Synopsis:
The film I want to make is about a group of friends and a bunch of complete strangers that have one thing in common: the skateboard they all ride. This trip is going to take place in the streets of the Southern and Midwestern United States and all the surrounding areas. Skateboarding takes you to all parts of a city, suburb or remote parts of a region. I can tell you we will end up on grounds of filthy city streets, endless planes of nothingness and white picket fence lands. What is in store for this trip, god only knows, but I can tell you there will be stories for days, friendships and laughter. Oh and of course skateboarding.
My plan is to utilize interviews and voice over's to add the element of the story telling, not just use the images to tell the story but use the subjects personalities to come out. It’s not going to be like a regular reality show if that's what it sounds like. I want to have dialogue from the inside and outside of the cars, weird conversations that these individuals might have, noises, buzzes and silence that might happen. This trip is basically documenting life as it comes. What you see is what you get. The interviews will address the attics that are filmed and have reflections on them. The voice over will assist all the mediums and balance out the film, without using music to evoke emotion but noises and voices. I believe this will give a feel that you are in the van with the crew on the way to the next spot to drop your board on.
I really want to make a film of this sort because I think it is such a great time to experience and I think the best place is to be is on the road with your friends experiencing life. On the road you don’t know what life will throw you so it's all real and unscripted. Especially with a bunch of skateboarders who only have skating and whatever other vices they have besides a plank of wood. This film I had in my head for about a year and half and I’m finally happy to pack my bags. This film will be a different than average skate film because it won't just be skateboarding but everything that is surrounds it, so it will be a wild ride. The life of skateboarders is rarely seen from normal folks, so I feel I can bring them the ride. As a skateboarder, I can't imagine being any other kind of person. Some of the most fortunate ones might as well get to see the world and travel because of a plank of wood. It’s unreal sometimes to think about it that way. It's also amazing how we make friends just off something so simple. It’s way more than just an athletic sport; it's more of a lifestyle. It's who we are!
~ Steve Marino
***2009 Official Selection at THE SKATEBOARD FILM FESTIVAL
***2010 Official Selection at THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL