Rob Astamendi

Rob Astamendi, also known as Rob DerDer, is an American filmmaker, video producer and media entrepreneur associated with DerDer, a company specialising in professional and amateur paintball films. His work documented tournament paintball during the 2000s and early 2010s, including competitions organised by Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) and regional tournament circuits.[1][2]

Astamendi was a central figure in DerDer's video productions, which combined tournament footage, player interviews, music and edited action sequences. The company's catalogue includes 300 FPS, Roadkill, Natural Selection, War of Attrition and Progression.[2][3]

Paintball filmmaking career

Early DerDer productions

Astamendi was involved in producing tournament paintball films by the early 2000s.

DerDer's earliest documented releases included 300 FPS, a film covering PSP tournament competition during 2003.

Contemporary WARPIG trade-show reporting identified the production as a new DerDer release at the 2003 Paintball World Cup.[4]

By March 2004, Astamendi was travelling to paintball tournaments to record footage for DerDer productions.

At the Carolina Field Owners Association (CFOA) season opener in Easley, South Carolina, contemporary WARPIG correspondent Joshua Silverman identified Astamendi as representing DerDer Productions.

Silverman reported that Astamendi had travelled to the event to produce a DVD documenting the regional tournament series.[1]

The resulting production, The CFOA Experience, combined footage from competitions in Easley, Atlanta, China Grove and Greensboro.

WARPIG's November 2004 review described DerDer's use of handheld professional video cameras, high shutter speeds and progressive-scan recording to capture tournament action.[5]

Documentary productions

During the mid-2000s, DerDer expanded its catalogue of tournament films.

Productions associated with the company during this period included:

Roadkill: The DerDer U.S. Tour — 2004 tournament coverage.
Obscure Influence — 2005 professional tournament documentary.
Natural Selection — 2005 tournament film.
Soldiers of Misfortune — documentary featuring professional paintball competition.
Free Agent — coverage of the 2006 professional tournament season.
War of Attrition — coverage of the 2007 professional tournament season.
Progression — 2008 tournament documentary.

These productions are documented in contemporary paintball publications and surviving DerDer video collections.[2][3][6]

DerDer subsequently released additional films including Dementia, Malevolent and Campaign, documenting professional competition through the early 2010s.[3]

A fuller catalogue of the company's productions is maintained in the DerDer article.

DerDer Productions

Astamendi was involved in the management of Der Der Productions, LLC, a California business registered on 6 March 2006.

Business registration records identify him as chief executive officer and Robert Joseph Astamendi as manager.

The company's registered business activities included video production and marketing consulting.[7]

DerDer had already been producing paintball films before the 2006 registration, with its earlier work documented at the 2003 World Cup and during the 2004 tournament season.[1][4]

Filmmaking style

Astamendi's DerDer productions became associated with fast-paced tournament footage, music-driven editing, player interviews and humour.

Contemporary reviews of DerDer films described footage recorded near the playing field, the use of high shutter speeds and editing that emphasised rapid movement, eliminations and close-range competition.

The company also incorporated blooper reels and comedy sequences into its productions.[5][6]

These techniques distinguished DerDer's films from conventional recordings of complete tournament matches.

Influence and preservation

Astamendi's work with DerDer was influential among later paintball filmmakers.

In a 2026 interview published by Paintball Dirt, videographer Nick Champion of Stealth Media identified Rob DerDer and Patrick Spohrer as early influences on his filmmaking.

Champion recalled repeatedly watching 300 FPS before beginning his own paintball video production work in 2005.[8]

DerDer's productions have also been preserved through digital distribution.

In April 2021, PbNation published the complete 300 FPS film on YouTube.

PbNation administrator John stated that permission to distribute the film online had previously been obtained from Astamendi.[9]

The BKi Paintball video archive subsequently made a collection of classic DerDer films available to viewers, crediting Astamendi under the name Rob DerDer.

Its collection includes Natural Selection, Free Agent, War of Attrition, Progression, Dementia, Malevolent and Campaign.[3]

The surviving films document professional players, teams, equipment and tournament competition during a period of substantial changes to organised paintball.

References

External links