RIP TV Go film Skate Day Contest

The Skate Department at RipTv wanted to come onto the scene with a bang! And they did. Teaming up with C1RCA and the ISAC, they put together a world wide video skate comp for anyone with a camera and an imagination. With an unparalleled prize pack that included cameras, laptop and swag, if you didn't know about Rip.Tv Video skate comp, you do now!

This years winner was Jarvis Nigelsky; a Vancouver filmmaker who's take on skate day was quite unique. He's a winner of a brand new DVX and Macbook combo edit suite worth over $5000! Check out the winning vid at www.rip.tv/video/watch/2031/

We asked Jarvis a couple questions about his video:

How did you find out about the contest?

I am not exactly sure how I heard about the Go Skate Day contest, because I remember seeing the webflyer on the c1rca.ca site, then I received a forwarded email from Alex at Underworld. I asked some other Filmer's and friends if they had heard about the contest. I figured why not, try it out. I have never entered a contest before, it should be fun.

How did you come up with the concept for your video? it's pretty original.

Well, Dirty Dirk took some thinking. I read the guidelines on Rip.tv, and they mentioned "Funny" and they wanted something original, including music. So I thought about it for awhile when I went to bed to dream. Since Go Skate Day was coming up quickly, in like 1 week from when I found out about the contest, I had to make a decision. One thing I knew, is that I had to have a Canadian spin on Go Skate Day. As well, I figured that the other filmer contestants would probably just film their local Go Skate Day event. In Vancouver, the guys at Timebomb organize the Go Skate Day for Emerica's Wild In The Streets. They did it last year, that I filmed. As well, I am involved the Bringing It To The Streets contest, which is pretty much same where skaters take over city skate spots. So I had already filmed and edited those events into standard skate video montages, before. I knew that I wanted to do something different. I hate doing the same thing twice. I like to consider myself an artist. If I continue to repeat my work in the same manner, I feel like I am a machine. But you do have to find and use a formula that works. As well, I figured that every other filmer in the Vancouver area would film the event. I didn't want to have to go elbow to elbow with other filmer's to get the same shot, I'd rather enjoy Go Skate Day and film the wondrous moments when all the skaters moved together like a school of fish. So I had to be original. I got my good ol' buddy Chad Dickson involved, in the contest. I have known Chad for a few years now, and I know that he is very committed in doing projects. He is a good actor. We watched a lot of YouTube videos together for inspiration. Then I tried to remember TV shows that I liked when I was a kid. My favorite TV show when I was 12 years old was CBC's The Kids In The Hall. We watched some of the shows and found the skit called the "Suit Trappers." Then we watched some SCTV shows to find Bob and Doug McKenzie. We mixed those two skits together and sprinkled a little Spike Jonze style on top; thus The Wild Adventures of Dirty Dirk the Skateboard Hunter was created.

Have you made other videos, or is this the first?

I have been making skate videos and been involved in so many videos to name. My first video that was published and self-financed was called "The Substance". I think I made the first skateboard video in Canada to be on DVD. Then I worked with Jeremy Petit with "North". Did some other projects outside of skateboarding, then teamed up with Underworld to continue "The Under Attack Shows."  Last year, I made a core skateboard video for Underworld called "Yesterdays Future." Those videos were made to fit the skateboard enthusiast.  Good tricks, good spots, good music and ok filming.   To make a dramatic video is a lot harder for a filmmaker. Especially a comedy. When I wrote the script, I don’t know if it would be funny or not. Or how to film it. It's just words on a piece of paper. It is only until Dirty Dirk cracks open his beer and starts saying his lines, that I know that it will turn out.

Thanks to C1RCA for supporting this contest and most importantly to Rip.tv staff for having the balls to make this contest go down. Hopefully, this video will inspire next years Go Film Skate Day contestants. Also to everyone that gave Dirty Dirk props, To all those haters that left negative comments, thanks for watching. Much appreciation to Chad Dickson, Chris Conolly, Gary, my girlfriend Ra Mi Kim, Alex from Underworld, Montie, Bonnell, Jai Ball, Eli at The Circle.

Next year is slated to be bigger and better so look out for more online video contests in the future on www.rip.tv