Joe Saavedra: Filming the Moment, Creating the Future

Capturing Culture

INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA

MARCH  11th, 2025

Some people follow a blueprint. Others make their own. Joe Saavedra, aka “jodijoe”, is in the second category. At just 20, the Houston-based videographer is capturing culture in real-time—unfiltered, and with an aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and next-gen. Think VHS textures meets mosh-pit energy. His work moves between underground skate clips, chaotic concert recaps, and party scenes that feel like they belong in an early 2000s MTV cut.

But this isn’t just about cool visuals. Joe is building something bigger—a future where he’s touring with artists, filming the biggest festivals, and proving that fear is just another obstacle to push through. I sat down with him to break down the journey so far, his creative process, and why the best advice he can give is simple: just go for it.

Joe Saavedra: “Hello! My name is Joe Saavedra, most know me as “jodijoe” and I’m a 20 year old videographer from Houston Texas!”

Emily Arauza: “Hey Joe! It’s great to connect with you. I’ve seen your work and love how you capture stories through your visuals. Being a 20-year-old videographer in a city like Houston, where there’s so much creative energy, must be exciting. I’d love to hear more about what drew you into videography. Was there a specific moment or project that made you realize this is what you wanted to do?”

JS: “It all started with going to events and seeing the recaps creatives would put out. Every time I would see someone’s work it would ignite a spark in me and ideas would start running wild. I really loved the way vhs looked and the aesthetic of it so that’s what I decided to work with. Over the time I’ve been pursuing this passion of mine I’ve always tried to keep it as versatile as possible from party/event videos, concerts videos, skate videos, creative idea videos, etc.”

EA: “VHS aesthetics definitely bring a nostalgic, raw feel to visuals. Your versatility is impressive too; it’s clear you’re passionate about capturing different energies and moments. Who would you say inspires you the most in your work? Are there any specific videographers, directors, or artists that influence your style?”

JS: “I definitely get inspired a lot regarding my videos and who got me into vhs. First off I want to shout out to my homie @pesty_swammy who helped me with buying my first vhs camera and who ultimately gave me the inspiration to start on this journey. As far as being inspired by other things I get a lot of my inspiration and editing style and song choice from old skate videos and old mtv footage. Someone who also greatly influences me in what I do is my mother. She is my main motivator and gives me the extra push I need everyday.”

EA: “That’s real—having that support from both a friend who got you started and your mom as your main motivator must mean a lot. Old skate videos and MTV footage definitely have that gritty, high-energy feel, which comes through in your work. How do you approach blending those nostalgic influences with your own unique style to make your videos stand out?”

JS: “I love to mix the music I use for my videos with the editing and it always seems to flow perfectly together. Alongside trying to be versatile with the type of videos I make and put out, I love to always switch up the music I use from music like Marilyn Manson and limp bizkit to Ken Carson and Tyler the creator. Music has a big impact on my videos and the way I choose to edit them and it’s always the most fun process for me when editing/working on a video.”

EA: “The way you incorporate such a wide range of music really adds to the vibe and emotion of your videos. It’s cool how you can go from the raw energy of Marilyn Manson and Limp Bizkit to the more modern sounds of Ken Carson and Tyler, the Creator. Since music plays such a big role in your creative process, do you usually choose the song first and build the video around it, or do you edit based on the footage you capture?”

JS: “YES! one of if not my favorite parts of making and editing videos is imagining what the final video or the way the edits blend with my choices of songs. I usually always have a song in mind I want to use before I even start filming or the editing process and like I mentioned previously it effortlessly always flows together!”

EA: “You’re really building the vision from the ground up, starting with the music. It makes sense that everything flows so naturally when you already have the vibe in mind before even picking up the camera. What’s been your favorite project so far, and what made it stand out to you?”

JS: “My favorite project I’ve worked on so far is the concert recap I made for Ken Carson. That video has so much meaning to me because it was a very eye opening experience that this is something I could really make a name for myself in. My main focus in videography right now is shooting concerts and for Ken Carson to be my second, every opportunity to do media for a concert on top of him being one of my favorite artists was a great inspiring experience and has so much meaning to me.”

EA: “That’s huge—getting to shoot for one of your favorite artists so early on must have been a surreal moment. It’s dope that the Ken Carson recap wasn’t just another project but something that really solidified your vision for the future. Since concert videography is your main focus now, what’s the dream? Is there a specific artist or event you’d love to shoot for one day?”

JS: “My main goal is to be able to travel around the world filming for big artists and festivals and going on tour with artists. Some artists I would love to shoot for one day include Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Limp Bizkit, Tyler the creator. As far as specific events, I would love to film for Coachella, sick new world and etc.. I think filming festivals would be a great experience because you have the opportunity to capture so many artists plus the experience of being at the festival.”

EA: “That’s a solid vision—you’re aiming big, and it makes sense given your style and the energy you capture in your work. Touring with an artist and filming festivals like Coachella or EDC would be an insane experience, not just for the footage but for the atmosphere and connections you’d make along the way. What do you think sets your work apart from other videographers in the concert and festival scene?”

JS: “Although I feel I still have a lot to prove as far as work and videos go, I'm very confident in my ability to capture the energy and raw emotion and feeling when filming and editing. My ability to connect with someone through my work I’m very confident in.”

EA: “That mindset is key—having confidence in your ability to capture energy and emotion is what makes a videographer stand out. It’s not just about filming; it’s about making people feel something when they watch your work. And the fact that you’re always pushing yourself to prove more shows how dedicated you are to leveling up. Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or goals you’re working toward right now?”

JS: “As far as of what’s next i want to continue to grow my social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc) and most definitely am focused on keeping up the consistency and not letting any momentum I catch die out. I definitely have way more I want to prove on this journey and I want to prove to everyone but most importantly myself that I am great in what I do and that I have the impact to influence others. Like I mentioned previously, at the moment shooting concerts is my main focus and goal and I plan to keep achieving that goal above all standards. Lastly as far as upcoming projects I have that I’m working on I definitely have some stuff for everybody. I got 3 videos I’m working on at the moment ranging from concerts to creative ideas and some party stuff. I also want to start putting out short documentaries on my YouTube channel so I think everybody should be on the lookout for that most definitely!”

EA: “That’s a solid plan—you’re not just chasing opportunities, you’re building momentum and making sure it keeps growing. The fact that you’re thinking long-term, not just about filming concerts but also expanding into short documentaries, shows how serious you are about your craft. With everything you have in the works, what kind of impact do you hope to leave on the creative scene? What do you want people to take away from your work?”

JS: “I hope that I can inspire and influence every creative to step out of their comfort zone and to just go for it. Literally just go for it man. Fear is a big thing that stops a lot of people from achieving and reaching their goals but you can do it. As far as what I want people to take away from my work, I love when people tell me how I’ve inspired them to be creative in certain ways regarding ideas, song choices, editing styles, etc. I as well hope my work influences people to be versatile in every way possible.”

EA: “All the way! Fear holds a lot of people back, but your mindset of just going for it is what separates those who make it from those who don’t. And the fact that your work is already inspiring people shows you’re on the right path. On a more personal note, how do you think your upbringing shaped the way you approach creativity and videography? Were there any experiences growing up that pushed you toward this path?”

JS: “Honestly I had no idea videography was going to be my passion until I finally tried it out. Growing up as a kid to become the man I am today, I’ve always taken interest in the videography and photography world but I always felt so intimidated by all the things in that world. From the different type of cameras and settings to how to transfer footage over. It just all seemed very intimidating and I honestly didn’t know where to start. This goes back to my previous statement of not letting fear block out your goals and dreams! After putting it off for so long, I finally gave it a shot and look where it has gotten me and I still have so much more I want to and achieve!”

EA: “That’s inspiring—so many people let intimidation stop them before they even start, but you pushed through that and found your passion along the way. It really ties back to your whole message of just going for it, no matter how overwhelming it seems at first. And the fact that you’ve already come this far just proves that taking that first step is everything. Looking back now, what advice would you give to your younger self when you were still hesitant about getting into videography? And what advice would you give to anyone else who’s on the fence about chasing their creative passions?”

JS: “I would definitely tell my younger self to face your fears and literally just do anything and try it out. We are in our youth right now experiencing our most precious years and we’re only going to get older. The bigger picture I’m trying to focus on with this message is that if there’s anything you want to do in life no matter what it is just do it! There’s no time to waste. Time goes by quicker than you can imagine and then next thing you know a year has gone by and you're still contemplating or being hesitant on what you should or you're still letting fear hold you back. Don’t be afraid to go and chase your dreams and make the best with what you got!”