Skate Videos Are Pretty Cool

Youtube is the most valuable time-wasting instrument that god has given to man. I don't even think that video games can beat it in terms of sheer quantity of stuff and subjects covered. I don't even need to get into this. You know it already it. And the thing is, Youtube has something for everyone: sports clips, presidential campaign coverage, movie trailers and footage, on and on ad infinitum. And everybody has their preference.

When I waste time on Youtube, I do it by watching skate (aggressive inline, what a shit term) videos. It's quick and accessible. Tonight before dinner I was online and I watched an edit made by a skate videographer from the northeast United States- Chris Majette- of northeastern skaters, and then another one by a southeastern videographer- Jamie Olmstead- of southeastern skaters. It came to me that the two editing styles, and even the skating itself, were drastically different. I have full videos (actual ones, not just Youtube) that both of them have made, but I guess it took watching distinct edits back-to-back to show me it.

It basically comes down to this: the northeast is hectic as all hell, and the southeast is relaxed. In the northeast edit (check it out here) Majette uses a post-hardcore song, rapid shot transitions with no effects, and crops the individual clips to begin only a split second before or right as the trick occurs, with little after the landing. It gives the edit a frantic pace. In the southeast, however, Olmstead slows everything down by the exact opposite; the song is gentler, he uses transition effects, and shows lots of run-up and landing. I would love to credit this to the stereotype of people being nice and slow in the south, while northeasterners are harried and mean, and I just might. Regardless, they are both enjoyable.

I am getting sleepy so I will cut this post off here. In the meantime, download the new demo by my funeral doom solo project, Oppen Gråv. The link is here. Enjoy, and more info about it will be posted tomorrow.