Marcel Wade of SeeUs Films:
Marcel is a guy who I’ve met on my first day at X-Factor when I moved to Texas. Right off the bat you will notice that he is all about his hustle and always bending over backwards for his friends. He is calm behind the camera bringing you detailed input for what pro practices are like with his raw footage. At home he puts in the work creating ideas day in and day out to bring a different perspective on paintball combining both filming and photography. It’s a constant reminder to thank the person behind the camera, they make our sport look amazing. I’m glad to have him interview with me to debut his new approach to the media in paintball.
For Inquiries: facebook.com/seeusfilms
Photos By: SeeUs Films & Marcos Barradas Photography
Splatlife: Tell me what is your reason to shoot/film paintball?
Marcel: To put it bluntly, because I can't afford to play right now. I did music videos before paintball and when the money ran out to play, I took my camera to the field. I love the game and want to be around it.
Splatlife: Where did you think being able to document our sport would take you and did it open any doors?
Marcel: When I first started, it was because Grayson (Goff) needed a guy to film a scrimmage against Impact for his BKi channel. I answered his Facebook post and really it was just a chance to be around pros. I took some photos and posted it to my Instagram and just started showing up every weekend doing the same thing. Eventually Dan Napoli from Planet Eclipse asked Grayson about me which led to them to sending me to Dallas to film ac: Dallas for the Artifact series. Then PE brought me to the last PSP Dallas, the mud fest, to film for them. That was my first pro event. So yeah it opened doors!
Splatlife: Awesome. Is there anyone out there who inspires your approach in media paintball or non paintball?
Marcel: Dan and Sina's storytelling, Cassidy's editing, those guys are at the top! Matt Engles and Arthur Dolzhansky are 2 guys I admire also. For photography, Marcos Barradas is at the top of my list as well as Brittney Marko. All these people inspire me and keep me motivated to be better. Non paintball, I would say Hype Williams, Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Wes Anderson, and Hiro Murai are directors whose work gets my creative juices flowing.
Splatlife: Whew what a list! (Laughs)
Marcel: I'm a student of the craft.
Splatlife: In your best words, how would you describe filmers and photographers in paintball? Do you think the thought process is different to other sports or even music videos like you've done before?
Marcel: First off, if you want to get the good shots you have to be fearless. We get shot more than the players and we don't take many points off. Other than that, the thought process is just like any other sport. You have to know your sport and how it will play it out to be in the right spots for the most action. Music videos are a different beast because it's scripted, you put the talent where you want them. It's good to have a good rapport with the players and if you're looking for that awesome shot, you can ask them what their off the break move is going to be. It's great for those snake dives!
Splatlife: That makes a lot more sense now. You made my photos look sick, I appreciate that! (Myself and Grant Harmon)
Marcel: Thanks man!
Splatlife: What's something that you've witnessed in paintball on or off camera that you'll always remember?
Marcel: Oh that's a great question! On the field, my first time filming I caught JRab jumping over the snake and shooting Billy (Bernacchia). It was such an awesome move, it's on my YouTube channel.
Splatlife: Was it that one he did one handed!? That was the best thing I've ever seen.
Marcel: Nah, it was this one at the field...( the scrimmage before World Cup 2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMNk1aeJ6uQOff
It was my first World Cup last year I stayed with X-Factor at their rental house. Just hanging out with those guys and it being at Cup was a very memorable experience.
Splatlife: What should people expect from SeeUs Films this year? Let em know one time about those deals for your work!
Marcel: Currently I'm working on my editing skills, making my videos more exciting and fresh. I'm also working more with After Effects and have mixed my videos with my photography. You can see examples of that on my Facebook page, facebook.com/seeusfilms. I take a photograph and animate it with little video edits in the goggle lens. I also take action photographs and animate the movements of the still photo. I'm charging $25 for the work, super cheap for something no one else has done!
Splatlife: Yeah that's too good of a deal. I think I might have to get one myself. That's something I've never seen for sure.
Marcel: Facebook now has the feature that you can have a video for your profile picture. Since all paintballers use a picture of them playing as their photo, an animated photo would be perfect!
Splatlife: Where do you expect to see yourself in five years?
Marcel: In five years I see myself living in California and making a living off my camera. I'm putting in the work on and off the field for a company to hire me full time. If it's not in paintball, I want it to be in another sport.
Splatlife: And lastly, the million dollar question, what makes you passionate about what you do?
Marcel: I'm a very passionate person with everything I do. I'm lucky that my passion for creating met with my love for paintball. I get to create and at the same time hang out with friends who have a passion for what they do. I've met so many awesome people around paintball and have gotten to travel around the U.S. because I brought my camera onto the field. I hope people feel that passion when they watch my videos or see my photography.