jobertm

Last Saturday, my wife KC Monteras and I spent the day doing something we both felt was long overdue. We attended a Mental Health Facilitator Training with DMR Psychological Services facilitated by Eric Dimar— and honestly, it was one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in a while. Not just as a trainer, but as a person. A lot of us in the creative and learning space talk about skills, workflows, and tools. But we don’t talk enough about what’s happening inside the people we teach — and inside ourselves. This training reminded me that being a good facilitator isn’t just about knowing your subject. It’s about showing up for the people in the room — understanding that behind every student is a person carrying something you might not see. I’m not an expert in mental health. But I believe every trainer, teacher, and leader benefits from understanding it better. And I’m glad we took that step together. 🙏 If you or someone you know needs support, help is available — free and confidential: 🧠 NCMH Crisis Hotline — 1553 (toll-free) Mobile: 0917-899-8727 Landline: 02 79898727 Available 24/7, free, confidential. 📞 HOPELINE PH — 2919 (free for Globe/TM) Globe: 0917-558-4673 Smart: 0918-873-4673 24/7 suicide prevention and emotional crisis support. 💬 In Touch Crisis Line — 8893-7603 Globe: 0917-800-1123 (Globe) Smart: 09190560706 Sun: 0922-893-8944 Free, anonymous, available 24/7. You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. 💚

Hey, I just launched something I’ve been putting off for too long. I’ve been teaching video editing, motion graphics, and color grading for years — but most of what I share has been scattered: on the Skyrocket page, on my personal profile, in workshops, in DMs. This page is where I’m pulling all of it together. If you’re a freelancer, a VA trying to level up, or someone who wants to build real creative skills — this is the space for that. Follow the page. I’ll be posting regularly, and the first week of content is already planned. → /jobertskyrocket

I’m looking for one aspiring video editor / content creator who wants to level up fast and gain real-world experience. I’m expanding content production for Skyrocket Training Services and opening a mentorship-based collaboration opportunity for the right person. This is ideal for someone hungry to grow in: • Video Editing • Storytelling & pacing • Reels / short-form content • Motion Graphics • Professional workflow • Content strategy What you’ll gain: • Personal mentorship directly from me • Guidance in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve • Constructive feedback to help you improve faster • Free access to my online courses and training materials • Opportunity to join selected face-to-face trainings/workshops when possible • Hands-on experience working on real content projects • Portfolio-building opportunities • Potential paid opportunities in the future as we grow For context: I’ve been editing professionally since 1999, with over 25 years of industry experience. I’ve trained creatives and teams across Asia, and worked with brands/networks such as Disney Channel, ABS-CBN, GMA, Mediacorp, and more. I’m looking for someone with attitude, reliability, initiative, and willingness to learn. If interested, please send me your showreel / sample edits / portfolio link, plus a short intro about yourself and why you’d like to join. Please DM me.

You can spend years improving your editing skills… …but ignore your body—and it will catch up to you. Most editors don’t realize this early. We sit for hours. We push through deadlines. We ignore small pains. Until it becomes something bigger. These past few days, I had to go through dry needling and cupping just to loosen up muscles that have been tight for years. That was a wake-up call. If you’re serious about doing this long-term, you need to take care of yourself too. Not just your skills. Not just your portfolio. But your body. Because this career is a marathon—not a sprint. If you’re an editor, take this as a reminder. When was the last time you actually took care of your body?

Most editors are guessing their cuts. In DaVinci Resolve, you can see the audio waveform directly in the Source Monitor—so you edit using sound and visuals at the same time. Small feature. Big difference. I’m covering workflows like this in my 1-day hands-on DaVinci Resolve workshop this April 11. Limited slots. DM me or vist https://www.skyrocketacademy.ph/davinci-resolve-editing-workshop. 🎬

Sharing a quick reflection from our follow-up Zoom session after the Color Grading Foundations workshop. One thing I always emphasize: real learning happens when you start applying the process. Great seeing everyone’s progress.

Most teams don’t have a content problem. They have a clarity problem. I spent Q1 delivering workshops and training sessions across different industries — corporate comms, brand teams, community managers, individual creators. And one thing kept coming up, regardless of the team size or the industry: People knew how to create. They just weren’t sure why anyone should care. They’d produce content that looked good but didn’t land. Briefs that got misunderstood. Campaigns that felt disconnected from what the audience actually wanted. The fix wasn’t more tools. It wasn’t better equipment. It was going back to basics — audience mindset, storytelling structure, and being clear on the message before anything else. That’s what Q2 is going to be about for me. Going deeper. Running workshops that don’t just teach skills — but help people think better about what they’re making and why. More on that soon. 👀 #ContentCreation #CreativeTraining #SkyrocketPH #CorporateTraining #Storytelling

I’ll be opening a new set of beginner-friendly classes this April–May focused on video editing, motion graphics, and visual effects. These are hands-on workshops designed for those who are just starting out or want to build a strong foundation. We’ll focus not just on the tools, but on understanding how to use them with clarity, structure, and storytelling in mind. 📍 Venue: Fullhaus Premium Lounge, Quezon City If you’ve been wanting to get into editing or improve your creative skills, this is a great place to start. Here are the upcoming classes: • 1-Day Video Editing with DaVinci Resolve • 1-Day Motion Graphics & VFX with Resolve Fusion • 3-Day After Effects Class Slots are limited to keep the sessions focused and interactive. If you’re interested, feel free to send me a PM directly —or simply comment “CLASS” and I’ll send you the details. (Last time, I wasn’t able to message some who commented due to Facebook restrictions, so sending a PM is the best way to reach you.)

Last March 7, we completed another batch of the Color Grading Foundations in DaVinci Resolve workshop. One thing I always notice when teaching color grading is this: Many editors already know how to adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation… but the results still feel inconsistent. Not because they lack creativity. But because the process isn’t clear yet. During the workshop we focused on building that clarity first: • understanding why we color grade • identifying the subject of the shot • creating separation between foreground, subject, and background • following a proper grading sequence inside DaVinci Resolve Once that structure becomes clear, color grading stops feeling random and starts becoming intentional. Thank you to everyone who spent the day learning, experimenting, and asking great questions. Always great seeing that moment when things finally start to click. Looking forward to the next batch. — Jobert

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of speaking to the Lupong ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo @filipinocinematographers a room filled with seasoned cinematographers shaping images for film and television. Many of them have spent more than a decade — some much longer — behind the camera. Being invited to share in that space was something I deeply appreciate. I spoke about DaVinci Resolve and structured color workflow, but more importantly, about alignment between cinematography and color. One idea I emphasized: Color grading doesn’t fix cinematography. It completes it. We discussed: • What grading cannot fix • LOG vs RAW realities • Why clean node structure reflects clean thinking • The importance of color management • And how consistency on set saves hours in post After the talk, I was joined by @musse of @barebonescolor , Ms. @marilen.am of @mediaeastprod , and @jatadena for a panel discussion on bridging the gap between camera and color. What stood out most wasn’t the software. It was the shared respect for craft. Conversations like this matter especially when cinematographers and colorists approach the image not as separate departments, but as collaborators shaping the same frame. Grateful to be included in the dialogue. The best grades don’t correct cinematography. They reveal it.

Why does Whiplash feel suffocating — kahit rehearsal lang ang eksena? Most people talk about the editing. Or the acting. But pansinin mo yung color design ng Whiplash. There are two very clear visual environments in the film. Performance scenes: Warm tungsten highlights. Deep blacks. Matinding contrast. Mainit yung frame. Parang compressed. Walang space huminga. That warmth + strong contrast creates psychological tension. It feels intense. Confrontational. Obsessed. Then compare that to: Practice rooms & hallways: May subtle green shift. Mas cold. Mas sterile. Hindi flattering yung skin tones. Parang institutional. Clinical. That green isn’t a mistake. It reinforces: – Stress – Pressure – Emotional discomfort Kapag performance → mas warm, mas aggressive ang contrast. Kapag struggle → mas green, mas rigid yung space. That contrast creates emotional rhythm. The grade isn’t just “cinematic.” It visually supports the obsession of the character. Kapag ganito mo na tinitingnan ang color, hindi na siya decoration. It becomes storytelling. ⸻ Now curious ako — When you watch a film, napapansin mo ba yung ganitong shifts sa color? Or usually after mo lang siya mapansin kapag may nag-point out? ⸻ If this kind of breakdown helps, I might turn this into a regular series.

Color grading is not just about creating a look. It’s about learning how to control the tools properly. On March 7, I’m running a small, hands-on DaVinci Resolve Color Grading Workshop. This is a practical, technical session. We’ll spend most of the time inside Resolve working on: • Understanding the interface and color management • Reading scopes properly (Waveform, Vectorscope, Parade) • Using nodes correctly • Primary corrections (exposure, balance, contrast) • Building separation between subject and background • Making clean, repeatable adjustments This is ideal if: – You’re new to DaVinci Resolve – You’re transitioning from Premiere or another software – You’ve been grading but want a stronger technical foundation If you’ve ever felt that your grades are “okay” but inconsistent, this is where we fix the fundamentals. Small group. Hands-on. You’ll be grading during the session — not just watching. Comment “GRADE” or send me a message and I’ll send the details.