It's so necessary to highlight those who make the coverage happen, those that sit hunched over for extended amounts of time waiting for that flick.  Our Media Spotlight lets the ones behind the camera step out and shine.  Here's one of the main photographers in our family, Giuliano Berarducci.

1. So Giuliano what's really good?

Chillin', currently living in Milano, Italy, doing my thing with photography. Working at the Comvert Hq, where we just finished building the Bastard Bowl, a skatebowl suspended at 20 feet, right over a storage facility, INSIDE our offices!!

2. How did you end up working with Affiliate?

Enzo, the original owner, is Italian, so through our mutual friend Gaspare Gentile we met back in 2001. Funny thing is, we first met in chicago and not in Italy. Right there and then, i started taking photos for them. They started coming to Italy more often to skate, film and shoot, and i started going back to the States as often as i could. My dad, who's now retired, used to work for the airline here so i had the hook up for cheap tickets.

3. What's your most memorable moment shooting with the team.

Definitely shooting the black and white team photo, that was ran as an ad. We shot it last November, and for the first time in a while i saw the whole family "reunited". Lavar (McBride) wasn't living in the Chi back then, so we flew him outta Sf, and so on.  We used this incredibly grimy warehouse as a location, that our good friend Gato kindly hooked us up with.  While i was setting up the team started playing games of skate, and it was real fun times. There's a video of the day you can check out here.  Affiliate Skateboards is my American family. I'm an affiliated, so it's not just work to me, it's a part of my life.

4. Has anyone tried to rob your light and camera setup from you?

They tried and succeeded. Twice. Los Angeles, August 04. Just a few things, but it hurt anyways. Barcelona, December 04, again This time they pretty much got everything i had. May those cameras and lights rest in peace. I've learned big time from those experiences though. I've learnt how to be extremely careful about my gear, and i've also realized how photography is important to me. It took me a while and a lot of sacrifice to be able to rebuy everything, and that taught me that not giving up absolutely pays in the long run. Likewise skateboarding, the whole point in falling is getting back up and trying harder.

5. What's hot right now in Italy?

Definetely Comvert Hq and what's going on here at Bastard.  Comvert is the company that produces and distributes Bastard clothing. They also distribute Electric shades here in Italy.  Check the blog at: http://blog.bastard.it, you're not going to believe your eyes.. It's such a unique place.  It's an ex cinema theater from the 50s; and now there's our offices, a store front, a storage facility, and the sweetest, most premiere indoor skatebowl I've ever seen.  Architect and friend Lorenzo Bini from www.studiometrico.com projected all this madness!!.  Brian Londono and Nikolai Danov are hot too. Stay tuned, these kids got mad skillz! And the girls, always hot in Italy. Oh, and food? forget about it!

6. Who else have you been shooting with lately?

Well, I'd have to say whoever comes my way. Planning to shoot more of Nikolai Danov, Marcin Solecki, Danny Galli and Amen.  Brian Londono (so good, man) and the Bigspin fellas. There are also my friends Andrew Petillo, Steve Durante and Alex Davis visiting from Jersey these days, so hopefully we'll get something done with them too..

7. Have you ever gotten arrested for shooting?

No. I've gotten in minor trouble, tickets and whatnot, but never physically arrested and taken to the police station for christ's sake!

8. What's the biggest difference between European skaters and American skaters?

Well, skateboarding is a universal language, so I would say not that many differences. If I had to point some out though, i'd say that skaters in America are a little more "career oriented" than here in the old continent.  Point is, I definitely see more competition going on in the States, as the cake is still tastier there. So it's completely understandable. And on a positive note, because of all this, I see skateboarders in the States sometimes more motivated and more serious about what they do, which is not too bad to me since my job depends on how they do their job. And I've learned that we can be professionals and still have fun, which the best, more productive way to do it. What can I say, I really enjoy both the differences and the similarities, and i feel very lucky being able to witness both scenes.

9. What's your biggest struggle when you go out shooting?

There are many things that i struggle with when I'm out there shooting. First of all, having to set up four to seven lights in the middle of the street, thus having to deal with crazy calculations and all types of technical issues and equipment breakdowns, while the skater is waiting on your ass and likely to be "over it" any minute! So you have to compromise between not driving people insane and still making sure you have it.  At the end of the day, it's the skater that's performing and taking the risk of getting hurt, so you have to respect that.  On the other hand, you have to make sure they understand that what you do is not easy too, and it's necessary.

10. Shout outs?

My Family, Vincenzo Marrocco & Family, Gaspare Gentile, everybody@Affiliate Skateboards, Chi-Town, Martin, Federico, Dr.Thomas, Fabrizio, Santrokan, Uriah Ruta and everybody@Uprise, Jep & everybody@Bastard, everybody@First Love, Mike Quigley, New York, Billy Rohan, Franz, Jen & lil Giovi, Gilda Aloisi, Lorenzo Castore, Bea Sugliani, The Dirty Jerseys a.k.a. Andrew and Steve@Habitat Skateboards, Mirai Pulvirenti, Brian Londono, Richard Biasi, Ricky Comini, Mauro Peduto@Bigspin, Lele Saveri & Vice Magazine, Mike Burnette & Thrasher, The Skateboard Mag, Skateboarder, Ale & Basella@6AM, Andrè, Marcin, Niko, Ale, Maradona, Fulvio, Michele, Palla SB, Claudietto and OrangeValleyEnt (RIP). Everybody i left out sorry it was too many names, you know who you are homies!!