STEW JOHNSON ON “ETNIES GROUNDED” ? and photos BY MARKUS WILKE DOT DE |
What's your name and age and where do you live?
My name is Stewart Johnson, I'm 33 years old and I currently live in Austin, TX. When and why did you first get into making BMX-videos? It started in 1995 when my friend Mike Tag asked for my help in
putting together a video we did called "1201". It was just something to do for fun. I never really imagined that it would turn into some sort of a "career".
Besides yourself, who else is involved in making the new Etnies DVD? Mike Manzoori is the man holding the reigns on this project. A lot of other people are contributing, including Walter Pieringer, Joe Rich and you
(Markus Wilke). I don't have the full list of contributors, but I do know there are a lot more. When did you guys start working on the DVD? The first filming trip took place in September of 2005, but
the filming really kicked in around January of 2006. What goes into the making of such a big project? Total Chaos...just kidding. Seriously, just planning trips and making them happen. Getting the guys with the
filmers and out on the road. The riders take over from there.
Did you guys go on a bunch of trips with the team or did you try to film the riders on their home turf? We did a little bit of both. It kind of depended on what rider we were working with. A lot of
little trips and a few real big ones. A little bit of everything really. How did you do things differently to set "Grounded" apart from all the other videos out there?
I think the fact that it is the Etnies team will instantly set it apart from other videos. The combination of the team veterans mixed in with the young blood makes for a lot of amazing styles.
Plus, since Mike Manzoori is behind the controls in the editing room, this video will look like no other BMX video to date. Mike has a unique approach to editing videos, his level of quality and
creativity is something that most people in the realm of BMX are not used to seeing. What rider was the easiest to work with?
I don't want to single anyone out, but I will say that Brian Kachinsky, Aaron Ross, and Danny Hickerson were very enthusiastic when it came to filming for this project. How much time did you guys spend editing the thing?
I couldn't accurately answer that. I do know that Mike Manzoori has been slaving away at the computer for the last few months.
How many times where you supposed to go filming with Stricker, but he was too hung over to do anything? That might have happened once or twice........a week.
How many times did Aaron try something crazy, but ended up not pulling it and throwing his bike all over the place?
Filming with Aaron is always an adventure. He is either going to pull something crazy.....or drive himself crazy in the process. I recommend that security guards keep their distance.
Did anyone get seriously injured? I witnessed Stricker break his foot pretty good and Morgan annihilate his collarbone. Other than
that, just the usual....guys beating the hell out of themselves, mostly Kachinsky. I didn't know the human body could take that much abuse. When will Grounded be released? Grounded is set to be released in June. I hope you enjoy it.
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