Ep 102 - Caleb "Bad Flashes" Knueven on Film Photography, VFX, and Storytelling
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Caleb 'Bad Flashes' Knueven’s journey from a frustrated skateboarder in Leavenworth, Kansas, to a filmmaker and visual storyteller is a masterclass in turning limitations into creative fuel. When he couldn’t keep up on a board, he picked up a camera—not for soccer games, but to capture the tricks he admired. That early obsession with skate videos became a lifelong passion for storytelling through motion, leading him from high school film projects to visual effects work at Stargate Studios and eventually to founding the YouTube channel Bad Flashes. What began as a curiosity with analog film photography—sparked by a $70 Holga and expired film—evolved into a full artistic identity centered on abandoned architecture and forgotten Americana. Now a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, Caleb blends his love for film, travel, and human stories, capturing the quiet histories of dilapidated buildings and small towns. His advice? Just start. Perfectionism is the enemy; action is the only path forward. Even when confronted by angry landowners or chaotic production schedules, Caleb’s philosophy remains simple: be kind, communicate clearly, and keep showing up. The episode reveals how the tools we use—whether a Sony Handycam from the 90s or a 16mm film camera—don’t just record stories; they shape them.
Start creating even if your first project is terrible—Caleb’s first film, Bob, was 'super stupid' but launched his career.
Use analog tools like film and old camcorders to deepen your creative connection; they force intentionality and slow down the process.
Abandoned architecture tells stories—capture the quiet history of forgotten places to reveal deeper truths about communities and time.
Perfectionism kills progress; the hardest part is starting—just do it, even if it’s messy or imperfect.
Be kind and communicative on set—ego and poor communication are the top reasons projects fail, not technical issues.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
From Skateboarder to Storyteller: The Birth of a Creative Journey
“I was bad at skateboarding, but I wanted to hang out with the guys... So I basically was like, Hey mom, my little brother, he likes to play soccer. And maybe if you would get a handicap for him, we could watch him play soccer and record his soccer games. And then she bought a handicap and then basically I just stole it and I used it for skateboarding videos. That's it.”
The Analog Awakening: How Film Photography Changed Everything
“I bought a Holga because I was like, what's the cheapest barrier to entry here? And it was that it was 70, 70 bucks, something like that maybe on used Holga on Amazon.”
The Art of the Forgotten: Capturing America’s Dilapidated Soul
“I'd say it's probably more architectural dilapidated architecture. Which is super cool. I mean, I love old Americana. Like I want to do I want to do from L.A. Route 66 to the end.”
The Creative Process: From Idea to Image, One Step at a Time
Caleb shares his workflow—from shooting on iPhone and iPad to editing in Premiere and color grading in DaVinci Resolve. He admits he’s not obsessed with color perfection, noting only one person ever complained—and even then, it was subjective. He’s more focused on storytelling than technical polish.
The Human Element: How to Handle Confrontation and Build Connection
“He gets out of his car. He's like, what are you doing? I'm like, oh, I'm taking a photo. He's like, no, you're not. What are you doing? I was like, honestly, man, I'm taking a photo. I saw your building here. It looked really beautiful.”
“He gets out of his car. He's like, what are you doing? I'm like, oh, I'm taking a photo. He's like, no, you're not. What are you doing? I was like, honestly, man, I'm taking a photo. I saw your building here. It looked really beautiful.”
“bad, I was like, well. let's like capture the good ones, you know? So then I basically was like, Hey mom, my little brother, he likes to play soccer. And maybe if you would get a handicap for him, we could watch him play soccer and record his soccer games. And then she bought a handicap and then basically I just stole it and I used it for skateboarding videos. That's it.”
“The hardest part is just you not doing the thing. Like getting over that is the hardest part really you know doing the thing is probably more easier than you think so just do it man just do whatever it is”
Host
Guest
Caleb Knueven
person
YouTube
other
Bad Flashes
brand
Route 66
place
Leavenworth, Kansas
place
Sony Handycam
product
Holga
product
Premiere Pro
product
DaVinci Resolve
product
Sean Malto
person
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