Today we’d like to introduce you to John Anastocio Asuncion.
Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is John, I’m a director from San Jose, CA now living in Bend, OR.
I’ve always had an interest in photography, ever since I was a young kid. My dad would always bring multiple film cameras on family trips and he’d let me take photos. It was so fascinating to me that you can document time, emotions and memories. I would always get so excited picking up the prints at our local Walgreens.
When I was around the age of 14, my good friend’s dad who worked at Apple saw how much of an interest I had in filmmaking and was able to let me use his Sony video camera and an old MacBook Pro with iMovie on it for the summer. During that summer, I made a couple short videos of my friend’s mountain biking & dirt biking. That is when I fell in love with creating videos.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
In 2011, I went to college at Brooks Institute for Visual Journalism and only lasted a year. For me personally, it wasn’t a right fit and I knew that where I wanted to be in the film industry, meant making it happen on my own. So I dropped out, moved back home with my parents in San Jose. During that time, I was so hungry to just create images, I would go on massive bike rides around San Jose, just taking photos of my city and exploring every corner of it. During 2012-2014, I was going up to San Francisco multiple times a week with friends or solo. Going around creating images and trying to build connections with local brands and meeting other creatives. It was such a grind for those two years. Looking back it wasn’t that long, but in the moment it felt like I was never going to get to where I wanted to be.
2014 was the year that changed everything. I met some amazing photographers through the “Flask Mob” photo-walk events in San Francisco. I met lifelong friends that had the same goals and ambitions I had. During that year, we were meeting up almost every day, exploring all over the Bay Area. Basically shooting from sunrise to sunset everyday. I was hustling so much, just thinking big picture and trying to build my portfolio, so when the time came to show off my work, I had quality stuff.
September of 2014, I shot a car show for my local Italian deli that was hosting it. When I submitted the photos to the owner of the deli, he loved them so much and he told me about his friend Cameron, who owned his own company and did a bunch of photography work for Red Bull Media House. The deli owner told me he’d pass my information off to Cam. Two weeks later I got a text from Cam, asking if I could go to his office for an interview. I went in the same day for the interview and the next day I was working at Metis Creative.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So when I started working at Metis Creative in 2014, I was a 1st Assistant Camera. Then over the years, I grew into positions as cinematographer, editor, colorist, camera car driver and gear manager. Working at Metis, I was able to be on productions for companies like Giant Bicycles, Honda, Specialized, Muscle Milk and Jay Bird. Getting real set life exposure, learning gear and meeting some amazing people. While also getting to travel the world.
Since the pandemic and not being able to travel, I had a lot of time to think about my next step, because I was getting a little burnt out. Now I’m chasing more freelance work as a Director, DOP, Editor & Colorist. As that is what I’m truly passionate about.
Since doing more freelance work, the project I’m most proud of is a short film I directed last summer “I AM OMEEZ”. Omeez Jones is my good friend who’s a black photographer and cyclist. During 2020 Omeez was roaming the streets of SF documenting the impacts of COVID-19. Then when the Black Live Matter protest were happening all over the nation, Omeez was there capturing history as people were demanding for change. While all of this was going on, Omeez was also linking up with a newly formed bike club called Another Bike Club. They would do a hand full of scheduled rides per month and bringing a community together after months of isolation. For me looking at this from an outsider, I was shocked no one was telling this story of Omeez and ABC. So in the beginning of August, I reached out to Omeez telling him my idea for a short-film about his creative journey and what he’s actively doing. He was so hyped about the concept and was down to do it. A day later I sent him a deck and two weeks later we shot the project in a single day. Starting at 5am and ending at 8pm. It was a crazy day, but we both felt like we told the story. Post production took about three weeks and one month after production we released it. The response we got even on the first day was mind blowing. People sharing it, people personally reaching out to both Omeez and myself. It was all positive feedback and people were actually grasping the story we were telling.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My biggest mentor in photography was Cameron Baird, the owner of Metis Creative. When I started working at Metis, Cam was the one who took me under his wing and taught me everything I know today about working in the film industry. From finding clients, pitching projects, budgeting, on-set production, lighting and post-production. Along with Clay Porter & John Reynolds, who also work at Metis. They taught me a lot about the technical side or shooting commercials and the post-production side. They gave me so much exposure and guidance
My biggest supporters have to be my parents and girlfriend. Pre-Covid, I was traveling 2-3 weeks out of the month, going all over the nation and overseas a couple of times a year. Doing that for the past six years takes a toll on you and having good support system makes your life a lot easier on every level. While also giving you the motivation to keep creating and chasing your dream. If it wasn’t for my parents pushing me to chase my dream and support me through those early year, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My girlfriend, who is literally my rock. She understand and supports my crazy work life and loves what I do for a living. She keeps me motivated.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://anastocio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastocio/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anastocio
- Other: https://vimeo.com/anastociofilms
