First Hand | Nick Ferreira
Nick Ferreira is the creator of a BMX zine called Holeshot, which you can actually hold in your hands, rather than just look at on your screen. But while you are staring at the screen, you might as well stare a little longer and get to know Nick a little better. Here is a little sneak peak of issue six of Holeshot along with some first hand knowledge from Nicolas Ferreira.
Hometown, age, astrological sign, and current location?
I'm from Taunton Massachusetts I am a Gemini and I am currently living in Los Angeles, CA
Can you give a quick description of what Holeshot is?
It's a lo-fi BMX publication that features mostly work by myself but as of late there has been a good portion of the content from the contributors like Kyle Emery-Peck, Ted Van Orman, Matt Gaspar and Andrew Burton to name a few. If I was to describe it in more than a physical sense I would say it's BMX the way I like to see it. I love everything about BMX but I just like "normal" and raw stuff a bit more. And since it's mine, I get to focus on whatever I like.
Where does your motivation come from to do your own BMX zine?
It came out of having some free time and a bunch of sub standard BMX photos. Now I just really like making it and still take a lot of sub standard BMX photos that wouldn't look that good on the web. I like making it for my friends too.
What got you interested in photography, art, and design?
Magazines, bikes, boards and art class in middle school. Like how most kids get into it I guess.
Is that what you studied in college?
I studied photography in college. But I didn't study it in a commercial way. it was a very fine arts based curriculum with less attention paid to technique and more attention paid to conceptual ideas. I like to think of it simply and say I just got a degree in art.
When and what can readers expect to see in the next issue of Holeshot?
I think issue 6 should be done in December. I am basically just getting loose ends squared away now and then I have to send it off to the printer. There's some cool stuff in it. A large portfolio on the Bay by Kyle Emery-Peck, a BMX club from my hometown of Taunton MA that calls themselves Team Shed (they hangout in a shed), Short roadtrip articles from places I've gone since the last issue, and a bunch of random photographs from in and around L.A. There's also a bunch of random pieces of writing and ideas sprinkled in between.
Where can we pick up an issue?
The easiest way is straight from me at www.holeshotbmx.net. Through paypal or if you send me a couple bucks in the mail to cover costs
Will you be sticking to the classic format for future issues, or do you have any changes planned as far as layout goes?
Yeah classic format of half-size. 8.5x5.5. I've done a 8.5x7 issue (issue 4) but to keep costs down I stick to the normal size. Envelopes are cheaper and easier to find and it's still considered a letter as long as it's not too thick.
Where do you see Holeshot going in the next year, any big plans?
To be honest, I'm not sure. I got a new freelance kind of job with ESPN so I might just try and use all the photos I take as well as writings and maybe some video stuff with them. I'll never officially throw in the towel though because it will still be fun to make one randomly and all the other product stuff for my friends like tees, hats, and koozies.
Do fund the zine from purchases alone, or do companies pay for advertising space in the zine?
Companies pay a little bit for advertising and for that I am truly grateful. A company like Animal does not have to run an ad in a zine with a run of 250 copies but it's still pretty awesome they do. It just shows they are down for things other than dough. With that said, I end up giving a lot of copies away and all the other stuff like stamps, envelopes, etc. gets expensive. A xeroxed BMX zine is not a lucrative business, not that I am salty about that or anything it's just the truth. I usually just put all the money I do make on it back into getting tees, the koozies, stickers, etc. Sometimes I'll have some extra loot left over to buy some beer maybe.
What do you think sets Holeshot apart from other BMX publications?
First and foremost it's really small. I don't print anywhere near the copies actual magazines print. Then the biggest difference is probably that I just get to focus on things I actually care about in BMX. The small things and things that will always be timeless. I always liked that you can pick up most zines 10 years after getting them and everything is still interesting. I hope Holeshot does that.
What recommendations or advice can you give to someone wanting to start their own zine?
Do it. If you even think you'd like to make a zine, you might as well. I mean what's stopping you? To make a 20 page 8.5x5.5 zine it would probably cost you less than a dollar a copy.
Care to discuss why you left In the Gnar?
Time. I wanted to ride more and finish this issue of Holeshot. I think when you sit on the web all day you see a lot of cool shit. I wanted to do and make cool shit, not write about it, if that makes sense.
Can you tell us a little about Amigos and what it is all about?
Amigos is just a small outlet for my girlfriend, Kerry and I to publish our friend's art. Like most people we have talented friends but they may not have the time to put together a full length zine of their work. I also just really think zines and books in general are some of the best ways to see art. It's so accessible.
Anything else you would like to discuss?
I think we covered everything?
Last words?
Relax. Have fun.
Hometown, age, astrological sign, and current location?
I'm from Taunton Massachusetts I am a Gemini and I am currently living in Los Angeles, CA
Can you give a quick description of what Holeshot is?
It's a lo-fi BMX publication that features mostly work by myself but as of late there has been a good portion of the content from the contributors like Kyle Emery-Peck, Ted Van Orman, Matt Gaspar and Andrew Burton to name a few. If I was to describe it in more than a physical sense I would say it's BMX the way I like to see it. I love everything about BMX but I just like "normal" and raw stuff a bit more. And since it's mine, I get to focus on whatever I like.
Where does your motivation come from to do your own BMX zine?
It came out of having some free time and a bunch of sub standard BMX photos. Now I just really like making it and still take a lot of sub standard BMX photos that wouldn't look that good on the web. I like making it for my friends too.
What got you interested in photography, art, and design?
Magazines, bikes, boards and art class in middle school. Like how most kids get into it I guess.
Is that what you studied in college?
I studied photography in college. But I didn't study it in a commercial way. it was a very fine arts based curriculum with less attention paid to technique and more attention paid to conceptual ideas. I like to think of it simply and say I just got a degree in art.
When and what can readers expect to see in the next issue of Holeshot?
I think issue 6 should be done in December. I am basically just getting loose ends squared away now and then I have to send it off to the printer. There's some cool stuff in it. A large portfolio on the Bay by Kyle Emery-Peck, a BMX club from my hometown of Taunton MA that calls themselves Team Shed (they hangout in a shed), Short roadtrip articles from places I've gone since the last issue, and a bunch of random photographs from in and around L.A. There's also a bunch of random pieces of writing and ideas sprinkled in between.
Where can we pick up an issue?
The easiest way is straight from me at www.holeshotbmx.net. Through paypal or if you send me a couple bucks in the mail to cover costs
Will you be sticking to the classic format for future issues, or do you have any changes planned as far as layout goes?
Yeah classic format of half-size. 8.5x5.5. I've done a 8.5x7 issue (issue 4) but to keep costs down I stick to the normal size. Envelopes are cheaper and easier to find and it's still considered a letter as long as it's not too thick.
Where do you see Holeshot going in the next year, any big plans?
To be honest, I'm not sure. I got a new freelance kind of job with ESPN so I might just try and use all the photos I take as well as writings and maybe some video stuff with them. I'll never officially throw in the towel though because it will still be fun to make one randomly and all the other product stuff for my friends like tees, hats, and koozies.
Do fund the zine from purchases alone, or do companies pay for advertising space in the zine?
Companies pay a little bit for advertising and for that I am truly grateful. A company like Animal does not have to run an ad in a zine with a run of 250 copies but it's still pretty awesome they do. It just shows they are down for things other than dough. With that said, I end up giving a lot of copies away and all the other stuff like stamps, envelopes, etc. gets expensive. A xeroxed BMX zine is not a lucrative business, not that I am salty about that or anything it's just the truth. I usually just put all the money I do make on it back into getting tees, the koozies, stickers, etc. Sometimes I'll have some extra loot left over to buy some beer maybe.
What do you think sets Holeshot apart from other BMX publications?
First and foremost it's really small. I don't print anywhere near the copies actual magazines print. Then the biggest difference is probably that I just get to focus on things I actually care about in BMX. The small things and things that will always be timeless. I always liked that you can pick up most zines 10 years after getting them and everything is still interesting. I hope Holeshot does that.
What recommendations or advice can you give to someone wanting to start their own zine?
Do it. If you even think you'd like to make a zine, you might as well. I mean what's stopping you? To make a 20 page 8.5x5.5 zine it would probably cost you less than a dollar a copy.
Care to discuss why you left In the Gnar?
Time. I wanted to ride more and finish this issue of Holeshot. I think when you sit on the web all day you see a lot of cool shit. I wanted to do and make cool shit, not write about it, if that makes sense.
Can you tell us a little about Amigos and what it is all about?
Amigos is just a small outlet for my girlfriend, Kerry and I to publish our friend's art. Like most people we have talented friends but they may not have the time to put together a full length zine of their work. I also just really think zines and books in general are some of the best ways to see art. It's so accessible.
Anything else you would like to discuss?
I think we covered everything?
Last words?
Relax. Have fun.
posted by Brian Barnhart at
9:10 PM
