Check Out Maurice Salmin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice Salmin.

Maurice, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A true Los Angeles native, my name is Maurice Salmin and I was born May 4th, 1984 (yes, I’ve heard “May the 4th be with me” many times in my life). I’ve been proudly living in downtown Los Angeles for now 11+ years. My mother is Filipina (1 of 7 siblings) with a splash of Japanese/Chinese. I’ve never met my biological father, who is Iranian. Currently 39 years old, I’m truly lucky to be a co-owner of which I believe is the first Motion Picture Advertisement company in downtown Los Angeles for a very long time (perhaps ever). With two amazing partners, Benedict Coulter and Van Maximillian Carlson, “REBEL” is nearly two years old. We recently won all seven nominations (for work on Fast X, Super Mario Brothers Movie, GDT’s Pinocchio, and my Dad The Bounty Hunter on Netflix) for the Clios Entertainment awards show on Nov 9th, and also have a Golden Trailer Award for our work on GDT’s Pinocchio.

How did I get here, being in this industry for eight years now?

Living all over the San Fernando Valley, I went to different schools there and ended up at Cal State University of Northridge. I graduated with a BA in Film/Multimedia.

After I graduated I went full time with my previous band of 10+ years. Lucky to be able to perform shows in most of the US and around the world (including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, UK, Mexico, etc. and Canada… Do they count? jk)

How? I met a Power Ranger, yes a Power Ranger who was the 2nd Black Power Ranger who was in the successful movies and series in the 90s. Johnny Yong Bosch also did English VO for Japanese Anime and video games. Together with being a power ranger, he was very popular at comic conventions worldwide.

I was very lucky, as our band hobby (I’m a drummer) slowly became a career. When a convention heard he was in a band for example, our first show was in Miami, FL. They flew us out there and with JYB as our frontman, we soon grew a cult following in the Comiccon circuits. Keep in mind this was before Marvel impacted the nerd culture, growing conventions even more.

During my drumming adventures from the end of high school into when I left the band, we were shooting and editing music/short band videos, etc. I didn’t realize this work would later have job titles “Social Media Manager” and “Content Creator” like they do today.

Once I turned 30 years of age however, I realized the money was great sometimes, not so great at times. Consistency was needed as I was embarrassed of needing to borrow money from my mom at times to help pay for rent in downtown Los Angeles. The universe nudged me to search for another path. I became a barista at the life-changing community building “ilcaffè” during my transition out from the band. I realized I hilariously became the movie script stereo-type barista character… “a barista who is in a band… etc.”

BUT as a barista, I met a neighbor in my building while talking to customers as baristas tend to do. She was a producer in the hidden world of “movie trailers.” I was always interested and loved trailers, so I stalked her and begged her for advice on how to get into that world. Eventually, she convinced her boss to meet me. I was hired as a PA. I then edited on my own time working on projects, and my cuts were good enough to send and were “finishing”. Meaning they were winning and getting released out to the world. Due to that I became an editor. It was at that shop “The Refinery” where I met Benedict and Max. After a brief attempt through a friend to become a “long form” editor (advertisement is “short form”), it didn’t work out. Benedict and Max approached me and they were starting the AV department at “Statement Advertising” and asked if I wanted to join. I took the leap, and it was there where I got awards and finished with big projects “The Batman” – Teaser, “Godzilla: King of Monsters” – Final Trailer, “Birds of Prey” – Teaser, etc.

Then after some time, Benedict and Max approached me again and wanted to start their own shop. So seven years (now eight) after being a PA, I became a co-owner of my own company “REBEL” with those two wonderful life-changing partners.

Through ilcaffè, I became close friends with a number of neighbors and downtown locals, but among them a Czech couple who lived at the Eastern Columbia building (where ilcaffè is at the bottom floor, neighboring “Acne Studios”). I visited Prague and fell in love with that city. I’ve been there several times and also found myself performing drums with the twin brother (Karel Havlicek, an award winning composer/DJ) of the husband from that couple, Maxim Havlicek (a painter artist). Both are artists and with the city of Praha, they always inspire me creatively as that city has some energies that have changed my life. I’ve played and will continue to perform drums wherever/whenever I can. The universe has provided many opportunities in Prague, where I have shared stages with great musicians that perform at big music festivals in the Czech Republic. Perhaps even hitting bigger levels compared to my previous band.

In fact, on Nov 24th Karel performed his modern classical album “Spoken” with an orchestra “STRO.MY Orchestra”, then performed an Electronic set, followed by other DJs (Bohmerwald, Agents of Time, Fritz Kalkbrenner, Jerome Isma-Ae) all at the O2 Universum in Prague.

I also perform with a band based in downtown Los Angeles called “Neonderthal”.

I love Los Angeles; I’m biased of course. Especially at the moment in Downtown LA, which I believe has a madness that stirs creativity. Among my circles of friends are so many talented individuals. Besides Chad Christian Anderson (which Voyage just released an interview on him), Maxim Havlicek, and Karel Havlicek, I’ve befriended: Tommi Lim, an amazing artist currently touring the world creating murals. Eduardo Aram, a Brazilian musician/composer who took the leap and left his country straight to LA, and is now an Emmy Nominated film composer for TV, Cinema, and Video Games. Steve Miyazaki, a deep retro vocalist who writes, sings, and plays guitar for his Indie band “Neonderthal”. Nicole Robinson, my “sister friend” and oracle, who is a Master in the healing arts of sound and frequency (which Voyage has also interviewed) are among many creatives/artists in my circle that I’ve been blessed to be part of. And of course, Johnny Yong Bosch is an amazing sensei who has helped me get to this path. I wouldn’t be where I am without the “team” this universe has provided.

Valentine: I grew up with an uncle who bred show-quality red-nose pitbulls and was around dogs, rottweilers, etc. my whole life. So I LOVE dogs, even more so Wolves. I wanted a wolf or a half-wolf, but the universe provided me with a Siberian Husky. She was born on Valentine’s Day. SIDENOTE: I met my ex-wife on Valentine’s Day at a singles event party in downtown. We became official the following Valentine’s Day. I got Valentine three months later. Five years later, I proposed to my ex in Paris on Valentine’s Day. So Valentine’s Day was a very special day crafted by my own choice (I didn’t want to forget special dates…). We’re divorced now (still friends) so now Valentine’s Day is simply my dog “Valentine”‘s birthday. She is a very special spirit animal, and I take her nearly everywhere with me (yes, even Prague). She is set-trained and has been in a dog food commercial, google commercial, YG music video, and more.

Wardrobe: About some years back in my downtown experience, I’ve been drawn to the color black, somewhat homeless looking, comfortable, weird, unique clothing. I only wear black, and it has been this way ever since… hahaha

Conclusion: As a child, I realized one day I did not have a father. It was decided that he’ll have no part with me from my birth. I wondered in bed, “I wish my father stayed; perhaps my life would be better!” However, I’m not sure how I was able to comprehend this at a young age. I understood that IF my wish became a reality, I wouldn’t be the MIND thinking at that moment, I would become something else. I liked what I was; therefore my conclusion in my mind out to the universe was “I’m thankful my father left me. I like what I am, and I wouldn’t change anything”.

This understanding has applied to all my life. The good, the bad, the boring, it is all part of each one’s story. It makes you YOU right now. Even reading, you are who you are because of everything you have experienced. I like and you should like what you are, and if you don’t then this experience right now is what can help you aim to what you are MEANT to become. Have no regrets, anything/everything can be a lesson if you allow it. AIM HIGH. Imagine a world, where everyone thought everything they did “mattered” (because it does) and aimed high, perhaps our world would become something MORE.

 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not; music is hard. I like to say my previous band was “90’s rock, ten years too late”. Perhaps if we were in the age of CDs, we may have been signed and had a higher level career.

I am one to “never give up.”

Knowing what I know now, I wish others to learn that putting in the time to master something, is never a failure, trying for an amount of time, and making a “pivot” is not a failure.

The first year of divorce was difficult for everyone. We had three weddings around the world: one in Kapangan, Philippines, one in Kyoto, Japan, and the main one in Malibu, CA. We got our families involved, then got divorced. If one loves someone, you wish for their happiness. If that happiness involves you in a different way than you expected, so be it. We are lucky to be friends, and I’m proud of that. I will always love her, and she is happy, and I am also happy.

I still believe in love; I will find another partner and raise a family, but currently my focus is on myself. REBEL is doing well now; the trajectory is quite amazing due to a team of amazing individuals. The tastes of the world in advertisement and creativity is always evolving, and we strive to continue to listen and grow, as one can never stop learning.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m one of three owners of a Motion Picture Advertisement company called “REBEL” based in Downtown Los Angeles.

www.rebelav.com

My main focus as an editor is cutting pieces for projects that convince the world to watch these projects.

But I also direct any motion picture projects, including music and product videos. And I had a little taste of some commercial work. My most notable commercial was a “rocker” saying “Wow” for Doritos Cool Ranch taco for Taco Bell hahaha. And like previously mentioned, I will play drums whenever an opportunity arises.

 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’m the only child of my single mother, who is Filipina. She raised me herself and with her siblings. My mother’s older sister married a Ugandan. Three children, who are half Filipino/Ugandan. My mother needed to handle some family issues in the Philippines, so I was often left in the care of her older sister’s family. So my cousins are basically my two brothers and one sister. A funny family picture seeing three half Ugandan/Filipino children and a half-Asian looking child (Me!). My brothers are both in the military. And even that influence came into my childhood. My brothers would bully me, and treat me like a new Army recruit, and force me to do the physical exercises they went through (they are 6-7 years older than me).

I of course hated it, yet very thankful they did that because it toughened me up physically and mentally. Perhaps directly influencing my high metabolism (or perhaps I always had it). It must have helped my body memorize something. As I do not work out now, yet I still retain a somewhat physically fit body somehow magically. Of course we can always be healthier, it is our nature.

My mom’s sister’s family went to Church. So under their care, I also attended. It was there I met the Power Ranger. I played drums with the worship band, and so did he (guitar/bass). I followed him around, convincing my mother to buy me a digital eight camera and use Adobe Premiere to edit. That encounter guided me toward a career in entertainment. Touring drummer, editing, etc. to now.

I also met my inner circle friends at church. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I just knew to “choose them” and perhaps force them to become friends with each other. Church did influence me greatly, I did several missionary trips in Mexico and a life-changing trip to Ecuador.

I didn’t drink until 21; I followed the rules and was a “good boy”. Didn’t have real romantic relationship encounters until college. Lucky to find the “red pills” of our world, my eyes opened wider, and I’ve remained spiritual.

I’ve always been part of a unique family, and now noticing I’ve been part of creating a “community” no matter where I was. I wasn’t the sole reason (of course not) but looking back, I was always part of it, and a circle of friendships were always being created around me naturally.

I was very Nerdy, and loved video games and movies, etc. Comics, ninjas, samurai, cartoons. An interesting thought, I saw comics and cards with characters with an 8-pack. I asked my cousin, “how do you get that?” He said sit-ups, crunches, flutter kicks, etc. As a child, I simply did those exercises and achieved an 8-pack. The child-like, “Ok, so do it” is something for all I believe to remember. I don’t have an 8-pack now, haha but it’s there somewhere underneath. If I flex, I have a two-four-pack at best. Maybe I should start working out again? hahaha

I’m 5’11 at 160 lbs, for curiosity’s sake.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://rebelav.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricesalmin/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reb3lav

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricesalmin/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/reb3lav
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mauricesalmin
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/listen2staves
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/valentinehusky

      

Image Credits