RODZILLA Q & A just to let you know who he be.

Q: Why aren't you famous yet?

A: Well obviously I am famous because I am on the Caliskatz web site, that is fame at it's highest point. Do you mean why aren't I a famous skateboard photographer? If that's the question then it get's a little complicated. it's a combination of a bad case of O.C.D., an equally bad case of A.D.D., The inability to get along with people, a huge out of control ego, some issues in the past with drugs, selling my soul to "the man" and a genuine fear of success. Add all that up and it's surprising I haven't killed someone or myself yet, much less been successful at what i do. I am in some heavy therapy now though- it's a combination of eastern spirituality mixed with western capitalism and it's brought me out of my shell. I am now ready to be productive member of the skateboarding community now.

Q: Where has your photography work been
used?

A: Thrasher, Slap, Strength, a slew of foreign mags and of course the coolest mag in the ghetto Concussion. I did a shit load of stuff for THINK as well. I worked there for 5 yrs. as a sales manager but ended up doing ads, catalog stuff and a ton of promotional photography because deadline would come around and we would have nothing. That's why most of the rippers you see in these photos are ex THINK riders. It's no secret THINK has the biggest turn around of riders out of any company ever, so i ended up shooting a lot of great skateboarders as they were on the way up. I have also had a few art shows with my non skate photographs and ended up selling quite a few pieces. I have had a hard time dealing with the art crowd though and haven't done that for a while-of course it was always my over judgmental bad attitude and no one else's. After I finish my web site I'll go down that route again and see if I can handle it this time.

Q: What's your web site going to be all about?

A: All my photography, not just the skating stuff. I will probably do some writing on it as well, who knows. I just want to get it up and running then let it take a natural course. I am not sure if
anyone one will even look at so I am going to make it something I want to look at so it's not a total waste of time- at least I will enjoy it.

Q: Favorite photo you have taken?

A: There are too many to choose from, not because I am great or anything like that but because of the volume of pictures I've taken. When I first started taking photos I smoked a lot of speed so I shot non stop. I traveled all over just shooting cool shit and tweaking. I am not saying this to be funny or cool or even romanticize drug taking, it's just what I did when I was fucked up. I believe my non skate stuff from Yosemite, New Mexico and Hawaii during my drug phase is actually more appealing than any of my skate stuff, so I would have to break it down to categories first. I have binders full of negatives and slides and to choose just one would be a contest I don't want to participate in. besides at this point I'm not even half way through organizing all my stuff and I have been working on this for 2 1/2 years already. There are still some gems I am sure I will find for all I know could be my favorite photo.

Q: what are your biggest pet peeves?

A: Non photo related answer would be "yes men". Stop sucking the bosses dick from across the street and stand up for something. It's got to feel like shit having an idea you know is right but agreeing with someone just because your afraid of what will happen to you. Stick up for what you believe in cowards. I know that sounded real bitter, but that shit drives me crazy.
photo related is the same as most anyone- kicked out of a spot when your about to get the photo or spending a day on your back wasting film and never getting the shot. You get over though.

Q: Do you ever cry when looking through
your work?

A: That's a real silly question

Q: Speaking of silly, where did you get the ridiculous nickname "Rodzilla"

A: Just like you don't choose your parents you don't choose your nickname. I got it during one of my benders, I woke up after it was over and the only thing I had to show from the festivities was a nickname. It obviously stems from my last name Rodela mixed with a little flair at the end. In all my years of living it's the only time a nickname has stuck with me so I kept it.

Q: Well it has been said that you are great at everything : skating, photography, poker, writing, yoga, your a gourmet cook, for some reason chicks dig you and the list goes on and on. Now that you are here I want to ask you, is there anything you are not good at?

A: Yeah, keeping my mouth shut during certain situations- I believe you need to stand up for what you believe in but I need to work on being more tactful and less blunt. I am getting better though. Like the new Bruce would say something like "thanks for putting me on your site and helping get my own website up, it's super nice of you Tony". The old Bruce would've said "your questions were stupid and you really need to work harder on my fucking site....asshole."