BORN WILD: Short Film Celebrating Skateboarding, Freedom, + Youth | Director’s interview
This film Born Wild popped up on our radar a couple weeks back. Intrigued by the story because it wasn’t the usual skate edit, we decided to get the directors Victor Willems & Marin Troude to answer a few behind the making questions. The gist of it is the skater, Michael, has a dream to escape small town Nevada and head to the skate mecca of Los Angeles. After being refused entrance into a skate contest, he sets out on his own journey. Skateboarding is such a artistic medium to convey on film and it’s always cool to see these experimental edits pop up.
With the Victor and Marin both being from France we wanted to find out not just how fictional the story-line was, but also how being in small town middle America feels right now….
1) Where did the concept come from? Guessing it’s not a true story?
We met Michael in Venice Beach, and he told us his story. He left Miami and his family when he was still an adolescent to move to LA, to accomplish his biggest dream : become a pro skateboarder. So we decided to tell this story in a different way, places adventure and nature in foreground. So this story is truly inspired by Michael.
2) Was the skate comp refusal true?
We use this trick to add a dramatic arc to our story. It shows that even if people try to demotivate you about your dreams, you have to move forward and try again. And it tells a lot about Michael’s personality. The purpose here is to define determination.
3) Any weird small-town America stories?
A lot. We are both from France and people in small towns didn’t really understood why we were here. We were scared sometimes : in Reno for example, we shot in a very poor neighborhood full of junkies, the atmosphere was very special and people didn’t really want us here… We were arrested by the cops a few times, asking why we were filming, but we also met really nice people who helped us to make the film, like this barber guy or the tenant of the liquor store. Great adventures.
4) How does the skate scene in France compare to SoCal?
Honestly, we don’t really now a lot about the skate scene in France… We love skateboarding and we used to skate before. But we are fiction filmmakers above all. And if we decided to shoot skateboarding, it’s mostly because we wanted to talk about the message of freedom behind the sport itself. Skateboarding is not just doing tricks, it’s so much more than that. It’s a life experience. The spirit of freedom is the same wherever you are or grow up, skateboarders all speak the same language.
5) What’s next and where can we see your work ?
We are both working on new different films, Victor composes music as well. You can check our work on our Vimeo pages.
Finish it off….
Making this film was truly an amazing experience. Travelling is one of the most exciting thing to do.
Victor Willems & Marin Troude
Directed by Victor Willems & Marin Troude
Featuring Michael Ledoux
Music : Hell It’s Paradise
Editing : Marin Troude & Victor Willems
Color grading : Felix Oziel
Music composed by Jim Calamel & Victor Willems
Sound Design : Jim Calamel & P.O Gautier
Mastering : Benjamin Joubert
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