North Pacific Connection - Short Skate Film & Interview

Sheldon Barr and Generation Waste Skateboarding collaborated to put together a raw ass skate video entitled "North Pacific Connection". Sheldon Barr is a skater/filmmaker residing in Vancouver BC and Generation Waste Skateboarding is a crew with the idea "to collaborate with other companies to create video showing our common idea of skateboarding that means live it from the inside and not just make a list of tricks." I don't know exactly where the GWS crew resides but they can be found skating throughout Barcelona, London Berlin or any decent skate spot that will bring them good times. Read on to hear how their passions brought them together.

Andrea Rigano photo

Lenny: Tell me a little about the video Northwest Pacific connection…Who's in it, Where is the video filmed, how long you were filming for it?

Sheldon: The video features west coast riders throughout the Pacific Northwest from both Canada and USA. Riders include:

Conlan Killeen, Danny Hagge, Adam Richter, Adam Hopkins, Jamie Maley, Nate Lacoste, Baxter, Dylan Dowd, Frank Shaw, Cole Nowicki, Cory Lakeman, Stu Benoit, myself (Sheldon Barr)

The video was filmed over the period of about a year. It was mostly based out of Vancouver, but also consisted of footage from various trips throughout Oregon.

What are your feelings on the various spots featured in the video?

I feel like the video offered a well rounded spectacle of spots including street and transition. Since I'm more of a transition oriented skater myself, that's what I find more interesting to film. Leeside and Hastings are my closest gems in Vancouver, but Oregon parks are pretty much the best in the world to me. You can travel from small town to small town and continuously be blown away by the uniqueness of each park. I was lucky enough to come across Frank Shaw, and Dylan Dowd travelling throughout Oregon and had the opportunity to film with them up along the coastal parks.

How did the concept come about?

Sheldon: The concept came about when I met Alberto (editor) while I was on a skate trip to Barcelona. He opened up about what he was trying to do with Generation Waste, and mentioned that we should collaborate on an edit. I took it as a great opportunity to work with a European editor, and it was a great way to gain international exposure for both the skaters featured, and the people involved in making this video.

Alberto: The idea of GenerationWaste is to do collaboration and create original skate video clip, not just to copy and paste link of other people.

I've been in Vancouver for 6 months 3 years ago, but I met Sheldon on his last day of tour in Barcelona last January. We start to talk about skateboarding, videos and difference between Europe and Canada. After a month we decide to try to put some footy together, and North Pacific is what come out.

The day before to start the edit I went to this gig where there was The Shrine playing. They are fuckin awesome! We talked for a while and than I figure it out: 'Man, I've to use your song for a video with this guys from Van. Are you down to do that?

The band saw the video when it came out, at the end of the European tour, and thay told me that they know Adam and some other guys in the video. That was cool for me, cause we make real connection between people. Rad. I love it.

Hope we are gonna do some other collaboration, GWS web site just started anyway, so we are open to collaboration, sponsor , whatever…any help from people who wants to support the project.

We put all our passion for skateboarding to create some cool skate clip, where we can travell, or where we have friends who likes what we do, showing different culture, cities, skaters and style from all over the world.

How did you decide to work with Gen Waste guys on it?

The video was 95% filmed by myself but also had clips contributed by local filmers: Alex Doyle, Dave Ehrenreich, and Ty James.
I directed the video through email and via MSG. During the period of the editing process, I would go over drafts that Alberto would come at me with, tell him what needed to be changed, and after numerous attempts we wound up with what you see now. It was a great learning experience working with someone from across the globe.

What are you up to next?

Summer is almost here now, so my life is gradually becoming a congested mess of filming street skating, road trips, contests, and events. I try my best to bury myself into filming throughout the months of June, July, and August. I've been working lots filming with locals around Vancouver (jamie maley, nate lacoste, conlan killeen) and have been developing concepts working with Color magazine when I'm in town. For the most part tho, I'm happy just to be contributing to the sport I'm most passionate about.

Lenny Rubenovitch is a filmmaker who runs Underexposed Agency, a collaborative agency that specializes in snowboard and skateboard content. Some of his work can be seen on UnderExposed Agency's Vimeo page HERE