When, where, and how did you start skating?

As a kid I rode this plastic orange 70s skateboard down a steep ass hill, ate shit, ripped up my skin, blood everywhere and thought, I’m not letting this thing beat me- so I mastered it.

How’d you get into filming and editing?

Dan Kircher filmed and edited most of my skating and I wanted to portray not only my skating, but others in the way that I saw skating.

What brands have you worked with?

Nike, Vice, Monster Children- I was fortunate to be at the formulation of brands collaborating with artists, so man we got some free rides! World travel, so much product it was insane. Now its quite budgeted and orderly. It’s always good at the end or the beginning of a wave.

What equipment and software do you use?

On my phone I use i-movie which I also used to use on the laptop, just so the tech was lo-fi. When we first edited it took a day to render out projects, on cracked final cut versions. The render bar was a real thing. I learned real quick not to leave the house on those days, as a render would often crash mid export. The house back then became render parties on those days.

Favourite effect?

I don’t use effects, I like hard cuts and clips to be basically raw, but did once make a full green screen movie when that was pretty new tech. ‘Entrances & Exits’ was one man’s sci fi story that traversed Multiple dimensions battling good vs evil.

Favourite Lens?

I used to love fish eye in the 90s, but now I like long lens as I can just film from ages away and it’s more like your’re there watching it doco style.

What does your editing process look like?

I like to edit as I film stuff, like that night before I sleep, so the mood is congruent. I can look at it later all together as a whole and still change whatever fits the narrative, but capturing that initial feel is more important to me.

Best environment for editing skate vids?

Headphones, dark, 4am.

Which part of editing takes the longest?

I’m a good story teller, so if I filmed everything it’s pretty easy, as I know what I’ve got when I film it, and how I’ll use that clip to tell a certain part of the story. But it’s really the color correcting and sound, all the finicky boring stuff that takes forever.

Best and worst parts of editing skate footage?

Just watching things multiple times can make it seem old and lame, but I work quickly to avoid that trap. Generally speaking:

First thought = right thought.

Best skaters to work with?

Friends! I’ve been fortunate that all the homies are the ones, whether that’s Shane Cross, Chima Ferguson or Dustin Dollin, Jack O’Grady, or the bros here more recently in Aotearoa.

How do you Choose the music for skaters parts?

Usually it’s based on what we’re listening to at the time, or if I notice a skaters particular aesthetic and match that or even just go the opposite of what you would expect they would like.

What are your favourite video parts?

Of mine? The forays part but I’ve filmed Lewis Marnell and he’s amazing. A lot of skating its just being in the moment and surrounded by the right people. I just did the ‘mental’ trip so seeing Nikoli Piombo skate was amazing.

I’m a skater first so I feel like skaters trust I’ll get it right. I like to document stuff so it’s about being in the mix and just sneaking a few shots to capture the mood. But still be creating the mood and not taking away from it. People have to trust you instantly.

Best skate video editors around right now?

That new sci fi film was on. I dunno, skate videos are sorta lame atm. There is an over saturation of content and availability of media, the current drive for more and more. So quality and originality becomes less and less. a lot of content nowadays is brand driven and formulaic. So there are corporate mandates and rules that must be adhered to.

Which is fine, art needs benefactors, but it’s also the old world is breaking down atm, so there is nothing new, or a new way, to be expressed…yet.

I like the idea that after I’m gone there will be a long term record on the internet of this specific time period before hi tec and AI.


Best editors historically?

I like The early palace videos. I grew up watching blind video days, early Spike Jonze.

Whats your favourite skate video you’ve edited?

Ruthless was an independent film I made, my first in the early 2000s, in Australia. I tried to capture life outside of skating or just show a more well rounded view of skating rather than just the tricks. I like the lifestyle. Dustin was in town. Chima was in the come up. It was just before Shane passed. Pivotal moments documented in a certain scene and time period.

Favourite trick and obstacle?

Banks. I just like skating banks.

What other mediums do you jam?

Like for art? I paint murals and canvas’, sculpt. Write lyrics, produce music. I think as an artist you have access now to just do anything. Like I said previously, tech was slow. We used tapes. Separate camera to export tapes, low res images, large heavy cameras – it was work and largely inaccessible. Now I can do whatever. Use my phone. Not reliant on others. I can paint a mural and then put it out in the world in real time. I’m not tryna ‘make it’, I’m here to express myself so I can calm the stormy seas within myself.

How are skate videos changing in your opinion?

It’s so hard now with the world in somewhat of a decline to focus on anything- it’s expensive. People have less time, underground art will be on the rise, a new counter culture where people are actually saying something rather than trying to get brand deals.

How can readers support your work?

I have a YouTube: b r e t t c h a n

Insta: @brettchanyes

Any final words?

“A life well lived is the best art“

  • Brett Chan