Introducing Adam Turrisi… Filmmaker

Greetings  fellow Doebotz. I am very excited to introduce Adam Turrisi, a talented young filmmaker from the DMV area! One day while I was doing my routine online research I came across some dope skate vids on youtube. I sat there for a while enjoying many of Adam's video's, then I decided to dig a little deeper. I wanted to know who Adam Turrisi really is and what was his motivation for making films. Being that Adam defines what Doebotz stands for, which is someone with passion for their craft, an abundance of skill and talent, plus the work ethic needed to accomplish your goals I felt it was only right to showcase his talent. Well I am thankful to say that I was able to get in contact with him and that he agreed to share with all of us a little about who Adam Turrisi is...  Enjoy!

DBZ: So Adam where are you originally from & where do you reside presently?

AT: I am from Fairfax, VA and am presently located in Fairfax, VA.

DBZ: I'm curious on how you became interested in your craft?

AT: I became interested in my craft by always being interested in intriguing visuals growing up, both in the media and architecture wise. I always loved the type of structures that were in New York City and other cities with popular architecture. I think it all resonated with me as a youth. I always loved using art in some way or another growing up; drawing comics for the school newspaper in middle school, and then the first year of high school I began to skateboard, where my artistic mind could once again be at use. Skateboarding and videos always coincided with each other and I was interested in them both, so I started filming a lot of skateboarding. I would not only watch skate videos, but also would watch movies and music videos. From all of that analyzation, I self-taught myself how to make videos. Very quickly, I became pretty serious about pursuing a career with film. I just wanted to make my favorite videos.

DBZ: Adam, what are some of your accomplishments thus far, small or large?

AT: In 2007, I placed in the top 25 out of 1,000+ video entries in the Red Bull Rough Cuts competition starring Ryan Sheckler. I then started work on a full-length skate film entitled "The Thriller," which I spent two years working on. I hand-picked 7 skateboarders who all had full video parts, and also worked with a large amount of local skaters from the Washington, DC area for the longest single "Friends" section in DC skate video history. The video was accepted well and is being sold in 6 skate shops. The video was premiered on August 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. While making "The Thriller," I was releasing montages on my YouTube account, which I am proud to say has 5.4 million views and a following of almost 1,500 subscribers. One of the riders who had a part in "The Thriller" was Jason Choi, who I filmed attempting to jump down the now legendary 21-stair at the Canadian Embassy in DC 11 times, which is the most anybody has ever tried, and that is an elite list. I am proud to have filmed the attempts, because he arguably got the closest to landing it out of anybody. He went to try it on two seperate occasions, one day in which he tried it a record-setting 7 times. The video is widely viewed on YouTube. I have a website based upon my video company Green Frog Films, which I established in 2005. I have been doing video work for a skateboard company rising out of Arlington, VA called Convoy Skateboards for 3 years now. I have filmed/edited 10 event videos for them and have filmed for them on the streets too. Seven of the Convoy team riders were in "The Thriller." Aside from the skate videos, I have produced some commercials, music videos, and even wedding videos, but my main focus is currently on landscape shots and skateboarding videos. I am open to any video opportunities.

DBZ: What projects are you working on now or have in the pipeline?

AT: I am currently working on a short film for Convoy Skateboards entitled "Convoyage," which I am releasing in early 2011. I am also slated to contribute clips to an upcoming show on the popular action sports network FuelTV and other local Washington, DC based videos.

DBZ: I have to ask, what is your ultimate goal you wish to reach?

AT:My ultimate goal is to keep making videos and to remain happy by doing them, that's my main goal, is just to stay happy. Video work is like my medication. I need it! Money will come down the line, but I like to just concentrate on each film and not the ripple effect where money comes into play. I believe while thinking about that, the creativity part will suffer. Money is a plus though.

DBZ:  Thanks for all the great answers so far. Is there anything extra that you would like people to know about you.

AT: At 3 years old, I was diagnosed with Cancer. I had Leukemia and was officially cured at the age of 8 years old. I am now 15 years cured from the disease, and use it as everyday motivation in my life. I figure if I battled Cancer, I can battle anything.

DBZ: AMEN & IMO that is the attitude that will nearly guarantee success, regardless of one's definition of it... Congrats to Adam Turrisi!

To learn more or contact Adam, see below: (If link is dead Copy link & Paste in address bar)

www.youtube.com/adamturrisivideo
www.adamturrisivideo.blogspot.com
www.convoyskateboards.com

VIDEOS:

Link to "The Thriller" online
http://www.youtube.com/user/ATRAIN413#grid/user/ECAD49BC8172B1E3

"The Thriller" Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYxPZnlhAfk

Jason Choi video part in "The Thriller"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N65aTc1K-ys

The Friends part in "The Thriller"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhimbKlb2I

Reid Mene video part in "The Thriller"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGqMsGgy4CU

Stephen Jefferson Convoy Skateboards commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN1EYKnHVGI

Jason Choi Canadian Embassy 21 Video (1 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqiOb8RciN8

Red Bull Rough Cuts 2007 Video Entry (Top 25 finalist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQFBFn6ZARA

Convoy Skateboards "Battle Of The Pyramid II" Event Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiz8ezUYhRU