DC Rubicon - FULL LENGTH + Interview with John Santos

I've been chatting with John over the years about random camera stuff on instagram, and when he put out this video, I really had to know more. So here it is! An interview with John Santos about the DC Philippines project "RUBICON" that he filmed a few months back. 

Photos by Ivan Aratas

What is it like being a filmer in an underground skate scene?

The skateboarding scene here in the Philippines is booming compared 10 yrs ago.

Our goverment started to build public skateparks since they saw a potential in skateboarding here because of margielyn didal and motic paluganginog.

Being a filmer, it's a struggle since we mostly are the ones funding our own films.

Regarding the process of filming, its super hard!

Luckily a friend of mine who rides for dc philippines recommended me to film a project for them.

Since we always get kicked out of spots, either we try to sneak and film quickly at a certain spot or we we do filming after midnight when there are no security guards present.

But its really a reward if you see your friend land a trick after going to a battle.

I hope someday you can visit here so we can tour you around the Philippines!

What are the main phillipino skate brands that are from there?

We have agenda a local board brand, hampaslupa, kobra skateboards. 

Yes what is the spot game like, do you fix a lot of spots? Is there anything you can skate no bust that street?

No one fixes spots aside us since we take time to film. Usually Filipinos take whatever streets spot we have and just skate it. Sometimes depends on the spot. there are couple of spots that there are no bust.

And also tell us a little more about how the project came to life! How is everyone in it flow for DC? Did they provide you everyone with the gear for the project?

The project came to life because of one of the flow riders Jundin Santos and I were already filming for another project.

We just sat down one day he mentioned, "What if we make another DC Philippines video?".

I told him I'm down to film so he proposed it to DC Philippines and they were cool to fund it. The team started before I filmed for them. Jundin is kind of like the team manager and he recommended our homies to ride for DC.

Regarding the gear, I own 3 cameras already. Panasonic HPX, HVX and an HMC.

DC provided us shoes and clothes.

How did you get into filming skateboarding, what made you want to stick with it?

I've been skating since 1999 and when I was a kid there is a friend Ramir Denzo who also films skateboarding UPRISING GODZ. So I skate with him every time when I was a teen and I told myself I want to film skateboarding someday. 

So around 2011 I got a camera and started filming solo parts for my homie and fell in love with the process. I'm 41 yrs old right now and can't do the same tricks that I do when i was younger but filming made me realize even I'm old I'm still in love with skateboarding and the process of skating. Its somehow a way to still connect to my old friends and new kids.

Any words of wisdom to people who are on the edge of starting to film or those who are just getting started and might be getting discouraged?

You do not need a big production to start filming.

Go out and skate with a friend. 

Do not be discouraged sometimes it takes practice to be good on something. enjoy and love the process!

Where there any rough moments that you ever questioned if filming was worth it? What made you get through it and keep the motivation?

I was thinking before "Will someone watch what I did?" . . .

Then I realize that the reason I'm doing this is to influence someone to pick up a skateboard and try it.

I just want them to feel the same happiness that skateboarding brought to my life.

 

Photos by Ivan Aratas