Jim Rienstra runs Aspire which is a BMX video contest. You enter with your own video part and a team of judges will decide if you're a winner. All great entries will end up on the Aspire BMX DVD. You don't need to be a pro to enter or live in California, or travel to a contest. Use your local terrain and have a mate film you, edit your part and send it in. May 7th is the deadline for round 4. Like the idea? Here's some background of the man who is running the show.
FATBMX: Just introduce yourself with the regulars like age, home town, years you've been riding, etc.
Jim Rienstra: I'm a 29 year old Sagittarius that grew up in the small town of Zimmerman Minnesota, where the winters are long and cold. I've been riding since my first piss yellow Columbia BMX bike 20 years ago.
FATBMX: Explain in a few words your work with Aspire BMX
Jim Rienstra: Finding sponsors, advertising, E-mails, Collect entries, dub entries, get a copy out to every judge. Web site, girl groupies, video production and Sales
FATBMX: Who helps you out run the company?
Jim Rienstra: I run the whole show, but when it's time to assemble the video I have two great friends helping out. Casey Goldberg and Eric Brennan. They are the 2 people that helped out the most. They're amazing to work with, Thanks guys! There has been so much support from my friends and the riders/editors, without them none of this would have happen.
FATBMX: You seem to have a hefty prize budget available for every issue, who's helping you out to put that together?
Jim Rienstra: My construction job. Everything is out of my pocket. Blood sweat and tears
FATBMX: In snowdoarding and skateboarding you've got pros who only do video stuff and no contests. Do you see this happening in BMX?
Jim Rienstra: YES. BMX contest are good but they're too predictable. With a good video part, there is creativity in the rider and filmer. The environment is what you want, every trick can be unique and original. To me that takes more time, thought, effort, and ambition, then a 2 minute run. There's too much emphases on the 2 minute contests and not enough on the true meaning
-FREESTYLE- to be free, not bound, no borders to your riding. Normal contest try and squeeze riding into an arena.
Riding is not supposed to be caged.
FATBMX: Are BMX video/DVD sales big enough to justify having a video-only pro on the team?
Jim Rienstra: Video sales are on and off, more off then on.
FATBMX: What do you and the judges look for in a video entry?
Jim Rienstra: ORIGINALITY is why I started this contest. That's what I look for. With the other judges you will have to go to the Aspire site to read their opinion on what they look for.
FATBMX: Everyone and their uncle seem to have a video camera nowadays. What equipment can you recommend to shoot BMX stuff?
Jim Rienstra: Everyone wants the $3000.00 3 chip pimp camera, but who can really afford it. In the beginning of Aspire I wanted to judge it heavily on film quality, but over time I saw that a video part with flow, feeling and originality is the importance to a video part. Just go with what's in your budget and make the best of it.
FATBMX: What editing programs do you think are good?
Jim Rienstra: Right now I'm using Adobe premiere.
FATBMX: Any tips for people who want to enter the Aspire BMX video competition?
Jim Rienstra: Sometimes you just have to say F-it and break away from what people think. Do your own thing.
Visit www.aspirebmx.com for all details about the BMX video contest.
Jim Rienstra runs Aspire which is a BMX video contest. You enter with your own video part and a team of judges will decide if you're a winner. All great entries will end up on the Aspire BMX DVD. You don't need to be a pro to enter or live in California, or travel to a contest. Use your local terrain and have a mate film you, edit your part and send it in. May 7th is the deadline for round 4. Like the idea? Here's some background of the man who is running the show.
FATBMX: Just introduce yourself with the regulars like age, home town, years you've been riding, etc.
Jim Rienstra: I'm a 29 year old Sagittarius that grew up in the small town of Zimmerman Minnesota, where the winters are long and cold. I've been riding since my first piss yellow Columbia BMX bike 20 years ago. 
FATBMX: Explain in a few words your work with Aspire BMX
Jim Rienstra: Finding sponsors, advertising, E-mails, Collect entries, dub entries, get a copy out to every judge. Web site, girl groupies, video production and Sales
FATBMX: Who helps you out run the company?
Jim Rienstra: I run the whole show, but when it's time to assemble the video I have two great friends helping out. Casey Goldberg and Eric Brennan. They are the 2 people that helped out the most. They're amazing to work with, Thanks guys! There has been so much support from my friends and the riders/editors, without them none of this would have happen.
FATBMX: You seem to have a hefty prize budget available for every issue, who's helping you out to put that together?
Jim Rienstra: My construction job. Everything is out of my pocket. Blood sweat and tears
FATBMX: In snowdoarding and skateboarding you've got pros who only do video stuff and no contests. Do you see this happening in BMX?
Jim Rienstra: YES. BMX contest are good but they're too predictable. With a good video part, there is creativity in the rider and filmer. The environment is what you want, every trick can be unique and original. To me that takes more time, thought, effort, and ambition, then a 2 minute run. There's too much emphases on the 2 minute contests and not enough on the true meaning -FREESTYLE- to be free, not bound, no borders to your riding. Normal contest try and squeeze riding into an arena. Riding is not supposed to be caged.
FATBMX: Are BMX video/DVD sales big enough to justify having a video-only pro on the team?
Jim Rienstra: Video sales are on and off, more off then on.
FATBMX: What do you and the judges look for in a video entry?
Jim Rienstra: ORIGINALITY is why I started this contest. That's what I look for. With the other judges you will have to go to the Aspire site to read their opinion on what they look for.
FATBMX: Everyone and their uncle seem to have a video camera nowadays. What equipment can you recommend to shoot BMX stuff?
Jim Rienstra: Everyone wants the $3000.00 3 chip pimp camera, but who can really afford it. In the beginning of Aspire I wanted to judge it heavily on film quality, but over time I saw that a video part with flow, feeling and originality is the importance to a video part. Just go with what's in your budget and make the best of it.
FATBMX: What editing programs do you think are good?
Jim Rienstra: Right now I'm using Adobe premiere.
FATBMX: Any tips for people who want to enter the Aspire BMX video competition?
Jim Rienstra: Sometimes you just have to say F-it and break away from what people think. Do your own thing.
Visit www.aspirebmx.com for all details about the BMX video contest.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.