Cinematographer. Special Effects.
Likes: Creative Cinematography
Dislikes: Extremely Bad Grammar
Favourite Videogame: The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past
Favourite Movie: The Matrix
RJ is a film-maker, specializing in cinematography, audio/video editing, camera work, and visual effects. He has years of hands-on industry experience with movies, commercials, TV shows, music videos, and DVD documentaries. He was a guest industry speaker for video production, as well as a hired tutor for visual special effects in post-production at Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
As a young boy, RJ loved to entertain. Whether it was performing magic tricks in front of his family and relatives, or acting in short plays with his cousins, RJ sought out experiences that allowed him to enrapture his audience through the world of illusion and performance. As he got older, RJ also used visual arts and music as creative outlets for entertaining others. He began to draw, sketch, paint, sculpt, as well as play the piano and guitar. Although RJ found great interest in those artistic pursuits, he continued to search for another medium through which he could express himself and entertain others. His search would not be long.
At the age of thirteen, his father brought home a Sony Hi-8 camcorder – RJ’s first video camera. Not surprisingly, the arrival of the camcorder brought forth an epiphany in RJ’s life. He realized that his yearning to entertain could be satisfied though film. RJ spent many months with his new camcorder. He created and directed numerous shorts, including stop-motion animation films, which he meticulously edited using two VCR’s. RJ’s love for cinematography and his interest in visual effects were established from that very moment.
RJ’s love for filming continued to grow during high school, especially when he realized the simplicity of video editing through computers. In high school, RJ began to experiment with audio and music editors such as Scream Tracker and Cool Edit Pro. He learned how to create and remix music with his cousin, Mikey Bustos. He experimented with website development and simple video game production through the use of Visual BASIC and Flash ActionScript. RJ’s experience with these programs allowed him to enhance and develop his film-making skills, while providing him with the resources and tools to pursue his dream.
When he entered his 20’s, he worked as a video editor and production assistant for several film production companies. He also delved into background performing. However, his passion for film-making still brings him to working behind the camera.
Through his journey over the years, RJ has come to realize his ultimate purpose in life: to entertain the world and to inspire others to do the same.