Brad Kremer Talks

Submitted by buOLOco on Thu, 2010-03-11 07:00

Brad Kremer is, was, and will always be one of the greatest videographers out there. From The Revival to Picture This. He was the backbone of both Kingpin and Mack Dawg Productions.
Here he talks about the DVD future, Burton Snowboards, Mizu and lots of other interesting topics from the past and present. Hope you enjoy it. There's more chapters to come:)

1) Do you think filming companies of snowboard and skateboard can survive selling less the 20 thousand copies per year?

Well first lets talk about that number, 20 thousand. Not many people are selling 20k DVDs these days. I know a lot say they are. But it's usually a lie. Just about everyone pads their numbers. They do it because they think that if the sponsors knew they were only selling 10-15k DVDs they wouldnt want to pay what they need for sponsorship. Adding numbers to your actual units is a marketing ploy. The number sold shouldnt mean anything to the sponsors because no matter how many are being sold many many more are being downloaded off the internet. And to them, it's more about how many people see the film. Not how many people buy it.

But it does matter how many people buy the film to the independent film producer. This is how they stay in business. How they pay their bills and feed their families. Many great companies have faded out in recent years due to poor DVD sales in a big part because of illegal internet downloads. And I suspect many more are on their way out as well. A lot of movie companies will do just fine selling 20k, or even 10k. But that level will greatly limit the production that goes into the film. The days of high budget shred films are in serious trouble I think. There's nothing wrong with low budget films. But I like to see more diversity in the market.

So we'll see what happens. I think this is the year for snowboard film companies to make it or break it. I suspect there will be more low budget films and team films out there in the years to come.

Aside from that we will see much more internet videos. That's not a horrible thing. If done right you can make some amazing short films and commercials. There's definitely something to say for putting up a video and getting 10's of thousands of hits in the first day. But if not careful these videos can so easily turn into amateur hour on the production side. Think about Avatar being made for straight to youtube viewing. And instead of James Cameron directing it was some kid with a digi cam and a laptop. I doubt it would have been quite as good. And in a sense that scenario is what we are facing with snowboard films today.

2) What do you miss most about the old days of filming?

The old days? Thats a tough one. You see in the old days I was always wanting more. Better equipment. Better terrain. Bigger budgets for helicopters and travel. And no matter how much of that you get you are never satisfied.

As the great Akira Kurosawa said: “Movie directors, or should I say people who create things, are very greedy and they can never be satisfied, ... That's why they can keep on working. I've been able to work for so long because I think next time, I'll make something good.”

This so so very true. It will always be better the next time. Next year we will make the best movie ever.

So what do I miss about the old days? I guess just being young and the adventure of it all. As you get older and check off the list of locations and things to do in your life it becomes harder and harder to get that great feeling of excitement as you did when you were young and everything was fresh and new. But life itself is an adventure. There is always something new. "Now" is a very exciting time that I am in. I am in the beginnings of a whole new adventure.

3) How many real friends do you have in the industry?

I have so many friends that I have made over the years in snowboarding. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have met so many amazing individuals. To have gone on so many great adventures with them. To share so many special times with them. And I would do just about anything I could for most of them. I truly feel blessed for that.

But real friends? Ones that I will talk to when 40 years from now? That number is much smaller. People like Andy Wright, Jussi Oksanen, Jaakko Itaaho, Jeremy Jones, Wille Yli-Luoma, DCP, Gigi Ruf, Mike McEntire, Ross Steffey, Rene Hansen, Chris Owen and Pierre Minhondo all come to mind. I'm sure there are a few more..... but not many.

4) Are you happy with Mizu?

I am very happy with Mizu. Everyday I look at my Mizu bottle and it makes me feel good that we are trying to make a difference. To do something good for the world and generations to come.

We came up with a great idea, started a company and it's growing. The main goal was to teach people about the wastefulness of single use plastic bottles. And to take that knowledge and implement it in their daily lives. I think we are on track to tell people our message. Things are growing steadily at Mizu. And here now in 2010 we have a lot of plans to really step it up. It's going to be an exciting year for Mizu for sure!

Buoloco 2012

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#1Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 14:12.

MDP

hey what's going on with MDP? Is over 4 real

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 14:25.

MDP status

It's true what Pierre says... Dawger didn't have much too do with the last few movies. He stilled filmed some of the street and park stuff. But that's about it. As for the future? After I left MDP Dawger decided it was time for a change. So he bought a bunch of gear(total gear head, haha) and now he is doing a lot of different projects, for himself and others. So I wouldn't expect to see a new MDP shred flick anytime soon. Unless it's some sort of documentary or something like that.

Brad

#3Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 15:06.

:(:(:(:(:(

What about yourself???? You will be back in black?

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 19:44.

Back in Black?

Well for now, thus year, I'm not making a snowboard film. And although I am doing a lot of non shred work now, I wouldnt say that I am finished with making snowboard films. I just need the right project and the right people to get me excited about doing a new one. When and IF that happens, you'll see me out there again.

In the meantime, I'll definitely be pitching some shorts for companies out there. It aint over yet.

Brad

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 14:16.

Here

Pierre Wikberg said...: Since there are no sales in DVD anymore (pirating) MDP called it quits. No fun putting in 1000 days work and half a million dollars into something you lose money on..

Mack Dawg did not make the Burton movie. He hasn´t made movies in like 7 years (he films on occasion).

Brad Kremer and Jaakko Itaaho have made the last 3,4,5-ish movies for MDP.

Brad and Jaakko also did the Burton movie. But Burton took credit for it. Apparently they but "a movie by" or "directed by" Burton, not Brad... among other things.

#6Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-03-10 22:56.

Back In Black

This is certainly an interesting film from Kingpin productions. The riders in the movie are top notch, with big names such as Marc Frank Montoya, Zach Leach, and JF Pelchat. It is also somber because it features a video part with Jeff Anderson, whom died shortly before the film was released, and has some tributes to him

#7Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-03-11 14:33.

Back in Black

Good, and sad, memories from Back in Black. Jeffy dying, my wife pregnent with our first child, knee surgery, etc.....

Editing Jeffy's section was just about the toughest edit I have ever done. But I think it really came across showing the love and passion that he had for snowboarding and life. If you havent seen it you need to watch it. If you have, watch it again.

I am snowboarding... JLA

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-03-10 23:26.