Jack Bontatibus

organic video operator who earns attention
🚙 2022 bronco build | 💪 lifts | 🏍️ rides a triumph | 🩺 she saves lives, 🎥 I shoot reels | Orange County, CA

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

I think California is the ultimate state for adventures

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

Everything was done 100% in Premiere Pro. Color grading, masking, tracking, effects... ALL of it.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

This YouTube video got ~10,000 views in its first 6 MONTHS.

Then, 7 months after I posted it, it suddenly started ripping.

The weird part?

I thought it was one of the best videos I’d made from day one.

Here’s what I think happened:

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

I've spent YEARS collecting camera gear... only to realize that less gear might actually make me a better filmmaker.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

Everything was done 100% in Premiere Pro. Color grading, masking, tracking, effects... ALL of it.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

I've been using this every day.

Hands down, one of the best plugins I've ever purchased.

[Jacq @YoJacq]

After Effects Mocha tracking SUCKS

So I built my own motion tracker for Premiere Pro

Fast
Easy
In Premiere Pro

https://t.co/7ZlpNfv33T

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

I've spent 10+ years figuring out what makes videos work.

Now I help creators and brands put that knowledge to use through video editing, production, and strategy.

DM me to work together.

https://t.co/vduKD0qmVn

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

This YouTube video got ~10,000 views in its first 6 MONTHS.

Then, 7 months after I posted it, it suddenly started ripping.

The weird part?

I thought it was one of the best videos I’d made from day one.

Here’s what I think happened:

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

So no, I don’t think the lesson is:

“Great videos always win eventually.”

They don’t.

Distribution matters. Timing matters. Luck absolutely matters.

But I think creators massively underestimate the shelf life of a genuinely strong video.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

AI is playing a role… but cheaper and cheaper labor was how this all started.

2-3 years ago I noticed a massive shift in contract prices/opportunities. A mixture of over-seas workers & younger workers (teens) started driving the prices down.

Take me: married, living in SoCal, have expenses an average adult worker does (health insurance, rent, student loan payments, etc.)

Take a younger editor/over-seas editor: doesn’t need to make as much as expenses are non existent/significantly cheaper.

On top of all of this… they actually are cracked editors. It’s a no-brainer for clients to go with them.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

I’m not advocating something be done about this, it’s the way markets work. It got more competitive and people were able to offer better products.

I am seriously encouraging every editor/creative freelancer to seriously look at the next 2-3 years of their life. This is not something you can bank on forever.

Adapt or be left behind.

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

AI is playing a role… but cheaper and cheaper labor was how this all started.

2-3 years ago I noticed a massive shift in contract prices/opportunities. A mixture of over-seas workers & younger workers (teens) started driving the prices down.

Take me: married, living in SoCal, have expenses an average adult worker does (health insurance, rent, student loan payments, etc.)

Take a younger editor/over-seas editor: doesn’t need to make as much as expenses are non existent/significantly cheaper.

On top of all of this… they actually are cracked editors. It’s a no-brainer for clients to go with them.

[ap @apkmap0]

I really went from paying $40 per minute of editing to $0.40 per minute

AI is amazing 😭😭

[Jack Bontatibus @jackbontatibus]

Couldn’t agree more. Bronco for $45k + literally $1,000s in upgrades. Best purchase I’ve ever made and I’ll continue to dump stupid money into it.

Have made countless friends and been able to have insane experiences in SoCal.

Don’t be cheap, spend your money.

[Adam Yoder @amyoder]

I bought an Audi RS7 in my mid 20s and it was one of the best decisions I ever made

Here’s why:

1. You can do it without “wasting” money. Sometimes you can even make money depending on which car you buy.

I bought mine for $50k, drove it 12k miles and sold for $50k, like an idiot I didn’t even negotiate but I prob could’ve bought it for like 45k or less and sold for a profit. I also got it in 2021 when rates were low.

If you buy from someone who is financing they will usually be willing to sell for whatever the loan payoff is so they mentally break even and stop paying interest and insurance.

2. I met some of my best friends through cars.

It’s kind of crazy to think about but most adults actually do struggle making friends, if you have a nice car you’ll get invited to all sorts of meets and events and it’s an easy way to build a social circle.

3. It expands your professional network.

This one should be pretty obvious. You meet tons of people further ahead than you in business and life, younger people who you might end up doing business in and older people who see a younger version of themselves in you and want to see you win.

When I bought this car I sold mortgages. Just 1 referral could make you anywhere from $3-$9k. It’s very easy to get caught in the trap of thinking a car is an unnecessary expense but you need to view it almost like a cashflowing asset, or at the minimum have an intentional plan on how you can use it to increase your income and advance your career.

Lastly, they’re just cool. Who doesn’t want a cool car

10/10 would recommend