NYC Skate New Wave
- Photography by Allen Ying
Here, in all their glory are a selection of videos from NYC’s best skate directors.
Zoo York – Mixtape
For the skateboarding world, it was the likes of RB Umali, the long-time Zoo York filmmaker, who began to set the precedent for the city’s skate flicks. The release of Mixtape, circa 1997/’98, is perhaps the strongest example. Drenched in dank ’90s hip-hop, and spliced with footage of myriad rappers freestyling, the forty-minute film showcased some of the city’s finest (and now most revered) skateboarders tearing the streets apart. The vibe seemed organic and the lines improvised, and by Umali’s own admission, that was essentially the case.
Colin Read – 561 to NYC
“I like films and skating that question the usual way things are done,” says Colin. “[I like] skating that is surprising. I think every part of a film should be surprising in some way, whether it’s the skating itself or the way the film is put together. The flow of a film is also very important to me; how the sections change and progress from one to another. The journey. I hate it when a video is just part-part-part-part. I want my films to tell a story with skateboarding, so to speak.” Here we have the intro to Colin’s 561 to NYC but you also need to see The Mandible Claw Video and Tengu.
Josh Stewart – Static IV
Josh Stewart, originally from Florida, also believes that despite the archetypal New York look and feel, it’s important for filmmakers to put their own spin on their work. “I’ve seen a ton of brands come to NY to shoot videos here and use the city as the backdrop of their films,” he says. “And when I watch most of these projects I see the same cliché portrayal of the city with the same cliché portrayal of skating in its streets. Personally, it leaves me with a burning desire to present the city in a new way and to highlight what I think are the aspects of NYC that make it the raddest city in the world.” Below, we’ve got the teaser to Josh’s Static IV but make sure you check out the rest of the Static series.
Read the full story in HUCK 042.
Latest on Huck
Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims
Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Written by: Hannah Bentley
Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification
Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.
Written by: Isaac Muk
New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture
Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South
Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind
Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.
Written by: Emma Garland
Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”
Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.
Written by: Katie Goh
