Skateboarding, at its core, exists in a fleeting moment. It’s something that cannot be bought or sold, a firework that temporarily captivates the entire sphere of consciousness. All skateboarding really is, is the sensations we experience when we happen to be cruising across the street using enthusiasm instead of fuel.
However, the sum of those moments becomes something much bigger. Pursuing them becomes a lifestyle. One that, if you’re like us, will consume you for life. And as we know, real life, life without skateboarding, is dreadful!
Don Luong is an American skater and director, a skateboarding lifer. He started filming at around 17 or 18 years old. Since then he has become infatuated with the idea of filming tricks, putting whatever song he’d like to it, and editing it in any way he wants to. Having that kind of free rein for creativity and expression is awesome, it is in his DNA, which is why he continues to do it.
We were fortunate enough to get hold of his latest skate film REAL LIFE SUCKS for Toy Machine. It’s brand new, but there’s something timeless about it.
We had a conversation with 36 years old skate video maker. And it gives us that familiar feeling — the feeling of pursuing moments of pure skateboarding, the one that consumes us for life.
So let Don Luong tell us more. He knows what pure skateboarding is all about.
Hey Don, nice to meet you!
Hey guys! Me too, thank you for having me.
It’s very easy to find info about you on the Internet, so let’s skip some basic questions.
Sure no problem. Let’s start!
Why did you release the video on the Toy Machine YouTube channel? Not on the Thrasher channel?
The main reasons we wanted to release the video through our YouTube page were to help build our subscribers up as our page is relatively new and to have more flexibility with music.
Which platform are the most views coming from? What is the best place to release the video nowadays?
That’s a good question! I mean, these days you kind of want to hit all platforms, but I’d assume Instagram has our highest viewer count. However, the views on YouTube hold a heavier weight to me because it means someone stayed and watched the video in full as opposed to a 30-second clip.
What is the idea behind the name of the video: REAL LIFE SUCKS?
It was a saying that Ed would always use to caption people he shot photos of using their phones. Kind of ironic that the video will be most likely streamed from phones more than anything else.
What does ‘Bloodsucking Corporate Scum’ mean at the beginning of the video?
It’s a saying that’s been used in Toy videos since I was a kid. My interpretation of it is just Ed poking fun at the contrast between how huge multimillion-dollar companies are run opposed to your average skate company. Just kind of tongue-in-cheek jokes and sarcasm.
How did it happen with Rowley? It looks like a really cool union of two legends.
Mike Sinclair just got a call from Geoff one day and he wanted to be on the team. Geoff has been friends with Ed forever, so it only made sense and it’s an honour to work alongside him.
REAL LIFE SUCKS is the 10th video of Toy Machine. What is its connection with the first one?
I wanna do this without Googling, but I believe the first Toy video was either “Live!” or “Heavy Metal.” I think the main connection between those videos and REAL LIFE SUCKS is that every video to come before REAL LIFE SUCKS has played a direct influence in what Toy Machine is today. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a few Toy Machine videos now and I always look back on older ones to find inspiration.
Please tell us about any special memories from the filming process.
Nothing specific really comes to mind. I think just working with Georgia Martin so closely and seeing her essentially go from flow to pro in a very short amount of time and all the work and dedication she put in was special to witness. Jeremy battling injuries over the years and putting out his most refined part yet was really special as well. And Myles and I filming the majority of his part in the greater Long Beach area meant a lot to me. It just shows how creative he is.
Imagine you had unlimited resources. What kind of project would you film?
As far as the type of project, I don’t think it would change that much. But with unlimited resources, I would travel all over the world and make sure we stay at the nicest hotels and eat the best food. And everyone would be allowed to bring their loved ones and friends on trips.
Top 5 captions from the video?
- Pointless on purpose.
- Buy Toy Machine or the terrorists win.
- Trying to be cool is uncool, am I in harm’s way?
- Your ticket out.
- I’ll noseblunt this later.
Top 5 Toy Machine riders?
- Jeremy Leabres. Jeremy was my first “assignment” if you will at Toy when I got the job. So seeing him go from flow to where he is at now it has been special to see him grow and come into his own throughout the years. We’ve been through a lot together. And he’s got the best snacks on trips.
- Leo Romero. He leads by example and gives skateboarding his all. The level he’s able to continue to skate at is incredible. And if you’re in the van with him you’re guaranteed laughter and jokes the entire time.
- Myles Willard. To me he embodies what Toy Machine represents at its core. Just a raw and creative outlook not just on skating but life as a whole. Not many know but he’s also a talented artist and musician too.
- Georgia Martin. Our rookie pro! Over the course of REAL LIFE SUCKS, I became best friends with Georgia. Skating and hanging with her has given me a new light and perspective not just on skating, but life in general. She’s just getting started and I’m excited to see all that she accomplishes.
- Ed Templeton. Ed has given me free rein over at Toy Machine and trusts everything that I do. His support and guidance has really helped push me to be the best artist I can be. Toy Machine doesn’t exist without Ed’s hand (literally).
Top 5 songs from the video?
- Pure morning – Placebo.
- Fuma (w/pg) – Good for Cows.
- Ninna Nanna Per Adulteri – Ennio Morricone.
- Everything Is – Neutral Milk Hotel.
- Another Green World – Brian Eno.
Skate videos have personalities. Some are neat, some are kind. Some are scary. Some of our favourites are strange and artistic. These are the types of videos that sculpt a director and a gang, allowing them to express themselves to their fullest — just like the one Don Luong released three months ago. REAL LIFE SUCKS is 100% strange and artistic. And there’s definitely something timeless about it. Keep going, Don!
Photographer: Ben Karpinski.
Illustrator: Ed Templeton.
Words: Konstantin Belozerov, Kirill Korobkov and Ivan Florence.
