iCanLookFly

Brett Novak is the director behind ‘A Skate Regeneration’. Having interviewed Kilian Martin (see our last feature) we had to feature the video’s director. Not only had we not seen skating like it but we had also not seen a skate video like it. Too often you see poor quality videos shot with a fish-eye lens. Now these videos have a place in the culture of skateboarding but they have little artistic merit in our opinion. They serve a purpose and that purpose is to capture tricks. Brett Novak’s videos are so much more than this. He considers every shot, every angle and captures skateboarding in a whole new way showing the skill of the skater and the art of skateboarding which is often overlooked. Brett has also worked on music videos with the likes of Lil’ Wayne and Beyonce utilising his skills in visual effects. What really stuck us about Brett is the fact he has skills in a number of areas and therefore is not limited creatively. We picked his brain on skating, music, directing and a bunch of other stuff…

What got you into skating? I remember trying to ollie in my garage couldn’t and gave up, what made you persevere?

Although I was slowly getting into filming skating, I wasn’t too into actually skating myself. It wasn’t until my best friend Mike showed me “Rodney vs. Daewon Round 2” thinking I would appreciate the technical type of skating and the cinematic elements of Rodney’s part that I started to get enthusiastic about picking up the board myself.

You are a freestyle skater, what is the difference between you and the likes of Tony Hawk or Eric Koston? Are all skaters the same in essence?

The short answer: Freestyle is generally classified as more of an ‘older’ style of skateboarding. In a broad sense it only requires the skater, the board and a small amount of flat ground space.  As opposed to a street style (Koston) that uses more obstacles and a vert skater (Hawk) that requires a half pipe/transition. To be honest though, I used to embrace the ‘freestyle’ title more than I do now. Kilian and I have been kind of (humbly) trying to push away from any specific titles. I know it sounds a bit cliché to try and deny a label, but it’s more about a personal view of skateboarding as a whole. It is one thing to try and ‘sum up’ another skaters style for conversation sake, but it is a creatively destructive thing to classify your own skating to a particular style. I grew up watching equal amounts of freestyle skaters as I did the street skaters.  I love throwing around a few traditional freestyle tricks now and then, but personally my most accomplished and inspired times come from mixing everything.

You have skated and shot in the States and Europe, do you have a favourite from all the places you have visited? And do you have a favourite place to skate?

That is a pretty damn hard question to answer. I have seen some incredible places over the past few years. Some better than others, but way too many tied for ‘favourite’.  Visit wise; I am probably torn between Barcelona and Amsterdam. My experience with both cities were incredible, filled with amazing people and had gorgeous backdrops. Skate wise; although Barcelona is a very close second, nothing makes me want to skate more than being back in Chicago. Skating in the skate parks I grew up in while surrounded by the people who passed it onto me - most definitely my favourite place to skate.

When did you decide being behind the camera was for you?

I’ve always been behind the camera, with my skating in front of it occasionally taking way. It wasn’t until moving to California that I REALLY focused on taking it seriously. I didn’t move to California to do this - but working in the film industry made me re-evaluate how I looked at my own filming.

Where does your passion for film making come from?

My obsession to express my “artistic side” in the way that feels most natural to me: Combining images of my favourite subject with the music that can change my entire day’s emotion in under 3 minutes.

Have you always made skate films or did your film career begin outside the skating world?

From a super early age I was always obsessed with messing around with the family video camera. I used to make pretty elaborate claymation videos using an old VHS-C camcorder any chance I got. It wasn’t until around 14 years old that I started to learn proper ways of editing using a computer, and consequently my interest of the skate-world happened to begin. So basically skateboarding became my first consistent subject to film. From that point on any narrative story, visual effects I wanted to try out or what have you - I would connect it in some way to skateboarding.

What inspires you to go out and make skate films?

Music is probably the biggest, to be honest. Good music always makes my mind wander to video mode; automatically imagining specific tricks to specific parts of the song. It never fails to get me pumped. Other than that it’s just an inherent part of me now; it’s always been my favourite subject to shoot.

How do you go about choosing locations for your films? Do you have a mental tick list of must have features in a place i.e. levels, rails, aesthetics, landscape etc?

I’ve really grown an obsession with the background of shots over the most recent years. Skate videos tend to only pay attention to the obstacles (this is fortunately becoming less true more often). I of course need to do this as well; but trying to incorporate the obstacle into an interesting backdrop has become very important to me.  As far as specifics, it really depends on who I am filming. The skaters I tend to film usually have pretty unique and specific styles. People like Joe Flemke, a freestyler, really only needs some flat space - which begs for a lot of emphasis on the background. A skater like Kilian Martin tends to fit more of the standard street skating landscape - but he has become equally obsessed with showing off these places in interesting ways. When skating around looking for spots we pay a lot of attention to the people nearby, the colours of the obstacle in contrast to the background, etc. I also film a lot of park skaters (Tom Popp, for example) - which ends up being very repetitive backgrounds, shot to shot. This has become an interesting (and self-welcomed) challenge for me to show off these parks in a way that doesn’t look like you’re staring at the same shot over and over and over.

Your films have a distinctive edge to them; a lot of skate films use fish-eye lenses and very low angles looking up on their subjects. Did you consciously look to develop a unique and more artistic style rather than a trick by trick type video?

I’ve always refused to use a fish-eye. I understand why it exists in action-sports, but I cannot stand watching them being used.  Originally, I didn’t put so much thought into shooting in a different way - it just kind of came naturally.  It wasn’t until taking film as a more legit career and being surrounded by inspiring artists of all mediums that it kind of became more of a mission. It only worked because I always believed in it all along, I just didn’t know it.

Your video with Kilian Martin was a huge success and I discovered it virally, why do you think it has amassed over a million views and been so successful?

The Kilian videos are kind of a perfect package for the viral world. Skaters can appreciate the uniqueness and difficulty of his tricks, while the non-skater crowd can appreciate the filming, music and Kilian’s “flashy” style of skating. They may have no concept of him in comparison to other skaters, but they know it’s not what they’re used to being shown. They’re not going to understand how difficult a switch tre flip is, but they will be very impressed by someone riding on a skateboard on their hands.

What has been your favourite film to create so far?

Probably ‘A Skate Regeneration’. Backpacking it around Barcelona for 2 weeks, meeting incredible people, sleeping in train stations and rainy parks - so many life-changing experiences.

Ultimately in your opinion as a skate film maker and a skater, what is the appeal of skateboarding?

Honestly, I have no idea. I suppose I can note on things like the “sexy dangerous risks”, bla bla bla; but those are for more the people that never really fall in love with the sport. People that spend their lives skating do it (sub-consciously) for the creativity of it, the individualism of it, no one telling you the “right way” to skate, etc. Skateboarding becomes a very real part of you, it doesn’t even remotely compare to a standard hobby.

You have also been used for your skills in visual effects on some big music videos including ‘Ego’ by Beyonce featuring Kanye West and ‘Lollipop’ by Lil Wayne. How did you land these jobs and did you get to work with the artists directly or was it the video directors who gave you your brief?

About a week before graduating college I was offered a job working at a visual effects house (Skulley FX) in Los Angeles. It was this job that really taught me most of what I know today about the trade. The company worked on a range of work, but most definitely has a niche in the ‘VFX for Music Videos’ market. Most of the music videos I’ve worked on have been through them in some capacity. The commercial projects I’ve worked on have been through a mixture of production companies I’ve worked at and freelance for.

What are your goals for the future moving forward?

I’m really trying to focus on paying my bills through projects I’m excited about. Obviously this is everybody’s dream in a generalization, but I’m definitely no exception. I just want to be in a position that I can keep making the videos that are truly important to me, and not just “big name company” stuff. 

If you could teach any celebrity to skate, who would it be and why?

Hahaha oh jeez. Probably whatever musician I’m heavily into it at specific times. This way I can get them pumped on letting me use their music hahah.

Outside of your job what do you like to do in your spare time?

Skate, draw, enjoy LA’s diversity of food, visit Chicago, jog, drink too much coffee, hang out in Vegas, drive around blasting old CD’s, work on passion projects and try new beers; I’ve kind of become a recent amateur connoisseur.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Recently re-going through the entire Beatles anthology. I have a newly matured obsession with them on a much deeper level than I did before. Also just picked up a vinyl of Anna Calvi after a friend pushed me to see her live.  She’s rad.

Skating is associated with a number of ‘skating’ brands like Birdhouse, Globe, DC, Flip etc. Do you think the corporate side of skating spoils the essence of skateboarding?

Eh, I’m fairly neutral on this topic. Most of the ‘top-players’ at these companies are skaters themselves just trying to keep making a living in an industry they’ve always loved. It’s more of the “associated products” that I usually get a little more irritated with; Energy Drinks, ‘Extreme Sports Events’, etc.  They may be “involved” and can be helpful in certain ways, but it’s tough for me to get over that it’s still just about selling sugar-water at the end of the day.

Would you say you dress like a skater? What is your typical attire day to day?

Kind of a broad question, as I see skaters dress in many different ways - But I suppose I more so take elements from the culture rather than dress the full part. I’m almost always rocking a pair of skate shoes, that is almost always a given - but it ranges after that point. I probably dawn skate brand shirts somewhat often, but I wear non-skate related stuff almost equally.

Finally, what makes Brett Novak FLY?

The prospect of inspiring people using the subject that has had such an important effect on my life. I couldn’t be more excited to articulate through such a relate-able medium the deep connection that I hold with skateboarding.

Brett has developed a unique artistic style of shooting and his projects have become more and more varied, this is evident from his website. His eye for detail is second to none and he continues to improve from all the experience he gains. There is no doubt Brett will only grow as a creative and as a director. He is always looking for funding and I sincerely hope he will get it because every project delivers something fresh and FLY. His ability to answer all our questions shows just how good he must be at articulating his creative visions to skaters such as Kilian. FLY for taking directing to new levels in many fields, notably skateboarding.