We often focus on issues that specifically affect sponsored and almost-sponsored skateboarders (things like healthcare, job security, and just navigating the industry), but one group within skating that tends to get left behind: the filmers.
Aside from figuring out ways to get them more money (because ~$75 per clip isn’t paying anyone’s rent), there’s more simple things we can all do to make our filmer friends’ lives a little more pleasant and make up for all the money, time, and effort they spend buying thousand-dollar equipment, lugging it around to film us, and editing videos we get to share and watch for free.
Eugene Kang, our friend who runs Terminal Skate Shop out of his New York City apartment, made this quick PSA to remind skateboarders, and especially sponsored ones, of a few things they can do to help the filmers who put them on in the first place.
And to help we made a handy summary below that you can screenshot and badger your friends with.
![](https://www.jenkemmag.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/tumblr_ovsa1g9NrW1qcjlv3o1_500.gif)
5 RULES TO KEEP YOUR FILMER HAPPY
(Don’t sweat the filmer for your clip as soon as you get home.)
2. “DON’T WASTE THE FILMER’S TIME.”
(Don’t be late and don’t punk out when you realize the spot/trick is harder than you imagined.)
3. “FUCKIN’ HOOK UP YOUR FILMER.”
(Any money you can chip in to buying the filmer drinks, food, or weed will be greatly appreciated and make them want to work with you in the future.)
4. “BLESS THAT MOTHERFUCKER.”
(When you have extra product, give it to the filmer.)
5. “TAKE YOUR FUCKIN’ HOMIE WITH YOU.”
(Once you get sponsored, don’t ditch your longtime filmer for the “famous” company filmer.)
Eugene:
“It’s just about loyalty and taking care of your friend. Because at the end of the day he’s not just a filmer, he’s your homie. And if you move up, he should move up with you. If you come up, he should come up with you…Those are the guys that are gonna get you put on, and I hope in turn you put them on.”
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November 13, 2019 4:26 pm
Also, maybe let the filmer leave the camera home once in a while and skate with yall like a normal person.
December 20, 2019 4:21 pm
This is a really good one!
November 13, 2019 7:49 pm
You guys missed Rule #6 – if you exclusively call them “my filmer”, then you’re a fucking kook dude! That’s your homie, that happens to film. Don’t get lost in your ego!
November 13, 2019 10:25 pm
All of this!! I used to be “the filmer.” I was “the filmer” and “the driver.” I enjoyed filming as an art form, and I got pretty good at it. No more, though. Rule #7 – Don’t boss the filmer around and tell her where to film and how to edit a video. Not only is this unkind and douchey, you also end up with a poopy video!
November 14, 2019 8:49 am
wait,” filmers” still exist? it’s just whoever you hand your phone to so you can get clips for instagram.