“LIFE WITH REIS CREW”, A VIDEO TO SAVOR AND DISCUSS

It’s been 5 years since we released the Montana Colors x Midnight Madness video trilogy. Coincidentally, the Portuguese audiovisual collective has recently released a video dedicated to the most famous Portuguese graffiti crew: REIS. Given the obvious proximity of the group of audiovisual producers to the Lisboeta-Portuguese gang, we asked them a handful of questions about Reis’ reputation as well as their aesthetic vision on the world of graffiti videos.


Given the occasion we spiffed up the report with a selection of tasty snapshots taken during the recording of Life with Reis Crew.

Who exactly is in the Reis collective and what does the crew represent in Portuguese and worldwide graffiti?
In Reis I think there are around 15 people, more or less. They still have some other family ties around Europe, but the base is 15 people.
From this 15, only 5 or 6 are pretty active. The rest of them paint from time to time, but stay connected by trying to help by checking some missions, or taking pictures, etc.
In Portugal, I think they are one of the most active crews from the last 15 years so far, and I think the main Portuguese reference worldwide.

How has the formation evolved since it was founded 17 years ago up to today?
The formation evolved based on friendship, since the first day one of the things that really impressed me was the organic way that everyone is so different, and mixed, both in thinking, painting, and also the way they live, as individuals and as a crew. This is what I think the evolution of the crew went through.

“…my videos are more focused on action; the stress, the suspense, the slow motion, the ambience. All that makes you want to be there and be part of that video.”

What do you think the video offers that we don’t find in other audiovisual documents about graffiti on trains?
This video brings 100% Midnight Madness vision; what we think it brings is a more cinematic vision, with more camera movement, more photographic angles, more storytelling, and something completely different from the classic graffiti movies -with a camera in the corner and drum and bass music. This vision comes more like a documentary vision. In the graffiti world, you’re not used to seeing people talk about what a crew represents, or the goal of each person inside a crew. This type of video takes you into a personal space inside the crew and each writer.

“Because every little piece of sound in the exact moment will pick up the human brain’s attention, and will make it more focused on the video.”

If you go back 20 years more or less, the only video that has more storytelling is Dirty Handz3, with the voice over. Nowadays you could see that in Lila from Sweden, and Wol 3. These types of graffiti movies bring more cinematic shots, and more suspense, with sound switching, from music to live sound, the color grade, and they are more focused on the action, not on the piece. It’s another perspective in graffiti movies.

How important is music and how has the work been in that sense?
Music is super important in each movie. It is what makes the narrative flow, but you can mix that with the live sound, and flip it.
Personally I like things that are not common in the graffiti scene. I talk with producers and collaborate with them in order to have exclusive sound design. That makes a big difference in the end.
Because every little piece of sound in the exact moment will pick up the human brain’s attention, and will make it more focused on the video.
The classic era of rap beats fro m Looptroop, or Drum and Bass, or even Techno sometimes, is still unique and necessary in order to go further and explore other types of melodies and sounds for the videos.

What are the most interesting graffiti videos you have seen lately?
So, lately I have not seen anything, but I can tell you that, 1UP are really a big inspiration on video edits and creative narratives. The Grifters were pioneers on that change, and have really good content. Montana with the Diaries and the latests ones, NC Formula, ILovegraffiti.DE, Spray Daily with the monochrome series, but my favorites are Lila and The Wol 3, for the reason I already mentioned before. Last but not least, much love for Selina Miles: she definitely changed the way, we see graffiti movies nowadays.

What is more important, the action or the piece?
As I said before, my videos are more focused on action; the stress, the suspense, the slow motion, the ambience. All that makes you want to be there and be part of that video.
In my vision I give more power to the action than the actual piece, but other videographers want everything: the action and the piece. I think the video is what makes the action important, or the piece.

A word to define the video “Life with Reis crew”?
Family.