Ross Fairfield, Dead Pirate Productions

Interview by: Death Machines

Photos by: Ross Fairfield’s Cell Phone

Intro: Here it is the Ross Fairfield interview; this young man is working hard to become one of the big names in the drift industry.  He has built a company named Dead Pirate Productions (such a great name) with his partner Casey. Growing his name in the industry has not been behind the wheel of a drift machine but behind a Sony HDR-RX7. He has been involved in drifting for the past few years helping Kyle Mohan, doing a ton of filming for Kyle’s team.  This year Ross and Dead Pirate Productions has come out with some edits documenting Michael Essa’s season Taka Aono’s, and I am sure in a few weeks we will be seeing more. Below are a few other edits that have been filmed this season and they are all good so take the time to check them out. Out of all Ross’s edit this season, I think the Formula D Pro Am edit stuck out the most.

Name/Age/Location:

Ross S. Fairfield, 23, Riverslime, CA

How’s it going and what have you been up to?

Been going great.  Enjoying the off-season, getting some down time from the normal rush of the drift season.  Working on different videos and got a BMX project going with a long time friend of mine, Ryan Russell.

Why did you choose drifting to showcase your videos?

Drifting made an impact on me right from the start.  The gracefulness of the cars, the lingering smoke, the light through the trees…That’s a load of BULLSHIT!  I chose drifting because drifting is a giant free-for-all-chaos-festival.

How did you get into drifting?

Such a cliche answer…Video games and videos on youtube and the internet.

With so many good grassroots series, do you try to follow one specifically?

I follow the Top Drift and So-Cal Drift series.  Sadly I don’t make it to nearly as many as I would like due to lack of time/money/transportation.

Which do you prefer, grassroots or pro drifting?

Grassroots gives me that slammed-to-the-ground balls-to-the-walls lots of nonsense drifting.  Pro drifting gives me that

What action sports are you into?

I started skateboarding when I was 13.  And like now, I was the camer kid.  I also am into snowboarding, but haven’t been able to go up for years!

What equipment do you shoot with?

Sony HDR-RX7 and my hands.

What software do you use?

Final Cut Pro, Magic Bullet Looks and the one program that always seems to act up…patience.

Do you shoot stills?

For some reason people like Drew Fishbein, Larry Chen and Alison Merion trust me with their cameras so I load their memory card with possibly useless pictures when they aren’t looking.  I’m also really handy with a cell phone camera.

How do you think your style of shooting and editing is different from the rest?

This is a very good question.  One that cannot be answered in simple terms…ok that’s bullshit too LOL.  I shoot with almost no plan.  Just kind of “Oh, this looks cool”.  Same with editing…I just kind of wing it.  But I also prefer to edit to a lot of fast paced music, more rock metal type music.  But I’ve toned it down this year and gone a little techno/rock/whatever.

Whose video style do you like the best?

I really like the guys at Top Gear.  They have a really clean style that I love.  Also, I really like just about any skateboard filmer.  I started filming skateboarding and the videos heavily influenced how I did my videos back then and now.

Are you originally from L.A.?

I was born in the City of Orange in California.

Have you ever done any videos on anything else besides drifting?

I did skateboarding and BMX videos in high school and am getting into a BMX project with my high school friend.  I also did a snowboard video once, but I have no idea what happened to it.  I would like to do more non-drifting associated videos just to expand my skill and stretch my evil fingers into more places.

How do you go about picking music for your videos?

Just as random as my filming/editing style.  I usually find something with a fast pace that I can stand listening to constantly.

When you go to events, who do you hang with?

I’m all over the place at events.  One minute I’m on a rig, the next I’m behind a wall.  Usually I’m hanging out with Drew Fishbein, Larry Chen, Alison Merion and also Will Roegge and Josh Herron when they aren’t up in a tree or under a cone on the track somewhere.

What kind of car do you drive daily?

It’s a toss up between my feet, my dad’s Altima, my mom’s Tahoe or the train.

Have you ever had any hooked up cars?

I used to own a very un-hooked up 1987 Nissan S12.  That car was a HUGE pile of shit!  I bug bombed it 4 times before I would even start working on it.  Then it got towed by my apartment complex.  They apparently don’t like rattle can black cars with red spray painted wheels, shattered windows with spray paint on it and no engine…and expired tags.

Have you ever tried drifting?

Once or twice…I don’t have my own car to actually get any amount of track time at all.  When I get a car I will for sure.

What do you think about the NY and NJ area?

I love NY and NJ, I’m not sure why.  Just something about it seems awsome to me.  NY I guess I like it cause I feel more at peace when I’m surrounded by GINORMOUS buildings and tons of cars over where I live now…which is dirt and horses.

The interview you did with Jeff was great.  Will we be seeing more of this in the future?

There will definitely be more interviews like the one I did with Jeff.  Myself, along with George from everythingdrift.com had originally planned to do interview with as many drivers as possible, but due to time restrictions both at pro-am and with ourselves in our home lives, we couldn’t get to it.  Sorry pro-am guys, I suck

What do you have planned for 2010?

To rule the world and drive Kyle Mohan crazy again.

What are your top 3 magazines?

Playboy, Forbes, Fancy car magazines

What are your top 3 websites?

Everythingdrift.com, Motormavens.com and definitely not least DeathMachines.net

What are the 5 most played songs on your iPod?

A.D.H.D – Loser Street

DethKlok – Murmaider II

Innerpartysystem – Don’t Stop (I blame Will Roegge for this)

H.I.M. – Sigillum Diaboli

DethKlok – Castratikron

Any shout outs?

I would like to thank my mom for not killing me yet because of my wild antics involving her and me doing something retarded.  My dad for always helping out when it comes to drifting and my videos.  All my friends that support me.  All the drivers for bringing their car within inches of me to film.  Brian Harte and Alex “Baby Drift” Kors for thinking I’m Mexican.  Kyle Mohan for his continued belief that I actually know what I’m doing.  Drew Fishbein for being travel buddies hahah.  Everyone who posted my videos on their website or linked them into message boards.  I really appreciate all the support.  Also Everythingdrift.com, MotorMavens.com and DeathMachines.net for really showing the love!