So can you tell us more about how this project came about?

In the later half of 2020 Grant and I had a casual conversation about working on a video project together. We tossed around ideas and potential concepts to pitch to sponsors. Over time it was clear that the question "where is this video going to go when it's done?" would stump us both and the conversation would eventually fizzle out from there. Whilst we pondered where the video would call home, I had the opportunity to film with Grant for my first time in the USL 'Blow Up The Park' video contest at the very end of 2020. I got a first hand experience of Grant's amazing work ethic and filmer support which added even more eagerness to work with him on this project we were brainstorming. We discussed loose plans to start the filming process in early 2021 but finishing up other existing video projects and event travel got in the way of us ever breaking ground that year. I eventually came to the conclusion that I'd take on the responsibility of paying Grant his rate to film and edit the video. This allowed us to put the lingering conversation of where's the video going to call "home" on the back burner and just start stacking clips. Grant was on board and we finally broke ground filming for our video in early 2022.

When did you start filming, and where was most of it shot?

One of the first clips we filmed was in February of 2022 and the entire project was shot in southern California.

Do you prefer filming nearer home or do the fresh spots while travelling inspire you more?

I am a fan of both for specific reasons! Filming closer to home allows you to really go to war with setups and or trick ideas without feeling guilty of using up an entire day of attempts and energy whilst traveling. Being closer to home also allows you to revisit setups later on down the road as your creativity evolves and new trick ideas develop. Filming on fresh spots whilst traveling also holds a special place in my heart! The feeling I get is like no other when I randomly roll up on a setup I've been looking for or have the opportunity to ride a setup I've had my eye on.

What’s the story behind the name ‘Retaliate’? Did you just think it sounded cool or was there a deeper meaning?

There is a story as to why I chose to title the video 'Retaliate' but I can't share that info with you all just yet. Keep your eyes peeled and the pieces will start to fall into place soon enough. In addition to that, the second song we used in the video, Nation's Pride by The Chisel, is featured on their album titled 'Retaliation'. I was hyped that the song choice tied into the title.

What was the most difficult clip to get in the bag and why?

The most difficult clip to get in the bag was the bar to crank to over for a couple of reasons. The first being that I didn't have much time to squeeze the bar in as I hopped up into the crank. Popping as high as I could still had me feeling like I'd barely get my hands securely back on the bars before landing in the crank arm. The second was the curb in front of where I chose to roll up to the rail from. That had me starting the hop for the bar earlier than what I would've liked and sometimes put me landing in the crank danger close to the beginning of the rail. Reason three was catching the bar quick enough to get into a comfortable crank arm position to grind a reasonable distance getting as close to the wall as possible AND be in a position to pull over to the other side of the rail.

Was it plain sailing for the majority of the filming time or did you encounter any speed bumps along the way? Any interesting stories from the filming journey?

There weren't any major speed bumps during the filming process... thankfully. I'd say our biggest challenge was finding time to consistently stack for our project. Grant and I put in effort to be as flexible as possible with our schedules to get in as many consistent filming days as we could when we were both in town. We were both traveling around to events as well as tending to our lives outside of riding which sometimes meant we'd only get a couple days to film in a month's time. It was nice not feeling super pressed when we couldn't get out often because we agreed to take the time we needed to put together a project we were proud of. Grant was also working on projects with several other riders simultaneously which was an awesome experience! It was cool to jump in the van and be out filming with riders I don't usually get to be around because we work with different filmers.

A funny story that comes to mind from the filming journey is the random homeless guy setting the trash can on fire you see in the intro to the video. While attempting to land the manual 180 gap on the pad over and down the three stair we start seeing smoke billowing out from a trash can across the street from the park we were in. From what seemed like nowhere appears this homeless guy praising the growing fire and yelling inaudible noise. As we all watched wondering what the hell was going on Grant walked over and captured the perfect moment of the scene. The homeless guy quickly scurried off and a fire truck showed up shortly after to put the fire out. The homies who were there with us ended up getting food from the place next door to the site of the trash can fire. Locals at the restaurant told them that the homeless man had been on a trash can fire rampage and set multiple fires as he made his way down the block. That definitely pulled our attention away from trying to get the clip for a while but was thankful to get back to it and walk away with another in the bag.

How important are video sections to you? Do you struggle holding onto clips or do you enjoy the long game?

Video sections are super important to me! I really enjoy seeing a rider's progression through their videos over time as well as their creativity! From the graphics, to the music, to the spots, to the trick selection! In my opinion creating a video that uniquely showcases your style is one of the coolest things to do. I'm really stoked to see more riders putting effort into the art direction of their videos and giving each their own special vibe. One example that comes to mind in Jordan Godwin's 'RAVAGE' video that dropped last week. It was cool to see his art featured in the B-Roll and graphics throughout the video to accompany the insane riding!

It's tough for me to play the long game. For me personally the sweet spot for filming a video I'm proud of would take around 12 months. Anything that takes shorter than that is a bonus! However I always keep in mind not to rush projects to be completed because in certain situations I think it can be super obvious that not a lot of time, thought, or effort was put in. With that being said anything that takes longer than 12 months is highly respected but if I find myself in that position I start to dislike some of the footage from the older days of filming. I like to constantly push myself in my creativity and progression to keep things fresh and sometimes that comes at the cost of my older clips.

Did you have a clear ender in mind from the start or did the oppo hanger to over pegs hard 180 just feel right? Do you find it difficult when it comes to deciding what stays on the timeline?

We didn't have a clear ender throughout the majority of the filming process. It wasn't until earlier this year when we bagged the oppo hanger over pegs hard 180, the feeble easy oppo truck, and the fakie predator to back over whip fakie that we felt that we could end the video with clips we were proud of! In my opinion the oppo hanger over pegs hard 180 was the best fit for the ender mainly because of spot use. Any time I can utilize the entire setup to get the clip I want usually ends up being one of my favorites. I really appreciate Grant using his filming and editing expertise to put emphasis on this clip by having the over pegs hit on beat to the song followed by the slow mo.

I don't find it difficult when figuring out what stays in the timeline. I feel like I keep it real with myself on what makes the cut and what doesn't. I don't know how to describe what I feel when a clip just has "it" but not all of them do. As we near the end of the filming process it usually becomes pretty clear to me what stays and what goes. Spot utilization and trick selection play a huge role in my decision making process. Sometimes I can go a little too in depth but I like putting in the extra thought because I know that with that level of effort on my end it'll only help Grant create a video we're both proud of!

How was it filming with Grant Castelluzzo?

Filming with Grant Castelluzzo aka C Dawg is awesome! To highlight a few of his many great qualities he's very motivated, has an amazing work ethic, he'll stick with you through the battles, and offers a ton of spot knowledge! I can't express my appreciation enough to Grant for taking a chance on me to make this project happen! Going into it on a handshake agreement and not knowing where this video would land was a huge risk of his time and efforts. I am very thankful he trusted me and was happy to hold up my end of the agreement to have him paid in full shortly after he sent over the finalized video! Thanks again Grant for your dedication and hard work!

If money and time were no object, what would be your top 5 cities to film in?

In no particular order........ New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Barcelona, Copenhagen.

How do you prepare for a big filming day? What is your morning routine before heading out? Do you watch any parts to get hyped?

I prepare for a big filming day by trying to get a decent amount of sleep the night before. After waking up I'll head over to the kitchen to make my usual morning smoothie. While I drink the smoothie I'll pack a lunch for the day so I can stay fueled up to film throughout the day without feeling bogged down by a heavy meal. After that I'll usually stretch and watch some of my favorite videos to get fired up! Then I'll get dressed, grab my bike, and head out the door to link with the homies for the session.

Do you ride with music? If so, what tracks get you ready to go in?

I have been bringing my portable speaker out with me lately! If the session allows for it I like getting the vibes going by blasting some old school hip hop! That's my usual go-to for riding. I like it because some songs are vibey and you can find yourself flowing to them while others hit hard which could help get you hyped up to try something you've been scheming on. I don't usually ride with headphones on because I find that it disconnects me from my bike and the session. Not being able to hear my tires on the ground or my pegs grinding on things throws me off.