The Airsoft Experience
The Airsoft Experience
The Future of Airsoft in Ontario with Documentarian and Player Jon Moore
Join us for an exhilarating episode as we welcome the extraordinary Jon Moore, an airsofter, talented photographer, and passionate documentarian, to share his journey with us. Jon's airsoft adventure began with a spontaneous decision inspired by a YouTuber, leading to countless backyard target practices and journeys to the store with friends. We reminisce about the early days of airsoft in Ontario, the thrill of discovering fields like Flag Raiders, and how those experiences unknowingly connected us long before we met.
We'll dive into the dynamic evolution from casual games to engaging storytelling within the airsoft community. From fast-paced skirmishes to strategic MilSim events, we discuss how these games offer unique opportunities for creativity and narrative. Inspired by a podcast with Can Do, we explore the drive it takes to produce compelling content and the excitement of attending events like Nightfall. Our conversation expands into the challenges of adapting gear to suit different game styles and the creativity required to capture the essence of each exciting moment.
Looking to the future, we explore how the Ontario airsoft community continues to thrive despite challenges like Bill C-21 and COVID-19. We discuss the importance of educating the public, expanding into similar sports like mag-fed paintball, and documenting this vibrant community through a potential documentary. Our conversation is filled with gratitude for the camaraderie and unforgettable adventures that airsoft brings, and we express our deep appreciation to Jon for his invaluable insights and contributions. Get ready for an episode packed with excitement and anticipation for more epic airsoft escapades!
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Lightfighter Milsim Airsoft Team www.facebook.com/lightfightersmilsim
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We'll be right side, got him. They're pulling back now. All right, and welcome to the Airsoft Experience. I'm your host, michael Mascott, also known as Magic in Ontario Airsoft, and today we're super lucky to have a great dude badass all around, an amazing airsofter and photographer and documentary docu documentarian. Got it, got it. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome John Moore.
Speaker 2:Hey guys, how are we today Thankful for you bringing me out here, man, I've been excited for so long. We just haven't made this happen.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I think we were talking about it last year. For a really long time, yeah, for a couple of years. Maybe we have started a journey together, haven't we?
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, Like I mean this journey really started listening to you talking about your past and your adventure into Airsoft. So my journey really only began halfway through, or even starting your journey. So I've been really grateful that I've been a part of this experience really for sure, for sure, actually.
Speaker 1:Uh, we did play together a bit. We'll get into that a little later. Um, you took my nose off with a sniper shot that's actually.
Speaker 2:I think that is the yeah, we'll get it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's where it really started yeah, that was awesome, but we're gonna rewind things because the uh listeners want to know about you, so let's pretty much start with where, when and how did airsoft start for you, like? Where did you get the bug?
Speaker 2:I think much. I think the more people I talk to it's. It's very similar. So you know, you find you watch a youtuber and all of a sudden, like that peak interest just plants a seed in your brain. You're like you know what that? That does look pretty cool. Like how do I get involved? So I was watching Dutch the Hooligan and this guy is a very good airsofter and I was like you know what I'm? I didn't even text my friends. I was like I'm just going to go to the store and pick up an airsoft gun, nice. And I grabbed the vfc uh v16 mod 2 in bronze and I was like this thing is badass oh yeah, good choice, really cool, yeah, okay so I go home and I'm plinking in my backyard.
Speaker 2:I got some decent space in the backyard. I'm plinking, send a text message, put the bat signal up in the air for the boys. Guys, this is sick, come over to my house right now. This would have been seven years ago, nice, right around when I started yeah and uh, they're coming over.
Speaker 2:We're planking cans in the backyard from like maybe like 100 feet, 150 feet. They're like dude, we need to get into this too. Now, all of a sudden, we go back to the store everyone comes back with. We got a g16, we got an mp store. Everyone comes back with we got a G16. We got an MP5. We're coming back.
Speaker 1:Was this the same day? This is the same day we went back to the store twice.
Speaker 2:Holy, and they must have. I mean, I don't know if they get commissioned, but they were just like dude, these guys are sick, these guys are crazy Nice. So we come back with all guns, we're back with all guns, we're planking, we're like man, and that's how it started right, and that's how, I mean, airsoft starts for a lot of people. You, you do something, you think it's cool, tell your friends about it, they think it's cool, they're in, and that's that's how it's genuinely the moment I started. So there's, there's some photos of just me in my backyard, no idea how to hold a gun, because I've never actually held a gun in my life or shot a real gun. I'm not cool, but you know that that's how the bug started for me.
Speaker 1:Did you guys actually end up maybe by accident or purposely shooting each other? No, no, no.
Speaker 2:We put some cans on the end of the fence, yeah, and we're just plinking away and I remember like having to pick up like thousands of BBs in my backyard Just trying to like rake them away.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I was like.
Speaker 2:I can't be bothered. But yeah, it's like I can't be bothered. But yeah, no accidental stuff, and we're like, okay, what is needed to go play at a field? Right, so we're doing our research. My friends are from Waterloo, I'm from Toronto, you know like, where can we go to play? And that was really our next adventure trying to figure out. Like this was before things had really made their way to YouTube in Ontario and passed outside of Facebook. So there were a few forums. There were really no discussions about Airsoft and where to play at the time, so it was just a matter of making a calendar and figuring out where can I go and play, and that was convenient for all of us. So, yeah, that was essentially that week of us getting heavily involved in spending thousands of dollars just to get into the game, right.
Speaker 1:Do you remember the uh, the first field that you actually played at?
Speaker 2:Ooh, um that. I would have played flag Raiders.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I do remember seeing you there.
Speaker 2:I see, I don't remember you at that field.
Speaker 1:I was running an AK 47 and I had like the absolute Amazon special face mask.
Speaker 2:I definitely wouldn't notice you because you're not like that now.
Speaker 1:No, not at all.
Speaker 2:That's so sick. Yeah, I was covered up field.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that field was awesome. Me and the guys like in the early days of life fighters, we would go there every Sunday Wow.
Speaker 2:Either Saturday or Sunday. Definitely we would have been in passing because we were there so often, probably three times a month, 100%.
Speaker 1:Us too, like we started going and going and going and then obviously Joe gave us the bad news like the last weekend that we were there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that still guts me because I miss that field all the time, all the time when we play skirmish games or outdoor field, because the facility was incredible, the people, were awesome, made the place awesome, so, and that's what kept us going back. The other field that we all also, uh, contemplated in milton I think was devil dogs devil dogs no longer there. Yes, yes, and that we missed that as well. Uh, community also, I mean everywhere. The community in airsoft is so sick for outdoors, it's, it's fun.
Speaker 1:I know, know Milton had a place recently called the Farm. It was a private field. Oddly enough, it's for sale right now. I've seen it on Facebook Marketplace.
Speaker 2:I don't have any money. I spend it all on camera stuff, so it's not happening.
Speaker 1:I'm not 100% on the zoning. It's something that I wouldn't look into. 100% on the zoning, so it's something that I wouldn't look into, but yeah, it just seems a little too close to a general population to be allowed kind of deal.
Speaker 2:I see what you mean. Yeah, okay, you kind of want Airsoft to be out of the way but also accessible to people that like Airsoft.
Speaker 1:For sure, like even at the compound, we're out of the way, but yet our neighbors still hear us.
Speaker 2:Right, right, you have at the compound were out of the way, but yet our neighbors still here, you're. You have this, this weird sort of system going and it works where it works which is great like and also comparatively like flag raiders was in and out of the city at the same time with so much space, like, yeah, the fields it was, it was fields, it wasn't just a field, it was there's so much space great layout too.
Speaker 1:I loved playing there. That's actually where we first learned about prc it was actually there. I believe that I same same with me actually so your first actual replica was the m16 or m4 platform, and you use that for a while. What made you decide to switch to what you actively use now?
Speaker 2:once again it's back to youtube. Yeah, we're following. So I think, uh, kicking mustang obviously is a staple in the sniper community, whether you like him or not. Yep, he's good at the game. Yeah, absolutely great at the game. And same with novritsch. Novritsch is and at the time this is before he started coming out with his own replicas as well yeah, so, following them, and he used to throw like a camera, like literally a zoom camera, on the top of his scope and physically zoom in and focus on his own.
Speaker 2:I was like, dude, that that is really cool. So I mean, after doing extensive research for the platform for snipers, this was the time when the ssg 24 came out, so the sniper rifle and I switched immediately to that platform. And you know, and and snipers are tough because they're not forgiving. Once you get them out of the box, especially at the time you got to, there's a lot of tender love and care, parts, testing, like you have to make it legitimately good, because it's a bolt action. You shoot once you watch it travel, does it hit your target, yes or no? Repeat, rinse and repeat, and it is not forgiving for people that are new, and so I'm thankful that I did play the M4 platform first before getting into the sniper. But I, man, I'd never go back. I'm contemplating selling my M4 because it's just, it's too fun, like I love it so much, and it's not like I'm one of those chair soft snipers that sits in the back. I'm with the boys Like we are.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Like and that's. And that's what makes the platform so good, because it gives you it's not it's not too much of an edge but it. But it is an edge because you know you're shooting four, fives for BB weight. Sorry, compar Average it's threes or three, twos for outdoors yeah, I would say that. Yeah, so you know heavier BBs travel further if you give it enough energy. So it also cuts the wind. So you know what you're more effective at range comparatively to your M4 equivalent boys next to you 100%. So it's extremely valuable on the field, especially outdoor. Indoor it's whatever, but outdoor it really does come as a benefit.
Speaker 1:So for players that want to get into sniping, is there more of, maybe a warning to let them know that snipers out of the box aren't going to?
Speaker 2:For the majority of them. Now they've come up with some platforms that are actually pretty good. If you're getting into it. As a recommendation, the Styr Scout is fantastic. It's really good. I haven't done anything to mine and it's good. But it's no comparison to my SSG-24, which is completely gutted. It just has the externals of an SSG-24, mod 24 platform, but it is gutted because I made it as good as it is. Do I recommend the Sniper platform for people that are getting into Airsoft? I only say no because if you're getting into the game, I want you to understand the flow and how Airsoft plays before you dive into a platform that encourages you to be sitting in the back because you don't want to get hit. You have to understand how the other platforms play, so the best way to understand it is by being in it with the other people.
Speaker 1:That's great advice.
Speaker 2:I mean comparatively to, I know, with video games and people hate talking about video games comparatively to actually being in the field. You understand the flow of the game, how people move, how people peak, how people move, how people peak, how people coordinate teamwork with each other in video games as well, comparatively. But the best way to do that in the game is by being up there with the boys yourself. And yes, maybe you can do that with a sniper platform. It's possible, but I highly recommend getting into the M4 platform first so you can truly understand how the game works For sure.
Speaker 1:For sure, the M4 platform or AK platform, depending if you're Rush 4. And also, probably, if you're going to think about, you know, jumping into the sniper end, think about getting proficient with a pistol and a sidearm, because you do have a med that you have to work around.
Speaker 2:I also think legally, you need a pistol as well for that Exactly, I mean minimum engagement distance as well, because the last thing you want to do is we don't. We don't want to hurt each other, we want to have fun and we just like the sniper platform being as shooting heavy BBs as they are, it hurts. Up close to that, I mean I've hit you, oh yeah, oh yeah. I mean I've hit you, oh yeah, oh yeah. At the time I was shooting 1.1 joules, even in the cold, but four fives in the cold feel like throwing ice at people.
Speaker 1:Took off the tip of my nose it was yeah.
Speaker 2:So, yes, safety first, but yes, you need a pistol as a requirement to getting into the sniper platform Also. It's just there's so many good ones out there.
Speaker 1:There's so many good ones and it's cool to be able to change between a primary and a secondary and changing mags and just getting into that groove.
Speaker 2:That engagement is fun, you feel activated. Oh yeah, With more stuff on you 100%. Sick.
Speaker 1:So when you shifted into the sniper end, would you say that kind of started the photography end for you. I noticed you started using scope cams. Uh, we started getting, uh, you know, footage from youtube and and stuff like that. Like is, is that where it kind of started for you? Yeah?
Speaker 2:it's exactly actually where it started, because I was like man, after following these youtubers, okay, what is actually involved in being a quote-unquote airsoft YouTuber? Right, everyone in their mothers has a GoPro now. So, yes, you can rock a GoPro and just kind of show your experience. But I was like, okay, I want people to see the BB travel in the air, let's get a scope cam, let's get a selfie cam, let's get another GoPro and throw it on the head, let's. And then that sort of propelled me to learn how to edit, how to create story out of these, these events, because I was having so much fun and I wanted other people to see and experience that, whether they're they are there or not, and that is a really cool thing. That came out of my appreciation for not necessarily the sniper platform, but airsoft in general and, uh, that's, that's how I got into the airsoft youtube space.
Speaker 1:we'll call it so when you first started getting into that, what, what was your, your preferred game type? Were you more of, uh, you know, walk-on type airsoft, indoor airsoft I guess not with a sniper, it's really not the best practical use for it or just right out into the big games?
Speaker 2:I won't bash indoor airsoft. I like indoor airsoft for the speed and practicing the fundamentals of the game For sure, really good. But a lot of times I want to hit you without hitting me right or trading. I don't want to do that Airsoft indoors because it's such close quarters. Oftentimes at best you trade as a sniper platform. I don't want to trade with you at all. I want to make sure I get you and get out. That is how I play, so outdoors preferred I really enjoyed skirmish games.
Speaker 2:Skirmish games were how I got into Airsoft. I appreciate the speed of, especially when you got like 40 guys on each side come out for a weekend game and man, it's just such fast paced games for maybe like 20 minutes, or even what we did at PRZ were like an hour long games and man, those were the most fun I've ever had. Awesome games. Oh man, like some of the best stuff, because the flow is constant. You know, spawn in, maybe you die on your own, you walk back, you come back into the game swift, right, it is not especially as a sniper, and I've got a good spot and I can hit people without them hitting me. It is nonstop action. Yeah, and that's what I, I still love that stuff and yeah, it's so Skirmish Games for me, top tier, s tier.
Speaker 1:Did you record when you were playing at Flag Raiders? Or was that more of a shout out to Teddy and Patricia Games, because their games were just absolutely excellent at PRZ?
Speaker 2:Oh no, no doubt yes. But I had when I were just absolutely excellent at PRZ. Oh no, no doubt yes. But when I had just started film I'll call it filmmaking for YouTube in Airsoft, I was still recording on my M4, a little bit on my Sniper platform, I literally just started getting into it. So, yes, I think I have a couple on my YouTube channel from PRZ and it's like defending the castle or just like playing in some of the paintball-esque sort of buildings. Yes, that is where I started. Yeah, Nice.
Speaker 1:So we've touched into where YouTube started. For you, I would say, you've taken it to a whole other level. So when did that transition sort of take place in the Airsoft community for you to kind of I'm going to say, step up your game, for lack of a better term.
Speaker 2:I'll say where the interest sort of peaked for me. The interest sort of peak for me. So all of a sudden I'm starting to play more of the longer form games and Milsims Cause actually you're like you're the one who invited me out to these longer form games. Nightfall was actually the one you you recommended I come to after meeting you and hanging out with you at was Sega. Yep, you're like, just come. I'm like I don't, I don't do that stuff. I don't know what Milsim is. I'm just a guy who got nervous when I went to go pick up a gun for the first time at an Airsoft store I'm not that cool. So I went. I met a whole bunch of really cool people at Nightfall it was my first one Two years ago, I guess At Piercy, yes, was it the last Nightfall at?
Speaker 2:Piercy, no, no, it was number 10.
Speaker 1:Yes, no, 11. Yeah, sure, 11, 12. It's one of them.
Speaker 2:I met a whole bunch of really cool people, and that's actually where I met Munch.
Speaker 1:Nice Great guy. Call sign midget. There he is, yeah, but at the time he was just Alex.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and him and I had a great time actually. We actually had a really good bond because we'd cover each other the whole time and I was running my sniper platform but I had to crank down my jewels to meet the whatever the nightfall rules were at 1.5. And I was like, that's fine, I only play sniper. So it just is what it is. John, you're going to play with a worse sniper rifle today, but we still slapped, so it didn't matter, right? I threw all my night vision scopes. We were great, anyways.
Speaker 2:So that appreciation for Milsims all of a sudden got me to not only just record, but I wanted to capture the entire storyline of various games. Because you know what? There's just so much drama that happens. There's so many interesting parts that are required to make a milsom work. Can you build a story out of it? Absolutely dude, it's on the table, but you go find youtubers online. Nobody's talking about this stuff, maybe, now, but this is this at the time. This was two, three years ago. Yeah, so there's so much on the table for possibly creating a story out of something like that, but that was something that I didn't necessarily dive into at the time, but it was. It was definitely on my mind. I was like, okay, this, this could be very cool. Actually, the moment that got me into more or less storytelling was your podcast with can do.
Speaker 1:Oh nice.
Speaker 2:You. He had invited you out and you were. You were talking about how you got into airsoft and you opened up at that moment and I was like you know what? This guy has so much potential? He has a really interesting background. He is drive, and that's what creates really good stories. Folks, you cannot find a story that the main character doesn't have drive. It is not a good story. So that immediately lit a fire like lit a match, there's a little flame. Now I'm like this guy is cool. Now, what made the story really pop was the fact that he was interested in starting a field. This is, the field had just been in theory created, the concept anyway.
Speaker 2:It wasn't fully fledged yet. I was like, dude, the only somebody has to get, get this story out, because there's so much potential now for this to really pop off. Like what if this place becomes the next PRZ right? The story in airsoft has gone through so much stuff, so many problems. So this is this are the turning point for airsoft. These are opening questions that create incredibly driven stories.
Speaker 2:For sure that is that was the tipping point for me to push myself to shoot story-based content. So now for this whole year I've been following you, um, the compound, the story of it coming together and the airsoft community coming together to make this really incredible place that the future really isn't ready for it's. It's going to be amazing and I'm thankful that I was able to to see and and man that the future really isn't ready for. It's going to be amazing and I'm thankful that I was able to see and man, like I don't know, just the opportunity to listen to your story, dude. And then like it gave me so much drive and also pushed me to become a story-based storyteller on YouTube, beyond just Airsoft as well. And yeah it, it changed. It changed my life genuinely, like I would quit my job to do what I do for document documentaries. I would. I would do that in a heartbeat now because of our interaction, my interaction with just listening to you Actually that is.
Speaker 1:I am definitely not a special shape or form.
Speaker 1:I appreciate the, the kind words, but I had the same situation when I first was introduced to this community and at that time you know, after a couple of years being in, and then C21 attacking us and then getting close with the owner of PRZ and knowing that like well before the community, that it was gone and going like two years before anybody else, that just literally gave me a heart attack.
Speaker 1:It's like everything that I've known Milsom-wise to this date was at that field and, not to take away from any other fields, there's some great rock in Milsom fields in Ontario. This year I'll be traveling to Ottawa to play, know, uh, to play out there and and see those guys. So they're a good group of guys, but we needed to do something. And, uh, just seeing the community and and the connections I've made in the community and just the, the, the way people's eyes light up and and the joy and the, the enthusiasm and just the artistic expression that you get out of people when they're creating games is it's fun, it's everything to me it's fun and, trust me, I wish I could quit my job, just do what I'm doing airsoft wise but it's just, it's just not feasible at this point and uh, yeah, I appreciate the kind words, but let's uh let's read he's a really modest dude.
Speaker 2:Folks like you don't truly understand. But yeah, no, this guy, this guy means a lot to a lot of people and he doesn't take thank you very well. So just so, just hear me out.
Speaker 1:He's, he's a sick dude all right, all right back to what we're talking about. I I want to. This is focused on you and what you're bringing to the community, which is just outstanding quality.
Speaker 2:We're getting there Movies? Yeah, we're getting there, man.
Speaker 1:I am blown away.
Speaker 2:Yeah that that that go to video was sick.
Speaker 1:It was. That was insane.
Speaker 2:I had a great time with that one. Yeah, it's that, it was insane. I had a great time with that one. Yeah, that's come from practice. When I started photography even I had started in the car scene. Everyone's modding their car, showing them off. I request somebody to take photos of my car and they're like especially when I was 19,. They're like, yeah, it's going to be $500 for three hours, three hours. I'm like dude, I don't have 500 bucks to give you for three hours. Are you kidding?
Speaker 1:yeah, I spent it all on the car time.
Speaker 2:So I I picked up a camera and I learned how to do it on my own. I took, learned how to take photos. People were, people were interested and I was like, okay, well, now I don't know what was the turning point for me, but all of a sudden I was like man, photos are cool but like cinema is really cool and I just started to learn how to like the cinematic eye, how to make beautiful images, what looks good, and started really analytically diving into what makes movies good and I appreciate that. But, thank you, I'm getting there and it's been a really really sweet ride. I'm still in the learning process. I guess we're always learning, but my skill we'll call it has come a long way this year because the best way to practice is by doing it.
Speaker 2:And every weekend I was out with you or the boys or the crew, and we were just shooting, like yes, we're shooting Airsoft, but I was shooting them and they're like literally just letting the story unfold, and that's what made me so much better.
Speaker 1:So your interest really is in the cinematography and definitely not into the stills in any way.
Speaker 2:You're not. I don't take photos, my cameras don't take photos.
Speaker 1:You do have a lot of nice, very nice stills, for sure.
Speaker 2:I kind of just literally screenshot them and then just post them out. People are like, oh my God, these feel like film. I'm like, good yeah, Gotcha.
Speaker 1:Like, even like the lingering shots, like I can remember the war wagon just rolling down one of the roads at the compound and it's just like some smoke lingering, it's like wow, I was like that, that photo by itself, just it moved me. I just I was so pumped the old school day.
Speaker 2:Some of the frames really tell a story, right Like, and uh, man, like we just you guys have just been through so much and I'm glad I can at least capture some of it, right Like gosh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're very thankful for you, for sure.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks, dude.
Speaker 1:So your views and thoughts on the Airsoft community, because you came in as fresh off the boat, for lack of a better term, no joke Like I had never picked up a gun shot anything.
Speaker 2:All of a sudden I'm like I think this is really cool. And then all of a sudden, I walked into an Airsoft store, right. So, yeah, no, you're right, like that's fresh, that is fresh, I get nervous. I got nervous. Walking into it was Airsoft Depot. That's my first store that I walked into oh yeah, we've all been there. My knees were shaking. I'm like what am I getting into, dude?
Speaker 2:yeah, it's usually really busy in there too, so you just, I mean I didn't know what I was getting into yeah until I got there and then it just kind of propelled my, my, my appreciation for the community by playing games, meeting people. But really it was this it was prz's final year, we'll call was when I'm starting to meet all kinds of people, because people, especially with recording and I'm posting videos and the views are starting to come in. People are starting to come up to me like are you, john Does? I'm like, yes, they're like dude, I love your shit. I'm like, wow, that's crazy to me, that idea that people recognize me because I'm not cool folks. I wear a dye mask when I'm outside. Um, it's not cool, but you know what people recognize me? It's. That's a really neat feeling. That means I at some point I impacted you for that moment, like that's really cool 100.
Speaker 2:I love that and that's exactly why I'm doing what I'm doing, because, like if someone like dutch, who got me into the sport because of a video man, if if I did that for so many people, that would be the that that would. That would actually just complete me. That is exactly why I'm doing what I'm doing. I can.
Speaker 1:I can tell you we have a, we have a team chat, obviously, and, uh, when your videos or content comes out like that entire week, it's just like snippets here, check this out, check this out, check this out, and then it just goes beyond that group chat and then it's just such a buzz in the community because I have my thumb on the pulse of the community so everything is just coming back, radiating back for me and it's just like did you see this, did you see that, did you see that?
Speaker 1:And it's just like it's something that the community really appreciates and it's something that I think we really need, because, even talking to the, I had to take a car service here this morning and, talking to that driver, he has no idea what airsoft is was blown away. But for the 40 minutes or the 50 minutes I was in that vehicle, I educated that guy and then sent him your links because that way he can actually physically see you know what it's about, what we've elevated, I would say the sport too. And that kind of goes back to to my last question is you started as just a walk-on player, but you've kind of seen how things have turned. So how has that been for you seeing the community grow, excel and just develop from behind the camera.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it's, it's crazy. It's crazy because the story of, like our airsoft community in Ontario has been through so much Like, as you've said, bill C-21, covid, people's businesses shutting down needed a turnaround point. You're a big part in what that turnaround point was and diving into. Obviously, this documentary that I'm working on shows me what the birth of this next phase for the Airsoft community will be, and it's only going to get better. Folks. There is so much potential on the table. I know there's stuff that Magic hasn't told you that's coming. There is so much on the table for what this community will be in Ontario.
Speaker 2:Seeing the growth of even individuals throughout the story not just magic, but everyone growing on on their own is such an incredible thing to see and be a part of. I'm super grateful that I get to be a part of this. It's, it's truly incredible because you know, like I, I could just tell you it's going to be so good and my goal is to get more people to see exactly what I see that this is just going to be such a good time. We want to educate people that don't know about airsoft so that they don't think that this is a violent sport that creates quote-unquote psychopaths. I mean, we are a little bit psychopathic, but only on the field.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and in a good way. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:So we want to educate people to understand that we are a good community of people out there having fun playing with little toys. But ultimately airsoft itself, like, helps people grow as people. It gets people comfortable with leadership roles. It gets people out there facing fears, gets people to work as a team. There's so much that airsoft has to offer individually, so you will grow as a person playing the game. I've seen it firsthand and I've documented it. It is. There's so much on the table. We can't wait.
Speaker 1:That's it, you just summed it up. We have so much planned next year. We are, you know, bracing out into a whole other genre of action, sports this year at the compound. Uh, we, we touched on it last year, but we're going to get into the mag fed paintball end, which is very similar to airsoft to a degree, which is kind of cool. But uh, this episode's not about that. So tune in maybe for a later episode and we'll talk about some upcoming things. But I want to get back to you. What is your goals for the future of what you're doing now in the documentary scene of Ontario Airsoft or of anything period Like? We went to TACOM earlier. That was cool as hell too, and it opened up some possible opportunities.
Speaker 2:So what's the goal, which is actually all part of the doc, but the doc, what I'm working on with the doc, is the story of Magic, the Compound, and actually it ties into all the different aspects of the Airsoft community and what makes this place so cool, what exactly I'm doing next and I've been documenting as well you know my process of me going through it what I'm keeping people updated on the events that have gone on. Maybe the people I've talked to what to look forward to in like episodic sort of series. I had a recent like like mental breakdown where I was like what do I do with my documentary when I'm done, you know, do I go to Netflix, which I've been in talks with people? But the problem is with Netflix is that you have to and not to bash Netflix. It's not off the table, it's just you have to follow the ups and downs of the storyline to a T of time. So I almost lose the creative sort of flow of my own product. I would like to have complete creative control from shooting, creating the story, editing. I do it all. I have an idea of how every episode or the entire documentary, like in a long form, like a movie, will be in my head.
Speaker 2:So my breakdown was do I go maybe the film festival route and you know it comes out in like two or three years or do I put episodes maybe half hour to 45 minute episodes on YouTube? Not only do I draw people into my YouTube, which is great, but also to the airsoft community where potentially more eyes get to see it, and that and this sort of just crushed me Cause I was like what like? What do I do? Like, if I go to the film festival, no one's going to see it, maybe, or like professionals, or because they may or may not like the idea of airsoft in their little internally, they may not want people to see it and I don't know until I get there, yep, and it's going to cost me loads of money to go through all the festival route of multiple festivals in Ontario or Canada wide, I don't know Right. So I was like what do I do? So I made a, made a video about it and actually talking to YouTubers, other documentarians, to get their professional advice, and I'm leaning towards the YouTube route for a docuseries. So it'll incorporate a lot more people. It'll also be a lot longer, I mean in a sense, rather than like an hour and a half movie that I make of the year. I get to make like four to ten episodes that are 45-minute bangers of like the community and how badass everyone is.
Speaker 2:The our go through the whole year as to what it is that we've done, you've done at the compound. Sick, that sounds like that is. That is the progression for my documentary. It's going to be on YouTube. Realistically, we'll be coming out in like June, because I'll probably be done shooting in like March or May. Adversely, like if I were to do the the festival route, genuinely it would come out in three years because we'd go, we'd show up, well, I would actually be submitted for next year, so 2026, they may or may not approve it, and then I bounce around between festivals and then you actually only get to see it after the festivals have seen it. So three years from now is really like how that works, which sucks. So it's not that way.
Speaker 2:As a result, too, with the documentary I'm going to pursue other storytelling methods, whether I'm going to make my own stories of various games that are coming up next year. I mean, we talked about it before we started the pod was you know? We're going to go find, maybe, individuals in Airsoft and what makes them special during the game? Going to go find, maybe, individuals in airsoft and what makes them special during the game? Maybe commanders, maybe maybe players, teams, uh, people commanding certain vehicles, like whoever it may be. I want to know your story in that game. Right, it's fun. I mean it popped on uh on my youtube for following you at um go to right and, yes, we did jump out of a helicopter, yes, we did command this warthog vehicle the entire time. But that means that I can also offer more stories throughout my youtube career we'll call it and my youtube career goes far beyond just airsoft.
Speaker 2:I love action sports, I love getting into it. I want to do car stuff, I want to do airsoft stuff, maybe military stuff, trying to reach out to whoever wants to do something. Dude, I'm in, and so that's that's what the future looks like for me. I am so jacked up to to go film. I love it. But I also love the storytelling aspect, because that's what people. That's what people want to see. They want to see people develop. They want to see your drive, what, what happens when you're you know how does your story end. That's that's what people want to see.
Speaker 1:It's. It's honestly, the quality of work that you're bringing to the community is is just outstanding and we're very lucky to have you and I'm I'm extremely lucky that you shot me in the nose and we have this relationship now cause like we have done some Epic things, things. But I just want to rewind a little bit before we start talking about the season and some cool stuff that we've done together. Say, a community member wants to follow your footsteps. Do you have some advice for them to get into the game and maybe a small cost breakdown and some into?
Speaker 1:filming you mean into filming and some do's and don'ts action filming, I mean and maybe give them a small crash course on what they would need to just start coming out and doing what you're doing.
Speaker 2:That's a good question. I'm a Sony shooter, if that means anything to some people, so I switched from Nikon, which is also the equivalent of a potato. So these new Sony cameras have incredible autofocus and that's essentially what I was missing out of my previous cameras. So let's just assume you're going to spend two grand on the new I would say new, but the FX30 has been out for like a year and a bit. It's great. It is my workhorse. It was my workhorse.
Speaker 2:I won't get into my new camera because it's got me so jacked up, but it is a workhorse in the field, right? So, yes, you're going to spend around $2,000, $2,500 to get started on filming. It is inevitable for some to get through the front door of filming, whether it's documentary work or just like action sports. And then you're going to get all your equipment, like your handles and whatnot too, so that you're not just running around holding a camera with two hands Like it's. You need a little bit more and then a lens, which I I'm a I'm a budget baller when it comes to buying equipment. I'm on Facebook marketplace every single day. I'm a psychopath. Another $500 for for a wide to tight lens you can find. I won't get into the specifics, but maybe we put it in the description of the stuff that I've got. Or if you also want to check my YouTube channel, you'll be able to see.
Speaker 2:I describe everything that I use to get up and running. But to start, look at $2,500. It's just, unfortunately it's the way it is and that's. Yeah, it does gatekeep people to get in. You can probably do it with a lot less, but it's just my recommendation, because these cameras now are getting so good and you can basically do anything with them. So that is my recommendation to start. Besides, obviously you've got your Airsoft protective equipment to get out there and go. But yeah, that is more or less how you start getting into filming.
Speaker 1:Do you suggest maybe that it'd be for sure a player if they were trying to capture a certain genre, like say, they wanted to get into what you're doing with Airsoft. Would you suggest them being a player and maybe doing some GoPro footage, some scope cam footage, stuff like that to kind of get into?
Speaker 1:it learn how the game the feel, some of the shots that people are looking for and stuff like that. To kind of get into it, learn how the game, the feel, you know some of the shots that people are looking for and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Um, there are some, definitely some, great courses online. I know one that's that's very new and recent and black Friday sale, by the way, uh, and I'm definitely not sponsored is the art of documentary, and Mark bone um, who has partnered there. He has an incredible uh series of videos that you can go on to that describe what it takes to be a documentarian the cinematic eye getting into even sales. Post your documentary. That's one way to start and to learn actually just how to use a camera, especially in a documentary space. Next, for filming airsoft, let's say, if you're down to film airsoft, the best way to learn how airsoft moves and works is by playing the game. Start by playing the game, Enjoy it.
Speaker 2:The only reason I say that is because I can bet you someone else who hasn't played airsoft will not shoot the type of content I shoot when I'm on the field, because they don't know where to stand when a guy peeks a corner on the field, because they don't know where to stand when a guy peeks a corner. I am not going to peek the corner not knowing what's on the other side of that corner. I am not going to be on the revealing shoulder side of someone when they peek that corner because I know if someone's shooting at that guy I'm also going to get shot. You just got to know. But also this goes back to also reviewing and really analyzing your favorite military movies. You know, going back, maybe saving private Ryan, what's like. That epic movie You're shooting, that handheld, that first beach scene, oh my God Like.
Speaker 1:I'm.
Speaker 2:I love handheld, by the way, um, because it's it's efficient, but um, it's really. It really comes down to researching and analyzing, learning your fundamentals from your camera and then also playing the game and those three things. If you can master those three things, or just be really good at those three things, I think you will. You will start to learn to be able to create your own story at your own field, wherever you may be, and there's a lot, of, a lot of that stuff on the table right now. I know I'm talking to some guys from BC on Instagram. I know there are a lot of great stuff out of California that are that are in like Nilsson West there there are guys that are out there filming that stuff.
Speaker 2:But I was like, I send me the invite, boys, I'm going. I would go and film, film your stuff. But I'm glad that more and more people are coming out with their own footage and content too, because that's what we want to see. Much like the Airsoft community, the film and documentary scene, we want more people to tell stories, because there's so many stories on the table, so many interesting people out there.
Speaker 2:Sure, do you do any, or do you use any sort of protective lenses on your lenses? Yeah, just maybe a single stack of UV protectors Like a UV. It's a UV lens essentially. Maybe a single stack of UV protectors like a UV, it's a UV lens Essentially. It just helps block out a little bit of the flares or like light coming in. Have I broken anything yet? No, that's me knocking on wood. So I kind of raw dog it quite some time. Also, because I know I'm confident, I know where to stand. So I put myself in a position where, obviously with outdoor airsoft, I can see the flow in advance. I got my. I got looking around with the corner of my eye. Yes, I got something in frame, but I'm also looking to see where am I expected to see something happen? A guy's rolling up around a corner, where is he going to get shot from? I'm going to stand somewhere in a way that this guy looks really good but also out of the fucking way.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah for sure have you been lit up pretty bad. Yet, god, dude, what was it last game? I'm following you guys. You guys are pushing. This is after the helicopter dropped. Yeah and uh, I'm pushing, I'm standing behind you guys and you guys are facing technical number one right coming in around the corner and, for whatever reason, the guy is shooting into the, into the woods. I'm great, I'm not in the woods. I'm like, I'm like, 100 feet behind you, okay, this guy snaps to me and chucks an LMG just maybe 20 BBs, my way, I'm like, and I it's in the video, by the way, it's of me just getting absolutely obliterated. And I'm like, and I'm just, I'm not mad because, guys, you just, you can't be mad. You expect to get shot, but I'm also. I'm the only one on the field wearing red. I am standing still in an open field. I have no reason. I'm looking around. There's nobody around me. I'm like, oh, wow, I just, I think I just got, I think I just got targeted.
Speaker 1:Dude, like, I don't, I don't, I don't appreciate that so let's put it this way don't shoot at the camera, men or women, please I try so hard to get out of the way.
Speaker 2:But especially with indoors and stuff like people get jump scared right. You pick a corner like ah snap snap, snap, snap. I'm like, ah, it's fine, but I mean, I put myself into this position. But I'm also like check your fire, friend. Come on, dude.
Speaker 1:Revert back to your training, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, all right, so let's just quickly touch on some cool ass stuff that happened this summer, where we just got out and had a blast. What tops it for you? And I know that the answer is dude, it was the.
Speaker 2:It was the story of the build-up of goda. Yeah, dude, like we did the training yep, that was cool I mean, it was a scare tactic to get there. Yep, we also bonded by just completing that task of learning how to do it Right. So when we left that place, we all felt a sense of community in that moment 100%. We're like guys we rappelled out of a helicopter from like 60 feet. It was badass.
Speaker 1:Okay, no protective gear in the sense of just like there's no like hooking on, and it's all about efficiency and speed I think we are the first and I'll get obviously fact checkers can check it, but I think we're the first civilians to ever do that. I think, uh, an airsoft game ever I think.
Speaker 2:I think D mentioned that People don't just do this. So, yes, the buildup of the training and then getting to the event and you're just like antsy, you're like when do we go? When do we go? It's 10 am. You've already been out for like six hours.
Speaker 2:So you're just antsy all morning. So finally that moment comes where, all right guys, you're just antsy all morning, right. And so finally that moment comes where all right guys circle back. We got, uh, you're going up, all right, sick Me and the boys, six of us, seven of us hop in the chopper and I'm I'm hanging on the edge here literally because, uh, when we did training, there were seats and seatbelts. Um, I get into the chopper and, uh, there are none. Now I'm like, oh okay, I got you guys holding my chest plate making sure.
Speaker 1:I don't slip out of this thing and kill myself.
Speaker 2:I'm just trying to take it in as best I can. In that moment, everything slowed down because I was like dude the buildup. I've already gone through the story in my head. I'm like this is it. This is our moment right now, and it's not just our moment in the sense that we did this thing, but it's also for the sake of the compound. This is just the start of how cool this place is going to be, folks.
Speaker 1:This is really the first year that we operated a full working year and we jumped out of hell.
Speaker 2:And literally the goal, goal, and if you go check out the video. But we, we jumped, well, we got put into a place where it was already gunfire happening, right, quote, unquote, and we stopped play so that we can repel out. And then the game continued. So we, we had been inserted into enemy territory. Yeah, we all got dropped in and then obliterated.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah. It's hard to tell, or it's hard to not let the enemy know where you are when you're coming out of a massive moving bird.
Speaker 2:Okay, guys game's off for a sec while the helicopter comes down and everyone starts to migrate over and all six of us drop and it was like six versus 40 people.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, like drop, and it was like six versus 40 people. Yeah, so yeah, like I mean it was, it was a blackhawk down moment.
Speaker 1:It was pretty bad. It was uh, you know what it was worth it pain's always worth it.
Speaker 2:It was such a great time just some of the coolest stuff you'll ever see and the coolest stuff you'll ever do. And go check out the video, dude, it was sweet.
Speaker 1:It was awesome. It was a great season and a great time and we really appreciate you joining us on our journey. Thankful, we really appreciate you being part of our community and we look forward to many, many, many more movies and documentaries and cool shoots coming out of you. I just I can't thank you enough, man well, thank you, dude.
Speaker 2:I owe it to you guys for what it is that I do, and now that I've kind of got up and running, I owe it to you guys to push myself to continue to give you guys that content, because you guys deserve it, that's awesome it's, we're in a great space. It's only going to get better. Let's fucking go.
Speaker 1:Let's fucking go. Words from John Moore. Thanks a lot for coming on the Airsoft Experience. I really appreciate you coming out. I've been trying for two years to get you out here, but now it's done and, just like you said, let's fucking go, let's fucking go and with that we'll see you guys.
