If you happened to catch that really good Tom Stretton edit that we premiered last week, you would have seen that we mentioned that we would be dropping an interview with the man behind the lens for that one. Jack has been doing a damn good job of making edits look good over the last few years and I decided it was time to get ahold of him and find out more about who is behind the lens. It’s clear that he’s doing things right and I’m stoked to introduce you to him. Let’s get into this!
Name: Jack Birtles
Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia
Years riding: I’m going to say around 6 don’t quote me on that.
Years filming and editing: Around the same, BMX stemmed my interest in filming
What was it that first got you into BMX?
Realizing that I was trying to do BMX tricks on a Mountain bike…..not cool
Any early memories come to mind?
I started off skateboarding then moved to mountain bikes, then came BMX. When I reminisce on the early days, I think of bombing around the city riding miniscule setups with little or no cash and not a worry in the world, haha, love that!
What was your first camera?
First Camera was a Sony Handycam of some sort; It did everything it needed too
What is you current setup?
Cameras:
SONY EDCAM PMW EX1
CANON 7D
Gopro HD hero 2
Lenses:
Canon f/4 17-40mm
Canon 1.4 50mm
Tokina f3.5 10-17mm Fisheye
An extremely well designed DSLR rig and Dolly made from my good Friend Zac Woods!
Microphone: Rode videomicpro
LED Light: Comer CM-LBPS1800 with a 5 in1 twist fold reflector
Tripod: Miller Ds10 Fluid head, with carbon fiber legs
Case: 1610 pelican Case to house it all
Splash bag: Dicapak slr waterproof case
Computer/software – 24inch Imac accompanied with FCP, AE and a shit load of harddrives
And the trusty skateboard!
Do you have a dream setup at all or are you pretty content with what you are working with these days?
My setup works extremely well for me at the moment, but it’s never enough. A constant bank account battle! I won’t nerd out on you too hard with dream setup, but it would definitely encompass a large array of high-powered lights!
Over the last few years I’ve been watching you progress your work through the web videos you have been dropping. Did you ever intend to turn it into your “work” or was it just something that fell into place?
Initially no, it was all for the fun of it and still is! I guess. I have a camera on me pretty much 24/7 I just love documenting life. But now I’m definitely striving to get a lot more paid work. I just really enjoy working with different personalities and getting to know people you usually wouldn’t. When you are working with a rider over a long period of time, it creates a really tight bond, as you go through all the disappointments and accomplishment that comes with putting together that line or clip.
Australia has been pretty notorious for producing some insanely talented riders. Who are some of the riders you have had the opportunity to work with in your time? Any up and comers people should keep an eye out for?
Jason Watts is rider from Brisbane that definitely needs more coverage I recently had the pleasure of filming with him; his riding is like no other! Decade to manual to 180 brakeless, figure that out!
Who are some of the pro riders you have wanted to film with, but haven’t had the chance?
There are a whole bunch of dudes I love watching world wide, like your Ruben’s and Josh Harington’s of BMX. It would be an outright privilege to film someone of that status, but honestly my favorite thing to film is a bunch of close mates on a road trip, nothing will ever beat that!
You have had to opportunity to do some work for a few different brands, right? Care to talk a little bit about different jobs you have done?
To be honest I haven’t done that much work for BMX brands In Australia, the majority of my work isn’t BMX related. I’ve worked with Unit clothing in Australia, which is always super interesting due to their unreal budgets. In the past I worked with Dane Searls and Allan hardy for the giants of dirt shoot, which was unbelievable. Without a doubt the most exhilarating shoot I’ve ever been involved with! Filming Dane flip a 60ft dirt jump out in the elements with a helicopter buzzing along next to him was something I’ll never forget.
Recently I worked behind the scenes on a video with Kyle Baldock for a Unit shoot at the Gold Coast Movie world studios. Which was mind blowing. I’ve worked in the movie world studios before for high budget films but I never expected to be involved in a %100 BMX shoot. The lights being used were so powerful that Kyle could barely see when he was in the air, meaning he had to do everything from memory and feel. Kyle is a true athlete!
I work in tight with my local RIDE ON BMX store and park. We always have something on the go but I think this stems from our good friendship more than anything!
BMX Nostalgia was a full-length DVD that you recently released online. What was it like working on that video? Would you ever want to do another full-length or are you more into web videos?
I wouldn’t really say it was working, It was damn fun, just close mates filming when we got the chance, nothing too serious… I love DVD’s so much more; I believe there is a place for both mediums though. Another DVD is definitely on the cards but I will be taking a different approach. BMX Nostalgia was very much your typical section-by-section structure, my plans or the next one are quite the opposite.
What are some of the current projects you are working on?
I’m currently working on a video with Raphael Jeroma-Williams, which has been a damn good time; Raph is one of my favorite riders right now! This video will definitely turn heads. Should be out sometime in the next month, so look out for it!
I know it’s winter down there right now, but do you have any trips planned anytime soon? What about for next summer for you? Anywhere you really want to go that you have never been?
To many places to hit man, it’s all I ever think about. We have a trip to Europe coming up early next year, Canada for me after that. Hoping to hit up Japan really soon, would love to go to South America, pretty much want to see every country possible, love it!!!!
Do you get into much filming outside of BMX?
I shoot a bunch of MMA events, which is always interesting. Never thought I’d be getting paid to film dudes smack each other up in cage. I also produce promotional videos for companies and businesses; I’m currently working on a video for a vineyard, so there is always something new on the horizon. Generally I find myself filming people more than BMX, people fascinate me. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by extremely hilarious and interesting people. I also do a bunch of work on commercials and TV shows doing pretty much whatever I can get.
Did you, have you, or do you plan on going to school for film at all? Do you feel like it is important to get into this field?
I went to a private film school but deferred after a year. It just wasn’t my thing, I got more experience just working on sets and shooting my own stuff rather than listening to someone ramble on but each to their own, everyone learns their own way. I met heaps of rad people at film school, which is a plus!
Do you do this for a living or is it just a side thing you do?
I can’t live off it yet, when I am not making films, I’m messing around in a coffee shop pouring coffees, which is pretty fun!
Let’s say you got a fat budget to take any 5 riders anywhere in the world for a week to film. Who do you bring, where do you go and why?
Ah man, that’s as ideal as it gets…. I would bring – Zac Woods, Ben Lange, Daniel Watson, Drew Raison and Thomas Dunn. We would hire a big ass Yacht and sail around Europe, coast to coast through the likes of Greece and Italy hitting up amazing spots, I love the water and sailing so mixing that with riding would be unreal for me, a week wouldn’t be long enough though!
Are you currently available for jobs? How would somebody go about getting ahold of you?
Definitely Available
You can Contact on email at [email protected] or my vimeo account www.vimeo.com/JackB
Do you have a portfolio website at all? Where can people check out more of your work? Are you on Twitter?
I’ve been working on a showreel for over a year now, but there’s always a new shoot on the horizon that will top of my showreel. Definitely in the works! In the meantime hit up my VIMEO. That’s a negative on twitter…
What kind of advice do you have for the people looking to get into filming and editing?
Go out and do it… Learn from your mistakes and enjoy yourself, it’s a natural course!
Where do you want to take things in the next few years?
I’d love to be shooting full time and travelling as much as possible, In other words anyone out there that can pay me to shoot and travel hit me up, as long as im on the move
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
My good mates without them BMX and filming wouldn’t be the same!
Steve at RideOn BMX for always helping me out and being a good dude
Anything else you want to say?
I think I’ve said too much already!
