For Paul Rodriguez skateboarding is more than a career path, it’s a way of life and has created a unique family inspired culture that isn’t often showcased on the big screen.
Rodriguez along with director Ty Evans are changing how fans can view skateboarding with their film, We Are Blood. Blood is a sport-documentary that fully embraces the high adrenaline aspects of skateboarding while also tapping into the culture and emotions behind the sport. This isn’t a one-dimensional documentary and goes well beyond four wheels and a board.
When Evans and Rodriguez first met about this project they discussed their desire to really elevate traditional “skate films” to the next level. “The whole goal was to make sure that everyone watching the film could enjoy it…we wanted to show why we skate and why we are in love with skateboarding and what draws us to it,” said Rodriguez.
Blood features Rodriguez and other top professional skaters as they travel to Brazil, China, Dubai and Spain, all with a skateboard in hand. It’s through these trips that fans really experience and are able to connect with the culture that was born out of skateboarding. The cinematography in this documentary rivals most sports film. The camera moves effortlessly with each skater and every moment is capture in a crisp, realistic way. Blood allows the audience to become fully submerged into this world.
Tricks, jumps and thrills aside, Blood is about a community that was born out of adrenaline. This community features a variety of demographics that are brought together through their common love of skating. Rodriguez spoke about how skateboarding is able to transcend a lot of cultural and racial barriers. “If you have a body, you can try skateboarding. It’s not a race thing; it’s just an emotional reaction to want to have fun. Wanting to have fun and excitement is embedded in humans, all humans.”
The film is titled We Are Blood because to these pro athletes, anyone who is drawn to a skateboard is part of their family.
Chelsea Lewis from TheCelebrityCafe.com talked with Rodriguez about what it was like to make We Are Blood and what he has coming up next. The entire interview is below.
C: How did you get involved with the We Are Blood project?
P: Around three years ago the director contacted me and said that he was going to be working with Brain Farm. I had known him for years; he was one of the best skateboarding filmmakers ever. He had this idea about a new skate film but on a grander level. I went over to his house and he had a complete storyboard on his wall. He wanted to know if I would be the main character that takes the audience through the film. I was super down; I had been looking for this type of project. This was the next level. We both felt that way and it was perfect timing.
From there…I have a long relationship with Mountain Dew and they have a film division Green Label films and they got behind the project.
C: While watching this film, it felt like something that could be connected with even if you don’t know about the skateboard world or are new to the environment. This feels like a sport documentary but also a classic road trip film. How did you find a balance between reaching audiences that love the sport and those who are new to it?
P: The whole goal was to make sure that everyone watching it could enjoy it. We wanted to show what the travel was like, what the cinematography could look like and piece that together with great interviews. We wanted to show why we skate, more so than just ‘Here look at our cool tricks.’ This is about what draws us to skating and why are we love in with skateboarding. The culture, there are no barriers; if you are drawn to the skateboard you are a part of the family. We are blood. We are family.
C: Another thing that struck me while watching the film was that skateboarding has found a way to breakdown cultural and racial barriers. Could you elaborate more on that?
P: It’s a human nature of type thing. If you have a body, you can try skateboarding. It’s not a race thing; it’s just an emotional reaction to want to have fun. Wanting to have fun and excitement is embedded in humans, all humans. This film makes you at least want to try it. Once you find out how fun it is, the rest doesn’t matter.
C: How have fans reacted after seeing this film?
P: So far it seems really positive, the people who reacted in the theater were very excited. I had a couple of friends of mine that got emotional watching the film. It reminded them about their love of skateboarding and how they first fell in love with it. This becomes about the emotion that I’m trying to evoke, it’s about uniting our passion.
C: Do you have any tips for fans that are just becoming interesting in skateboarding?
P: It’s really easy, you just find a local skateboard shop and you pick out a board that catches your eye and you pick out a pair of shoes and go out there. Just find some concrete and go for it. Maybe try gong to a skate part and meet other kids around your age. I found it to be really fun when you have a crew. Just remember, it’s about fun, don’t pressure on yourself.
C: What have you been working on next? Future plans?
P: I’ve been working on this project for so long it took so much of my focus but right now I’m on the contest circuit. Right now I’m focused on the upcoming Street League in New Jersey and I’m hoping to skate well. After the circuit is done I’m going to go back to the drawing board and work on new skate moves. I want to try to work on them and film them. See what works.
C: Anything else you would like to add?
P: I just ask everyone who is out there to get the movie a shot; you might be surprised and really enjoy it.