Episode 79: Joe Salinas / Documentary and Commercial Filmmaker

Aug 31, 2018

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On this episode of the podcast documentary filmmaker Joe Salinas talks about what it was like growing up as a skateboarder in a small town in Texas, his years as a touring musician, how he ended up working as a corrections officer and in gang intelligence in the prison system for years, and how acting would finally lead him to his current roll as a filmmaker. Although Joe was influenced at an early age by skateboard films like the Bones Brigade and John Hughes films at his local two screen theater, it wouldn't be until years later that he would find his way into the world of directing and getting behind the camera himself. He spent his early years chasing the dreams of fame and rock and roll, but when he was forced to mature a bit faster than most by having a child and getting married at a very early age, he soon found himself in a career path he would have never dreamed of. It would be years later, on the suggestion of a friend, that Joe would give acting a try and suddenly find himself as a character in national commercials and on the sets of films like Machete. During that time he realize he tended to hang out with the crew more than the actors and became fascinated with filmmaking. Before long he was directing and filming music videos for some of the musicians he had toured with earlier and getting the chance to even meet some of his heroes to work with them as well. Since 2014 Joe has been working on a documentary film about the iconic and influential punk band The Big Boys. During our conversation we get to talk about the process of making that film and when the world will finally get to see it, how he got hooked up with companies like Vans, Black Magic cameras, and Goal Zero, a very honest look at his experience with years of sobriety and advice he gives to to others who might be battling addiction, and how the first step of making a film is to just start doing it.