upgrading most of my equipment but here is a rundown of what was used on this project:
It’s mostly shot with a DVX-100b, with some TRV-900, VX2100, and a GS320. I used a Century MK2 for the DVX. I used a Frezzi 75w on camera light, Manfrotto tripod with 501 Head. I edit on a 17” MacBook Pro with Adobe CS4 Production Premium suite (Haven’t upgraded to CS5 yet)
Willing to bet that Mikey Luplow’s part is amazing.
Do you have a dream setup that you wish you had? Any plans of getting into the HD gear any time soon?
Haha I’ve already upgraded to HD. Once I was finished filming for the video I sold my DVX to my friend, Kyle Stark, and got an HMC-150 with 16×9 fisheye. I just picked up a Glidecam. I’d eventually like to get a DSLR setup to go with my HMC. I’m going to be picking up a beastly Mac Pro in the near future and just saving my laptop for travel.
You went to school for film, right? Where did you go? Do you think it was helpful at all?
Correct, I graduated from the UW-Milwaukee film program December 2009. I definately think it helped me and taught me a lot. I do think it’s possible to learn just as much without going to school, it just might take a little longer.
When did you decide to make This Is The Spot? Was it something you planned on, or just realized when you already happened to have some real good clips?
It was a conscious effort when I started filming for the video. Making a full length video was something I’ve always wanted to do. I made the decision on Halloween 2 years ago. For whatever reason I just decided when I was out that Halloween that I was going to make my first full length. My plan the whole time was just to film for 2 years and then edit what I had. My cutoff for filming was Halloween 2 years later but I ended up filming that fall up until we couldn’t ride outside anymore.
Cohl Weisbrook-Peterik
Obviously, living in Milwaukee gives you a huge supply of riders in the area, and people constantly coming through to ride at 4Seasons and street. How did you go about picking the riders for the video? Was it just whoever could film enough for a section?
I originally had a roster in mind of people that I wanted to have sections. I’d say out of my original list of riders I ended up having parts for half of them, the other people It just didn’t work out to film enough for a part. I was trying to film with as many people as I could but in the end it really came down to who could film enough for a section.
Who’s all in the video? Was there anyone you wanted to get into the video but just couldn’t get time to film with them?
The chapters of the DVD are as follows:
Intro
Jeff Dowhen
Anthony Malvasio / Cohl Weisbrook-Peterik
Dan Kruk
Friends
Jeff Klugiewicz / Mike Luplow
Kyle Stark / Reed Stark / Tall Boy (Minnesota split)
Rich Nannini
Credits
I wanted to film a lot with my friend Bailey, but it turns out he mostly rides fixed gears now. I’m convinced he could get on his BMX bike and film a full part, only if he really wanted to. I wanted to film with Mykel Larrin too but our schedules didn’t mesh very well.
Did you handle all of the filming or were there other people who contributed clips to the video?
I’d say I filmed at least 95% of the video. Grant Castelluzo contributed a handful of clips. He was the only person who really contributed clips. Theres a few other filmers listed in the credits but nobody else was out filming for this project with me.
Jeff K
It took two and a half years to complete T.I.T.S. Was there a reason for it taking so long, or did you just decide to finish it when you felt like it was finished?
Like I said earlier, the plan was to film for 2 years and then edit what I had. I could have used more time shooting with EVERYONE in the video. But I just stuck to my rough deadline and I had to call it quits on the filming when this winter came around.
I’ve been getting more and more freelance work since I graduated from school. I had a lot of projects I was working on that I had to get done first since they were paying gigs, so that made it take a little longer too. Also, only a few months ago I was working 6 days a week between Ray’s and the bike shop, trying to get my video projects done in my spare time. It was not a good situation for me, but now I’m just focusing on my video projects full time.
How many tapes did you go through in the making of this video?
I had to get out my shoe boxes and count the tapes for this one. I counted about 65 tapes just for this video. The footage on my hard drive takes up 150 GB, and over 1,500 shots. Dan Kruk is responsible for one whole tape we filmed for 1 clip.
Was it hard going through and using some of the older clips versus the newer clips? I know some of the guys in the video have progressed a ton in the last two years.
It was definately hard going through the older footage, especially Mike Luplow’s clips. He has progressed A TON since I started filming with him. He was one of the first people I asked to film a part. On my last trip to Austin I could tell that he was riding WAY better than the last time I saw him. Maybe it was because we both knew it would be the last chance we would have to film for this project.
Ryan Hyatt
Did you run into any problems while making the video? Did anything go way better than you expected?
My biggest problem was finding the time to ride with everybody. In the 2 years I’ve worked on this I’ve gone from having no job to working 2 part time jobs at a bike shop and at Ray’s Milwaukee. Working so much definately stood in the way of the filming but there’s not much I could do about it really. The last couple months of production, filming was top priority for me. I was going out riding 4-5 days a week since everybody knew the time was limited.
Another hurdle for me was that for 11 months I didn’t have a car. My car died like the week after I was let go from my old job at Sun Ringle. So for a whole summer the only filming I did was places I could ride my bike to, or if somebody would pick me up. I even took an hour and a half bus ride to West Allis (would be a 15 minute drive) a couple of times just to meet up with Dan Kruk to ride.
Where all did you have the chance to film at? I’d imagine the budget was pretty tight since it was coming out of your pocket.
The budget was super tight. In fact there wasn’t really a budget at all. Any trip I went on, everybody split gas and paid their own way. A couple trips I paid most the gas money cuz I needed to go get that footy! The cities filmed in were: Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Paul, Racine, Louisville, Kenosha, Kokomo, Austin, and Waukegan
Whose part are you most psyched on? Why?
I really like the last part, my friend Richie. He’s quite the character. If you’ve ever met him, you’ll never forget him. He’s all about having a good time and doing weird shit on his bike. He’s been to Louisville like 30 times too… That’s no exaggeration.
Richie Nannini
How did you come up with the name “This Is The Spot”? Did you plan on it having the acronym of T.I.T.S?
I have a pretty dry sense of humor, a lot of my jokes can be very subtle. This was no exception.
When will the video be available? Where can people pick a copy up at? How much?
The video will be available starting May 7th at the premiere at 4 Seasons Skatepark. The video will be available locally at 4 Seasons skatepark, Midway skatepark, Ride, and Rays MTB when they open up in the fall. If you’re not in the midwest, you can hit up Empire or Albe’s. Price is $15.
Does the video have any special features or bonus sections?
The video itself is about 30 minutes long, with 30 minutes of bonus footage. In the bonus footage you get the Trailer, bonus crashes, bonus riding, random nonsense, Dimitri the pigeon, and Jeff Dowhen Madera web edit.
All right, time to sell yourself. Why should somebody buy this video?
Two years of footage cut down to 30 minutes leaves the viewer with only the best of the best clips I have. It will definately make you want to go ride.
Have you begun planning on another video, or what’s next for you?
I don’t have plans to start anything right away. I’ll be filming all summer just like always. I’m not saying I’m NOT starting something right away… We’ll just have to wait and see when we make it to The Next Spot.
Is there anything I missed you want to add?
I shoot and edit a lot more than just BMX videos. I also do weddings, live events, commercial work, and I edit web content for the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame website. Check out my website: www.loganreynoldsvideo.com. It’s kind of a work in progress.
Thanks for reading this and enjoy the video!!!
– Logan Reynolds
