Cassidy Sanders
Cassidy Sanders is an American paintball videographer, filmmaker and former tournament player associated with Hostile Kids and HK Army. He became known for producing paintball tournament films combining on-field action, slow-motion footage, music and scenes from the wider tournament environment.[1][2]
Sanders was a member of the original Hostile Kids community in Southern California before becoming involved in HK Army's promotional media. His documented work includes coverage of the Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) and major scenario paintball events.[1][3][4]
Paintball career
[edit]Hostile Kids
[edit]Sanders played for Hostile Kids, a Southern California tournament team associated with SC Village during the early 2000s.
In a historical account by Alex Fraige, former captain Alex Cadalso identified Sanders as one of the players recruited from Mutiny for Cal Jam seven-player competition. Cadalso also described the team's participation in amateur tournaments and its difficulty retaining players as professional organisations recruited members.[1]
In a February 2012 interview with ProPaintball, Sanders confirmed his involvement in the original HK community. He recalled that the core team was frequently assembled at short notice and that its roster was repeatedly affected by recruitment into professional teams.[2]
Sanders said he preferred playing alongside his existing teammates rather than pursuing opportunities with other teams. After several seasons, he stepped away from regular competition to pursue education and employment.[2]
Return to paintball
[edit]Sanders returned to the paintball community after several years away and found that former teammates had developed HK Army into a clothing business.
He subsequently contributed his filmmaking and other creative skills to the company. By the time of his 2012 interview, he was concentrating primarily on video production rather than competitive playing.[2]
Paintball filmmaking
[edit]Early tournament videos
[edit]Sanders was producing paintball videos for HK Army by 2010.
Contemporary coverage from July 2010 credited him with an HK Army video documenting the PSP Chicago Open. The film formed part of the company's ongoing tournament video coverage.[5]
His work developed into a series of films featuring major American and international paintball events.
Filming and editing techniques
[edit]Sanders's films combined tournament action with footage of players and activities away from the playing field.
In his 2012 interview, Sanders discussed his use of digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras at a time when the technology was becoming increasingly accessible to independent filmmakers.[2]
His personal equipment included a Canon EOS 550D, also marketed as the Rebel T2i. He also used higher-end digital cinema cameras when available.
For his film covering the 2011 NPPL Las Vegas finale, HK Army rented a RED Epic camera to capture high-frame-rate footage for slow-motion sequences. The video was released in April 2012.[3]
Sanders also discussed the use of dubstep and electronic music in paintball videos. He explained that his familiarity with musicians producing dubstep had influenced his decision to use the genre in his work.[2]
International tournament coverage
[edit]Sanders travelled internationally to film paintball events.
In his 2012 interview, he recalled filming at a Millennium Series event in Paris, France, and visiting Norway during his European travels.[2]
His work covered both competitive action and the atmosphere surrounding international tournaments.
Selected paintball video work
[edit]The following is a selection of documented productions associated with Sanders. It is not a complete filmography.
| Event or production | Event year | Documented release or coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HK Army PSP Chicago Open | 2010 | July 2010 | Tournament video credited to Sanders.[5] |
| PSP World Cup Championship | 2011 | 23 February 2012 | Filmed and edited by Sanders. The published soundtrack credit identifies AJ Hernz's Snap Back Swag in the Crizzly remix.[4] |
| NPPL Las Vegas finale | 2011 | 28 April 2012 | HK Army tournament film using RED Epic slow-motion footage.[3] |
| Battle of the Bands paintball video | 2012 | September 2012 | HK Army production featuring musicians from several American bands; filmed and edited by Sanders.[6] |
| PSP World Cup highlights | 2012 | March 2013 coverage | Contemporary commentary credits footage to Sanders and Derrick Threatt.[7] |
| Living Legends 6 | 2013 | 10 July 2013 | HK Army scenario event film credited to Sanders.[8] |
| PSP West Coast Open | 2013 | September 2013 | Tournament highlights filmed and edited by Sanders.[9] |
Film production and style
[edit]Sanders's approach to paintball filmmaking included close-up competition footage, slow-motion sequences and music-driven editing.
In 2012, he identified filmmaker Drew Templeton, known for Grind Paintball videos, as one of the videographers whose work he followed.[2]
His use of music formed a prominent part of his editing. A contemporary Social Paintball report credited the Crizzly remix of AJ Hernz's Snap Back Swag as the soundtrack to Sanders's video of the 2011 PSP World Cup.[4]
His videos also featured players and teams away from competition, documenting aspects of tournament culture beyond the recorded games.
Association with HK Army and pbFashion
[edit]Sanders's filmmaking was closely associated with HK Army during its development from an apparel brand into a broader paintball equipment business.
The original Hostile Kids community provided a connection between his playing career and subsequent media work.[2]
His videos also appeared through online channels associated with pbFashion. In his 2012 interview, ProPaintball directed readers to his YouTube channel under the name ThePBFashion.[2]
The available sources establish a media association with these brands but do not independently confirm Sanders as an owner or founder of either commercial business.
Later recognition
[edit]On 26 January 2026, Sanders appeared as the guest on episode 325 of Play The Game, a paintball podcast hosted by Tyler Harmon and Marcello Margott.
The programme identified Sanders as a professional videographer and creator and discussed his association with the development of HK Army and paintball media.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- From Street Rats to World Class Pros: The HK Army. Alex Fraige, including an interview with Alex Cadalso; republished by ThisISPaintball.ca, 12 May 2008.
- Cassidy Sanders Interview. ProPaintball, February 2012; reproduced by Dave McAuley, 19 May 2012.
- Video: HK Army/Cassidy Sanders NPPL Las Vegas 2011. Israel L., Social Paintball, 28 April 2012.
- New HK Army Video: PSP World Cup 2011 Championship. Israel L., Social Paintball, 23 February 2012.
- HK Army Chicago 2010 Video. JR Dominguez 32 Paintball, July 2010 archive.
- Battle of the Bands paintball video. The Music, 14 September 2012.
- Daily Pump: HK Army PSP World Cup highlights. GFH Propaganda, 25 March 2013.
- Living Legends 6 Video by HK Army w/ Cameo by FPSRussia. Israel L., Social Paintball, 10 July 2013.
- West Coast Open x HK Army. Sykose Extreme Sports News, 17 September 2013.
- #325: Cassidy Sanders. Play The Game, hosted by Tyler Harmon and Marcello Margott, 26 January 2026.