Name,age,and home?
Brock Michael Gomez, just turned 25, born in Luling, LA; been in Baton Rouge since the summer of 2000

How many years have you been riding?
I always rode around with the neighborhood kids and stuff but I never got too into it. Then I started racing in the summer of 1995 and that was pretty much it.


pic: erik s.

So people may or may not know that you have filmed, edited, and contributed to several different bmx projects. When did you first start filmmaking?
I always wanted to do video work from watching bike videos so I signed up for a TV Production class for my senior year in high school. Turned out the teacher for the class wound up quitting over the summer and we didn't have any teacher for the class. We just messed around the entire year and I didn't learn anything at all. Then Fat Tony started filming for a BMX video sometime around 2001. He did the majority of the filming for it , then I broke my ankle and couldn't ride for the summer. I wound up going through all the footage and putting together the majority of what would become "Chronicles". I guess that was like 4 years ago.

Have you always been interested in the filming side of things or did it just kind of happen?
Pretty much since I saw "American Muscle" I knew I wanted to make bike videos in some form. I really wanted to learn about video stuff in high school but that never worked out. I guess I was sort of forced into it cause I couldn't ride and I was going to lose my mind if I didn't do something.

Could you list some of the videos you have made or been a part of?
Starting with the LouisianaBMX video "Chronicles", various LouisianaBMX web videos, the Savage South full-length videos, Savage South Video Catalog, Savage South part in Props, Props MegaTour 6, Props Rock and Roll Tour 2 and various web videos.

How is being hired to film verses filming for fun?
I actually like being "hired" to film because I know it is going to be used for something and I don't get too distracted because I am working for someone else. I don't really film for fun too much anymore- I usually have something in mind for the end product. It's really fun to film just random stuff though. Lil Pat jumping through Louis Simmons' living room window was probably the best thing I've ever filmed. That was definitely filming for fun.


pic:fat/ridebmx

Who all have you done work for?
I've done work for myself and my friend's various projects, but recently I've done a couple of things for Props which has been really cool. I've also done some stuff for VitalBMX.com, Red Bull and some stuff for FBM since Micky got picked up for the flow team.

What equipment do you use ordinarily?
I have a Sony VX2100 which is a really good all-around camera. I use a Century Optics fisheye, NRG Varalux light with battery belt, lots of batteries, a Toy Machine deck with really big wheels to film lines on.

What is your favorite bmx /skate video?
I really like Walter Pieringer's "Time Well Spent"- the filming is really good, super good colors and a consistent theme that wasn't too over the top. Since Etnies "Grounded" came out that's pretty much taken the cake. That video raised the bar a good bit and I think we'll be seeing a lot of stuff from that video carry over to videos in the future.

Do you ever look at films outside of action sports for inspiration? And if so, could you name one and how it influenced you?
Lately every time I watch TV or a movie I analyze it. I was at Voodoo Fest this weekend and if I wasn't really into the music I just watched the screen to see how the filming and directing was taking place. It gets a little annoying at times though, kind of like when you are a bike rider and you can't look at anything around you without thinking of riding.

old pic:fat/louisianabmx.com

Do you have any interest to do filmmaking outside of bmx?
Yeah I think about it all the time. Documentaries are really interesting to me and I have a couple of ideas for them but I don't have the time for them. I also don't have any experience making them so I am a little hesitant to jump right into that. I have toyed around with the idea of going to film school but I haven't really looked into it too seriously.

How does filming affect your riding?
It makes my riding suck. On Props trips its pretty much a rule that filmers don't ride (if I get hurt and can't film that really screws stuff up) so that counts me out for riding for a week-and-a-half. I also get to see crazy riding on those trips which makes me basically want to quit. Then when the weather is good at home I usually go out and film with other people instead of riding. I've also been trying to skateboard a little bit more so I am more comfortable filming on a board so that cuts out the riding even more. One good side of it is that I really do enjoy riding when I get the time to put the camera down and ride.

pic: crandal/fbmsite
How do you feel about web videos and how flooded the internet seems to be?
I guess its a catch-22. On one hand people get to see a bunch of riding from all over the world for free and riders/filmers get to put there stuff out there for everyone. On the other hand I think it sucks that people are trying to put out really good, professional videos and kids are posting them on the Internet. I also get tired of seeing the same old stuff on web-videos. I think it's a problem that can be solved. I look at things like what Etnies is doing (the book that comes with the DVD) and how Props is trying to do online pre-releases and that gives me hope. I think it will force video producers to think a little harder to market something that people will buy. It sucks for me right now though because I'd like to make a career out of selling a product that people may not ever want to buy.

Any current projects you would like to share?
There are always ideas in the works but nothing too serious right now. I had a really good idea for a theme for a Baton Rouge video last night and that got some wheels turning in my head. I've been talking to Chris Mahaffey from Nashville about the future of his [sic] Media Productions and that's looking pretty promising. He's getting the first issue duplicated right now which is really good news. There are always the web videos too.



Thanks?
First off my parents for being really supportive and just all around good people, Fat Tony for helping me out in the various ways over the years, Brad Jensen for being a good influence and a role model, Micky Marshall for killing it in the Props/bmxonline video (that really helped me out with the Props situation), Louis and Geoff at Savage South, Marco, Chris, Stew and Walter at Props, Flip and all the guys from Albe's for making my first filming trip awesome, all the guys in the neighborhood for doing things over when I mess up the filming, all the guys at Dirt Road, Mid City and Capital bike shops, all the filmers for the various Savage South projects (Beck, Chris Wade, Nathan Pocus and Robby Capps), my girlfriend Grace for putting up with my traveling, and everyone else that I ride, film, drink and hang out with. And Jon for giving me the chance to talk about what's been going on.

jomopro jam for vital bmx


savagesouth catalog


Heres some links to a few of Brocks web edits:

http://www.fbmbmx.com/media-video.php?video=mickyFBMwebhigh&w=480&h=376
http://www.bmxonline.com/bmx/video/article/0,27679,1575490,00.html
http://www.louisianabmx.com/videos/patwebhigh.mov