Tattoo Tales: A Cinematic Exploration of Living Art
In conceiving the idea for my first profile feature film I envisioned to spotlight someone deeply connected to the world of art. To me, art is an integral facet of society, infusing vibrant hues and luminosity into its tapestry. While exploring Reno, I couldn’t help but notice numerous individuals adorned with art on their bodies. This piqued my curiosity and sparked a realization — art transcends traditional confines, extending beyond grand walls, museums, or canvases – it can also be seamlessly woven onto people’s bodies. It is this revelation that inspired my choice to center my film around the narrative of a tattoo artist, exploring the unique canvas of human expression.
Story Roadmap:
A City Tour in Search of the Ideal Collaborator
With the idea of featuring a tattoo artist in mind, I set out on a cold Wednesday evening to explore potential artists in Reno. The goal was to find a vibrant person with positive vibes, resonating with the atmosphere of the chosen tattoo shop. Tattoo art in Reno proved to be highly popular, evident from numerous 4+ star-rated establishments.
Starting my search in Downtown, challenges arose where the vibe of either the artist or the shop didn’t match the story canvas I envisioned. After visiting several shops, I shifted my focus to Midtown, encountering similar obstacles. Finally, I arrived at Evolution Tattoo around 7:50 pm, just when they were closing up for the day.
Undeterred by the imminent closing time, I entered the shop and was immediately struck with awe by the ambiance, adorned with a plethora of captivating pictures and tattoo illustrations. After introducing myself, I articulated the concept for my feature story, stating my search for someone fun, engaging, and comfortable in front of the camera. While in the company of some present artists, a sense of reluctance permeated the air, stemming from their collective camera shyness. However, amidst the hesitation, a unanimous recommendation emerged –
“You should definitely talk to Johnny; he’s the best fit for what you’re looking.”
Regrettably, Johnny had already left the shop for the day, therefore I secured an appointment for the following day, eager to meet him in person. My intention was to talk to him first and gauge if our energies aligned and if he was open for a collaboration, contingent on his availability within my schedule. The prospect of featuring Johnny as the focal point of my project seemed promising, setting the stage for what would unfold in our meeting the next day.
Meet Johnny Bavaro: The Tattoo Artist
Johnny embarked on his tattooing journey at a remarkably young age, stepping into the tattoo shop just two days after high school graduation. Initially, he worked as a body piercer, but his foray into tattoo artistry began approximately eleven years ago. Johnny’s artistic inclinations lean towards comics, cartoons, anime and illustrations, where vibrant colors play a prominent role. In his formative years, the appreciation for comics and pop culture laid the foundation for a journey of creativity and passion that shapes his artistic endeavors today. Thus, he draws lots of similar enthusiasts as clients, and many more are captivated by the distinctive fusion of his artistic skills and shared interests.
For Johnny, tattooing serves as a powerful mode of self-expression. He sees tattoos as akin to clothing or shoes, representing complete freedom in personal appearance. In the contemporary era, the freedom to express oneself through artwork, favorite characters, or memorials has become a widespread phenomenon. Johnny emphasizes that tattooing is a canvas for individual expression, allowing people to convey themselves in unique and meaningful ways.
Central to Johnny’s life are his family values, with his two daughters and loving wife. He attributes his present success and identity to the unwavering love and support he receives from them. Engaging with his customers goes beyond the tattooing process; Johnny takes the time to build relationships. Renowned among his clientele as a “giant nerd” with an affection for comics and cartoons, Johnny’s customers often seek him out for tattoos featuring beloved cartoon characters. During tattoo sessions, conversations with customers extend beyond the artwork, delving into spirited debates about characters, further solidifying the connections Johnny forges with those who visit his studio.
Spiderman
Spiderman Comic
Venom
Spiderman Comic
Bakugo
My Hero Academia Manga
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man Anime
Finn
Adventure Time Cartoon
Joker
Batman Comic
King John
Robin Hood Animated
No Face
Spirited Away Movie
Light Saber
Star Wars Comic
Droid
Star Wars Comic
Johnny's Inspiration
During Johnny’s childhood years, a profound inspiration for the art of tattooing took root in his vivid memories by observing his uncle Vito adorned with intricate tattoos. Johnny was captivated by the storytelling etched into each design, a visual narrative that seemed to unfold with every inked line. The transformative power of these tattoos became a source of inspiration, planting the seeds for Johnny’s own journey into tattooing.
Sketch
The artist meticulously sketches the design on paper, ensuring that every line captures the essence of the client’s vision.
Color
The infusion of color adds depth and dimension to the outlined sketch, creating a dynamic and visual masterpiece.
Enjoy
Shared experience of joy as both the artist and client witness the transformation of a sketch into a personalized body art.
Johnny's Special Tattoo
Observing their father’s tattoo craft while growing up, Johnny’s eldest daughter Lilly developed a keen interest. For Father’s Day last year (2022), she decided to gift him a unique present aligned with his passion. Requesting permission, she took hold of the tattoo machine and asked, “Can I draw something on you?” Johnny, overwhelmed with emotion, granted her the opportunity to delve into the art form. She skillfully etched a small unicorn onto his right leg, creating one of his favorite and most prized tattoos. Johnny, immensely proud, finds fulfillment in being an inspirational figure for his daughters, witnessing their respect for the art of tattooing as they grow.
Johnny's Friend
Eleven years ago, Johnny bravely ventured into the world of tattoos, choosing his best friend Ronnie as the first canvas to paint on. The experience was daunting, marking it as the scariest endeavor of his life. However, upon completion, disappointment clouded Johnny as he disliked the outcome. Despite his desire for improvement, Ronnie, appreciating the sentimental value as Johnny’s inaugural tattoo, rejected any alterations. Today, Johnny expresses gratitude towards Ronnie, acknowledging the pivotal role that initial ink played in shaping his journey and career. The tattoo, once a source of regret, now serves as a symbolic reminder of personal growth and gratitude.
The Impact of Tattoo Tales
Embarking on this project for my first profile feature of an artist, as a film director, was an exhilarating journey and one of personal growth and development. Exploring the vibrant streets of downtown and midtown Reno during a chilly evening, my objective was to discover the ideal subject for my narrative. Venturing into tattoo shops, I engaged with strangers, skillfully persuading them to become integral parts of my cinematic creation. Being behind the scenes for my past work experience This immersive process not only amplified the richness of my filmmaking experience but also elevated it to an entirely new level. Each step of the project added layers of depth to the storytelling potential.
While seeking a suitable subject, I encountered difficulties — some people declined due to discomfort on camera, others were shy or unavailable. Fortunately, I found the perfect subject, ‘Johnny Bavaro – The Tattoo Artist,’ who met all my criteria. Starting my search on Wednesday, I was able to meet and talk to Johnny regarding my vision of the project on Thursday, and did my first shoot with him on Friday. Shooting him presented technical challenges, particularly with using a gimbal for introductory shots. Lacking expertise in handling the gimbal, I couldn’t achieve some desired shots that were envisioned. I plan to utilize gimbal shots in future videography and continue learning the technique.
Being a Multimedia story, the plan was to have an interactive webpage design to engage users and better capture and enhance their view. I have tried to incorporate various web elements which were initially unknown to me, and had to browse through a lot of tutorials on how to do it. Given my lack of any prior coding experience, there was a trade-off to implement web elements in a way that is technically feasible for me to grasp, as well as not to increase the page load time and memory. This led me to learn about copying elements of CSS for styling and Javascript for interactivity.
Despite challenges, I am grateful for the variety of shots I captured, attempting to authentically depict the tattooing environment. Johnny was extremely cooperative throughout the filming, readily available whenever his help was needed. I thank my husband, my strongest support, for guiding me to the right sets of tutorials around designing the web elements. I credit my mentors in the Indian industry for teaching me technicalities and familiarizing me with fieldwork that contributed to my professional post-creative experience. I aspire to grow my passion for creative filming, hoping to give voice to the untold stories of diverse groups of people, to the world, cinematically in the future.