New skateboarding film brings scene together

About 150 people came to the free premiere of “Mind Field,” a new video offering from Alien Workshop skateboards at the Byrd Theater Feb. 6 in Carytown. Not the first premiere of its kind, many believe this type of event is bringing Richmond’s skateboarding scene together and helping it to grow.

“Beautiful videography,” political science major Nick Ghobashi said. “It kept me captivated, and I have the attention span of a 4-year-old.”

Ghobashi said free premieres at the Byrd help the skateboarding scene in Richmond grow, as well as garner attention for the films shown among skate boarders.

The large crowds attracted to this kind of event give local skateboarders the opportunity to get together, see friends they might not have seen in a while and to meet new people.

Mass communications major Andrew Schwartz said the video premieres are a way for many people in the Richmond skateboarding scene to watch videos they otherwise might not have an opportunity to see.

“For kids who can’t go out and buy a video for 20 or 30 bucks, they can come and actually see it for free,” Schwartz said.

Alexia Burton, an art history and latin american studies major, said it was good that the Byrd would have a premiere for a skateboarding video because of some people’s unwillingness to deal with skateboarders.

Nike skateboarding, Lakai footwear and several locally produced films were premiered in the past at the Byrd to large turnouts.

Travis Lyle, a VCU alumnus with a degree in mass communications, said he had been waiting a long time for this particular film to be released because of several of the featured skateboarders, and was glad to be able to see it at the Byrd.

“I’m really psyched that (the Byrd) is down for Dominion (skateboard shop) and the local skate scene … and that they are always down to hold the premieres,” Lyle said.

After the film, a raffle was held and several Alien Workshop skateboard decks were given away along with T-shirts and stickers.

According to the Alien Workshop Web site, “Mind Field” was filmed over the span of 2005 to 2009 and “is a document of the team’s raw ability and eclectic personalities interlaced with the workshop’s undying pursuit of visual individuality and creative freedom.”

“Mind Field” has a running time of 60 minutes and features the skateboarding talents of Heath Kirchart, Arto Saari, Mikey Taylor, Anthony Van Englin, Josh Kalis, Dylan Rieder, Omar Salazar, Jason Dill, Rob Dyrdek, Steve Berra, Grant Taylor, Jake Johnson and Tyler Bledsoe.