Nominated Filmmaker & Director of 19 Years Young Jack Mansfield talks to LASFF about Skateboarding and Filming
Interview by Monica Staniec
Hi Jack! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. Can you please introduce yourself: your age, where you are from, where you live, what got you in skate filmmaking?
I’m Jack Mansfield and I am 28 years old. I grew up in Sacramento, California and currently live in Sacramento. I got into skate filmmaking while I was just messing around with some friends, picked up a camera about 13 years ago and haven’t stopped since it just sucked me in.
How did you hear about the LA Skate Film Festival?
I believe I saw it somewhere online and after checking it out by going to the home page of the festival’s website. The festival sounded cool and I’ve never done something like this before, like submitting to any film festivals. I thought it was cool because it was a skate oriented one in LA. I had a film I just finished and decided to enter it in.
What was your first thought when you had received the news that your film was nominated?
I remember being pretty psyched. I remember checking out the list of Academy members, who were nominating the films, and it was a bunch of really respected filmmakers such like French Fred, Geoff Rowley, Greg Hunt, Ty Evans & and a few others. It was really cool, but also a little intimidating at the same time.
Creativity plays a major role in filmmaking. How do you think skate film directors differentiate themselves? And how do you think you are different from other young directors?
Well the great thing is there is no standard or guidelines to put together a skate film, which leaves a lot of space for creativity and I think that’s when people start to differentiate themselves. I try to differentiate myself by trying new things and not always filming or editing in a conventional way. I’m always trying to put my own twist on things but using different techniques and not trying to fit the mold or norm that’s going around to make myself stand out amongst the rest. I also try to incorporate 8mm & 16mm film into my projects, which nowadays in a growing HD world can set you apart and make your projects look a little different, it gives it a raw feel to the film.
As a director, what shot in a skate video most impressed you? Best skit you’ve seen in the past 3 months that’s worth checking out on youtube?
I’m a big fan of John Cardiel who is also from the Sacramento area. I would say his clip from an old Transworld video called Sight Unseen. John does a 20ft high melon grab out of this kicker thing over at Griffin Skatepark, which is in the beginning of his part in that video, and it’s just such a memorable clip that you can see over and over again. It’s just an amazing thing that each time you see it’s like you are seeing it for the first time.
As far as best skit…I would go with a more humorous one and that would be Fred Gall’s Worst Skater of the Year clip. Fred being an OG Skater, who has been around for a long time, was I guess just being humorous about it all and it ended up being pretty funny.
Who is your inspiration and why or how is this person inspiring you?
I would definitely say family and friends first off. Skating with friends is definitely a big inspirational thing. Skating with Stephan Janoski, Omar Salazar, Austyn Gillette, Greg Hunt, Joe Brook, Geoff Rowley, Nicholas Silva, & Clyde Moore is really inspirational whenever you going out with those guys. Good Sessions!
In a interview with Geoff Rowley, he said that you are a “radical filmer/editor, who has a sweet future ahead. How does this motivate you in pursuing a professional career in the industry?
Honestly, I was taken back by what Geoff said. It’s definitely sick that someone as influential in skating as Geoff has felt that way about my work. Even just chatting with Geoff, you can tell he definitely is 110% a skateboarder and I feel like that’s hard to find these days a little bit.
As far as pursuing a professional career, it definitely would be nice to land a job somewhere. Just for me the hunger to get better, progress, be creative and keep doing what I’m doing really goes back to loving skating and filming. That’s my drive and I feel I’ll be filming regardless if I land a job or not because it’s something that I love to do.
What’s your favorite skate film of all time?
It would be hard to just pick one… So, I would say Mouse, Sorry, Mosaic, and Mind Field.
What’s next for you?
Actually just finished an online Video a few months that I had filmed over the summer time, it’s called Summer Boyz. It was a little fun project that I did with some friends. It’s currently up on the Lurkhard vimeo page and it’s a 6 part series. Other than that I will keep busy with school and continuing to skate and film.
What are your 3 favorite movies?
The Big Lebowski
Machotaildrop
Departed
What is your favorite breakfast meal?
I would have to say a Jalapeño Cheese Bagel with pesto on it. I’m a big fan of pesto!
What’s playing on your itunes right now?
Deer Tick
The Black Keys
Big Daddy Kane
Any last words….
Thanks to everybody at the film festival and thanks for the interview!
Check out Jack’s “19 Years Young” trailer: