A Face behind Facefull

If you do not know the name Andrew Hollowell you should. He is the main face behind Facefull Magazine’s web presence, and is one of my editors in my short lived writing career to date. This is a gentlemen with his finger on the pulse of paintball, with his love extending to all aspects of the sport. In this interview we cover a lot of information so sit back and enjoy as we pick the mind of a paintball editor, player and fellow enthusiast.

Name: Andrew Hollowell

Age: 22

Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Outside of Philadelphia)

How did you get into paintball?

I had always heard about paintball, seen the kids shooting street signs and on rare showings on TV, but never knew much about it. I first started playing around 2000 while living in Pennsylvania. The family and I moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2001 where I bought my first marker. I grew up near Todd Adamson’s Extreme Rage storefront and field. From there, it was all paintball, all the time. I was completely obsessed from Day 1.

How did you get involved with Facefull Magazine?

I had discovered Facefull Magazine while on my lunch break working for Publix Supermarkets in Fort Myers, Florida. About 6 months later, the family and I had moved back to Pennsylvania living outside a nuclear power plant ala “The Simpsons” and noticed in one of their issues that a page of Alex Lundqvist’s player profile had an error in printing. I emailed Facefull complaining about it, where I was asked what else I thought about the magazine and paintball in general. This was around 2004.

From there, they offered me a job to work for the old website uploading news and gear. They seemed impressed by my fan fare and how much I knew about paintball. My workload increased over time, I was given most of the ghost writing gigs for the magazine (News, Gear, etc.) and the rest is history. By senior year of high school, I was contributing Player Profiles, Corrected Interview, Team Profiles, Features- you name it, I was writing about it before the age of 18. I was meeting all the pro players I had always looked up to as a kid and getting to know what was running through their heads.

Everything evolves- I’ve seen this magazine change over time and I’m proud to have been a part of Facefull’s ever diligent work ethic over the years. There is so much that goes into producing photos, written material and layout in print that many people don’t realize or ever see the behind the scenes scheduling and approach- it’s an around the clock, 40 hour shift of 24/7, 365 days a year. We never sleep- we’re currently considering the option of producing our own line of genetic super-soldiers to grab us coffee.

If you had to give advice to a new player seeking tutelage what would it be?

Never stop learning.  Paintball is still fertile despite these economic times, probably more than ever or to the point of anyone outwardly realizing it. There are answers not being considered which sit dormant on the board. In a sense, many players and the industry itself have stopped learning about the game they love so much and have settled for less, unwilling to fight for progression or adaptation. We follow a curve of stylized outlooks and what we perceive as “security”, never risking enough to make a mistake or to learn from those mistakes. We have been idling in a vehicle with not enough gas or a driver willing to put it in gear. Those times are changing and whether we like it or not, paintball is moving on without us. The “answer” everyone is looking for exists in the minds of those willing to think differently, in society and how we see “space”. If there aren’t enough players to tug on the heartstrings of manufacturers, producers and distributors, we will find ourselves in a dysfunction of our own insecurities. It’s ok to make mistakes, it’s even better to ask questions, no matter how big they might be. New players are the best because they see this game more purely, without regard to the “standards” we all accept. In a sense, they best represent paintball at its core- survival of the fittest in a world of challenges they know little about. My advice for new players would be to learn as much as possible about paintball and realize that if you’ve stopped learning down the line, or feel so comfortable that seeing things in a new light has become impossible, than your journey has only just begun. Stay the underdog, never stop learning, be the student.

What teams, if any, have you played on?

I have only played for a handful of tournament teams- SURGE, IOG Philadelphia, DGB, Capt’n Carl’s X-Ball and Paintball On The Fly’s Factory Team. I am mostly a recreational player these days although I am becoming more and more attracted towards returning to the tournament scene. I’ve got hoop dreams, coach!

What has been you favorite paintball playing experience?

Wow, this is a tough one… as far as playing goes, it would have to be training for the Capt’n Carl’s X-Ball team in the ice and snow over the course of the 2004/2005 winter “off-season”. I have never been so challenged, bruised, cut up or humbled by such an experience in all my life. It was by far the most intense training for any sport or activity I had ever taken part in- arriving early morning, setting up the field and getting killed all day. It was paradise.

What kind of music do you listen too?

Sonic Youth, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, classical, rap, rock and pretty much everything else.

Outside of Facefull what do you do for work?

Facefull and paintball in general has been my one and only job for the past few years. Whether reffing or writing, it’s always been paintball save for Publix and paper routes back in the day.

How can aspiring writers pursue a career in paintball journalism?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Journalism and media have changed… what was once a constant revisionary tactic of dissatisfied writers and trigger happy editors has become more geared towards the rhetorical construction of information. That’s not to say either is better or worse, in fact, each field falls under “journalism”, but the subtle differences between the two places their usage on different ends of the spectrum. Realize that in today’s market, speed is essential as well as mastery of all media arts. Understanding and mastering photos, writing and video, among many other fields such as broadcasting and public speaking become essential. You must be able to completely produce what was once considered “an all month gig” sometimes in less than a lunch hour. The more voices- the better. As far as considering paintball media a career, remember that advertising pays the bills: production will always rely on the obscene fanaticism of writers and the most bang for the buck. The better you connect with the game itself, the people who make this sport what it is and the rich tapestry of history we associate with paintball, the better you’ll be as a fully fledged journalist. Scheduling is key, but above all, play more paintball and learn what makes this game tick. There are so many things you will learn that you’ve never even imagined- by design and commitment. Stay in school, be the student.

What can the industry do as a whole to attract new players?

We must burst the bubble we’ve put around the industry. New technologies that cater to new players and a perfectionist approach towards concepts that keep returning players attracted to the game. They can be one in the same, but as of now, we’ve only reached a very limited level of understanding what’s possible. The potential of paintball is beyond words, as it has the ability to incorporate technologies, friends and raw information like no other sport in history. We need to keep working hard and dare to dream of what our sport can be for all peoples. The most tangible example would be to start producing hi-tech slingshots: precision crafted NERF styled, spring propulsion paintball markers we can use in public parks and backyards. First and foremost, we must bring this game back to the players and push that ideal forward.

Who are the top 3 players in the game and why?

Oliver Lang, Konstatin Fedorov and Tyler Harmon. Without a doubt, Oliver has always been an ambassador to the sport. He talks to fans, signs autographs and gives real advice to those who need it. We’ve watched him grow up for so long as a part of this game, he has been the embodiment of the past 10 years. He knows and lives this game. Konstatin… what can I say that already hasn’t been said? He is a machine, built to sling paint from every area of the field. He is the creation of technical perfection, keen wit and unbelievable natural ability. Between the two ends of the spectrum, Tyler Harmon- the best of both worlds, he knows technical, he knows how to play naturally, he’s always making moves when they need to be made. There is no doubt Harmon has a world of potential in front of him.  He’s amazing, but so down to Earth he won’t even realize how great a player he is until years down the line. That’s Tyler- humble, always willing to learn and turning that experience into ability.

With the changes made in the pro ranks over the off season, there have been whole new lines, who would you pick to be number one at the end of 2010?

Hmmm… Besides the Russians, who are always in the running for the top spot, I would have to say Vicious looks the hungriest. They have an edge I think that will be refreshing to the pro ranks. If they can learn against the curve of the other Pro rosters, they can take that hunger and top the ranks. It’s a long shot, but something I think they might be able to accomplish. In addition, Arsenal (depending on what they choose to do this year) and BLAST top my list.

I would personally like to thank Andrew for taking the time to answer these questions and for giving me a shot with Facefull. It has been a great learning experience under his tutelage and I plan on working with Drew for quite some time in the future.

Paul Forcier