BMX UNION

If you work in the BMX industry your life is always going, deadlines, trips, all that stuff. So when I sent Chad this interview a while back I had no idea when he would have a chance to get it done. However, he finally got a chance to do it up. This dude has made some real amazing videos in his day… Enjoy.

Name:
Chad Shackelford

Location:
Currently Nomad, soon to be Austin-ite

Years riding BMX?
12

Years filming and editing BMX / anything?
7

How did you get into filming and everything?
bike riding

What kind of cameras do you use? Are you fully “in HD” now?
HVX 200, fully HD

What do you use to edit?
Final Cut Studio

When did you realize you could make a career out of filming?
Never, just sorta fell into it.

What are some of your favorite projects you have worked on that are complete?
Shook, Odyssey, Hoffman, Local Exposure, Vice Versa.

What are you currently working on? You were in Barcelona for some stuff recently?
Sunday Bikes DVD. We were there for a week and will return this may for 2 months.

Who are some of your favorite people to film or work with and why?
Kurt Rasmusson, Ian Schwartz, Sean Sexton, Chase Hawk, Mike Aitken, Brad Simms, Eric Lichtenberger, Will Stroud, Dave Jacobs, Jim Bauer, etc…

Obviously your traveling a fair bit, where are your favorite places you have been?
South Africa, Estonia, Spain, Austin

Where are some places you have yet to go that you would like to?
Norway and Iran

What kind of advice do you have for people looking to get into filming and editing?
absorb as much information as possible.

Do you do photography at all?
I dont, but am becoming more and more interested in it.
I just bought my first point in shoot, which is hilarious, but I dont think it will be long before I get a fully professional setup.

What are your favorite websites?
Defgrip, Micreation, You Porn, Stumble upon, The come up, Woozy, Kayak, Myspace

What are some of your favorite bands?
MGMT, Talking Heads, Kimya Dawson, The Sword, Ghostland Observatory, clap your hands, of montreal, caribou, sabbath, black mountain, Nuetral milk hotel, band of horses, brian jonestown massacre, etc…..

Do you ever find it hard to pick music for edits?
nope, its what im into at the moment.

What do you have planned for 08′ so far?
work really hard on the Sunday DVD and ride more.

If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?
Buy a giant warehouse in Austin, section it off as a hostel, studio, club/bar, and cafe. Donate a lot to PETA and take my friends out and get hammered.

What is your dream car?
72 mini cooper with a type R vtech engine (everyday driver) Diesel Dodge Sprinter w/ veggie oil conversion (production vehicle)

Do you find yourself on Myspace a lot?
on a hourly basis.

What are some of your favorite movies regular and bmx wise?
Zeigeist, Loose Change, Anthem, Electronical, Left Right, SOBP, 1201, Donnie Darko, Thrashin, Rad, Breakfast club, No country for old men, there will be blood, babel, JFK, spaceballs, i could keep going.

What are 5 things you can’t live without?
air, water, food, music, books

What are some things you think people need to experience before they die?
traveling and experiencing cultures outside their bubble. Learning from others and striving to understand how different but alike we all are.

If you could spend the day with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
My grandfather, we never spent enough time.

What do you think your favorite part about riding is?
The freedom.

Do you ever get much time to ride when you go on trips, or is work constant?
mostly just work. i try but, im usually too busy.

Who are some of your favorite people to ride with?
Dave Jacobs, Tony neyer, Chase Hawk, Sean Sexton, Scooter, Willy, Ryan Vincent and Ian Montel.

If you could only ride one thing or do one trick for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Bank to subs, hang five variations.

What are some of your favorite tricks or things you like to do on your bike?
hang nothings.

You got some tattoos, do they have any special meaning or are they just cool looking?
the ones on my wrist were just for fun on Local exposure. The one on my chest, which was just recently finished has to do with Shook and my fingers say patience, which is a constant reminder.

What is the worst part about your job/life?
theres no worst part, the negative is as important as the positive.

What is the best part about your job/life?
traveling with friends.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Answering this interview if it continues, damn you got lots of questions, haha JK.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
BMX and the usual, family, friends, Odyssey, Sunday, Dave Jacobs, Will Stroud and everyone who has supported Shook and all the things Ive put work into.

I think thats it man, thanks for the opportunity.

you can find more of his work on Ninetofivefilms.com

Sometimes when I find people to interview, it is somebody I have never heard about or anything. I think those are the most interesting because you kind of have to do a little research about the person to think of some questions. Well as you know earlier this week Cameron had re-appeared on the BMX scene in a big way, I think every website had linked to his video. So I knew he was somebody I had to find out about, and here it is.

Name:
Cameron Birdwell

Location:
Santa Clara, California

Sponsors:
Solid Bikes

Years riding:
16 years

So you recently just re-appeared and the internet was stoked, did you expect that video to be as big as it was?
No, it surprised me a lot to know that people remembered my name!

Rumors say you hadn’t rode for a while, how long have you been back into it, seemed like you were pretty dialed?
For the last few years I rode about once a month, but since I stopped smoking cigarettes I have been tearing it up at least twice a week.

There was talk you got into some troubles and thats why you disappeared from the BMX scene, is that true at all?
ya man.

So I am assuming your back on the bike and clean or is there still some partying?
Ive been clean for about two years now.

You were in a few videos over the years, what ones and which one was your favorite part?
Transit video! Barry Page, who made Transit 9, told me I could have some time for my own section.. so I threw in street riding. No one ever saw that side of me before, so I busted it out.

Your a legend in california, how weird is it to have so many people know who you are because of BMX?
I really dont think too many people know who I am, just hard core riders who have been around for awhile. But having them know who I am is definitely rad.

Who were some of the dudes you grew up riding with?
Damian (squirrel) Schinella, Kurt (crowbar) Yaeger, Ryan Nyquist, Chad Kagy, Joey Garcia, Oscar Gonzales, Matt Mardesich, Eric Comey, Aaron Norel, just to name a few.

Do you still ride with any of them or is it an all new crew of guys?
Damian, Oscar and Matt mostly. But everytime we ride some other faces show up.

Compared to a few years ago, what do you think of the BMX world in general?
The level of riding is unbelievable. After watching some of Scotty Cranmer’s parts, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was nuts man. That kid is amazing.

Somewhere I read that Solid was going to be hooking you up? How did that all come about?
I’ve been great friends with the solid guys for many years, and they float me stuff if I need it.

Do you think you might make a come back on the BMX scene or are you just doing it for fun? (either way its fun but you know what I mean)
Come back? shooot man I didnt go anywhere! haha just kidding. Man, I would definitely like to get a job in the industry somewhere if possible, not so much in the competition side.

What are you rocking for a set up? Is it the same one from a few years ago or did you update with all the weight weenies supply?
50/50. I lightened up a few things, but Im still riding 48’s. Riding a solid killing machine.

What kind of riding are you into, I know you have a lot of trails footage and park stuff you kill on?
Ramps, and dirt.

If you could ride any spot in the world, where would it be and why?
Lake Cunningham park. A huge new park here is San jose,ca that is built but not ridden yet, and doesnt open till middle of april. UNTOUCHED TERRITORY MAN!

Your the only dude I have ever seen do a superman peg grab, when did you start doing those and can you still do them?
I learned them when I was 16 on a dare for a six pack of beer. Can I still do them? I got that shit down!

I am sure this question has no real answer, but what is one trick you cannot do for the life of you?
Any flatland tricks. I just dont have the patience.

Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to BMX?
Jay Miron, Joey Garcia, and Nyquist, I have a ton of respect for all these guys.

Outside of riding what are some things you are into?
I tear it up at ping pong. Im pimp at gas stopping right at the dollar. and my girl!

It would seem like you and your girl are pretty serious, is there any weddings or anything in the works?
Not yet, but very soon. We are about to get a place together and a dog.

You got some “fresh ink” haha, does the tattoo have any meaning behind it or is it just for looks?
My fresh ink is a JAY bird, on a WELL . Since my first name is actually Jay, and my last name is Birdwell, I thought it was Perfect!

What are some of your favorite movies?
Super Troopers, Shawshank Redemption.

What are some of your favorite bands? any that you think people need to check out?
Im a huge Andre Nickatina fan. Insolence is another great one.

If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
Instant healing power. No explanation needed.

Do you have some favorite websites?
you porn… bang bus.. red tube.. naw just kidding. SJBMX. COM, unevenground.org.

Where are some places you have travelled over the years?
Canada, all the lower 48 states like ten times a piece!

Where are some places you would like to go that you haven’t been yet?
All the places besides where ive been.

What do you do for work?
I sell stuff on ebay. Not illegally! Im looking for a job in the industry though.. know of anything?!

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next 5 years?
Marry my woman. Have a kid. Good job. Make some new tricks. and travel of course.

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive or dead, who would it be, why, and what would you do?
Id have to say Colin Winkleman. Just to try and talk to him. Such a talented guy.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Invest, and travel

Who or what are your biggest influences in your life?
Parents,and all my Ride or die homies.

If you could change one thing about BMX what would it be and why?
I wouldnt change a thing.

What kind of advice do you have for people just getting into BMX?
Learn the basic tricks first to form your style, before going for big shit.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to my girl Kelly for typing out my interview, parents, Damian, Crowbar, Comey, Oscar, NA, and Solid bikes.

Anything else you would like to add that I forgot to ask?
Ride HARD or go HOME!

Cameron’s Recent Video on SJbmx.com