Filmmaker/professional scooter athlete Jon Reyes shares his helpful tutorials and high-energy adventures with almost one million subscribers worldwide. Read his interview below to hear more about what keeps him inspired, his favorite projects to date, and why he turns to Musicbed for the right high-energy music for his videos.
Musicbed: What sparked your passion for filmmaking/storytelling?
Jon Reyes: I’ve always lived by memories. Remembering the best times in life just gives me motivation to make more. Being able to document some of those memories through filmmaking is an opportunity I can’t pass up. It’s another chance to showcase my true self. Once the camera is on, it pushes me to become better every day.
What keeps you motivated and creatively inspired?
My audience. Their support is fuel to my progression on and off the scooter. I’ve been riding for over 21 years and have connected with so many different people around the world. The love I get from everyone I meet and everyone who supports my videos is unimaginable and I never want to take that for granted.
What makes a story visually appealing? What role does music play in storytelling?
Seeing is feeling. I’ve been a huge visual learner myself. Video gives the best chance to really express who I am, and show what I’m made of. My job is also very physical so I’m pressured to perform at my best. Music provides energy with every clip. I listen to music when I ride. It makes me feel free and immerse myself in the present. I want my audience to feel what I feel, so editing with music is necessary.
What elements do you think are essential for crafting a compelling story?
Be yourself. I am who I am on and off camera. I said in the beginning, that I just want to do what I’m already doing and just film it. It makes my job easier, but it also builds trust in my fans. It would be a dream to connect and meet every single subscriber, but the best I can do until then is to be myself and bring them along for the journeys I’m already going on.
How important is music in your work?
Music is movement. There is a tone, an energy, that fits with the moment. I want my subscribers to feel what I feel when I ride and film these videos. There is a rhythm in my videos that I need to hold and music is needed for that momentum
What advice would you give other filmmakers/creators just starting their careers?
Have fun and be your 100% self FIRST and then film it, you can’t lose. If you’re enjoying what your already doing and then document it with video, you’ll want to give it your all naturally. A lot of people are always worried about views. If you had the best day of your life, and got 0 views, you had the best day of your life, how did you lose? ….but if you had the best of your life, and people watched your video, connected, and were inspired by you and your journey, then that’s the dream. Be yourself because that’s what is really important on and off camera.
How do you balance pushing boundaries creatively and delivering what your client or audience wants to see?
Being your own creative self is a benefit. You will find your rhythm, and all your work will have to fit that rhythm. Creativity and quality come first for me. I always make sure I feel ready and in the right mindset to start riding/filming/editing. This goes back to the previous answer about being 100% true. It’s way harder to put on an act and balance all the deliverables.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a filmmaker/creative?
Adapting to the world and new trends. The online world is always changing. Being motivated to wake up every morning is what keeps me going. I have a daily routine that never gets crossroaded and consistency is what keeps me going. It was tough in the beginning but once you find your place it gradually becomes natural. I’ve been making YouTube videos for over 7+ years now and I developed a routine-ish workflow that pushes me to keep going.
What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
RideNYC 10 took me over a year to film, but it’s my favorite video. Mainly because it involved a ton of NYC creators and a few brand collaborative shots. I wanted to film a POV video that really immersed my audience into my life living in NYC. It was a lot of work to plan every shot, but at the same time, it was a huge if not the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had to connect with so many people. I love POV videos, and to this day I still rewatch the video just to remember what it was like to zip around the NYC streets with my friends.
How do you search for music on Musicbed? What are some tips that you’d give other filmmakers to search on Musicbed?
I always think of it like a dance, what music will make my videos feel like you’re watching me dance. I ride in almost all my videos and get a good tempo that matches my movements. I kinda know the feel of the footage before I search for the right genre for that right tune. I’d say imagine what music you’d listen to while filming what you filmed.
Why do you utilize Musicbed in your work?
Musicbed is easy, quick, and has an endless selection of music. Every day is different, every clip is different, and each video has its vibe that I want to send my audience’s way. Musicbed has no limitations when it comes to finding the right tunes that fit my riding style and plugs right into my videos. I’ve uploaded over 2,000 videos to my YouTube channel and I’ve always found the right song.
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Explore a curated playlist of Jon’s go-to songs for his videos—all immediately ready to license only on Musicbed.
