We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. As a Fuel TV correspondent (a.k.a. blogger), Mahea had a vague idea from an e-mail about what we were being sent to cover. To both our amazements, the not-so casual afternoon turned out to be the highlight of the already epic weekend. All we knew was that we were suddenly expected to interview Rob Dyrdek, Paul Rodriguez, Terry Kennedy and Ryan Sheckler and the sky was breathing, the trees were dancing, and it was getting harder and harder to suppress the laughter. We were on mushrooms. Thank God we were wearing shades. What we presumed might be some minor event that would involve lots of people and an open bar turned out to be an intimate photo shoot with the cast of Street Dreams, a serious skate film done by skaters, for skaters, and to show the world what it takes to make it in this ever expanding sub culture. Paul Rodriguez takes the leading role in this flick, which was written and produced by Rob Dyrdek and is loosely based on the superstar's own life. The story follows the life of Derreck, a small town kid from the Midwest, on his path to glory, fame and professional status while dodging life's water balloons of parents, girls, and mentors-turned-rivals. We asked Rob if in place of the stiff formal interview we could all go discuss things at a bar after the shoot, but were quickly shot down. Something about wanting to go home and not being able to drink beer at this hour...granted it was only two in the afternoon... So, with the climax of our Jimi Hendrix Experience, we approached the cluster of men as they stood in their circle of sexy black cars and obscene amounts of bling awaiting their next shoot. Looking like piles and hinting with a smell of party on our beings, we casually lit our cigarettes and charged with our first question: who would be best suited for winner of the Slashie award for best skater/actor? The answer was a resounding, unanimous: P. Rod. I guess that one was obvious, acting is in his blood. Paul Rodriguez, the comedian, is his father after all. But funny enough, this blatant fact wasn't their reason for the nomination of P-Rod, but rather his intense focus and motivation. While filming, he pulled off tricks that even Sheckler admitted were unfathomable. Time to make-up a second question, and being as we were surrounded by more diamonds than the seven dwarfs could shake a pick at (and that was just on Terry), Devon asked if they were real.... SHOCK. HORROR. GASPS. An "Oh no she di'int!" from Rob. "Of course they're real, I'm black!" yelled Terry, and threw the necklace over her head so she could feel the true weight of success. Clearly, success is having your initials laid out in diamonds weighing in at something comparable with a Chihuahua.
Needing to change the subject because we had obviously crossed some line, we seamlessly segued into asking if they had any incidents or injuries while filming. One fateful 4th of July Ryan stepped back upon a searing hot barbeque resulting in a skin graft after which he STILL performed skate maneuvers for the film. But the wining story definitely went to Ice Cream team manager Nino Scalia, who also leant his talents towards the writing of the script. The setting is lil ol' bar in America's Mid West where our crew find themselves on the sauce. P-Rod sees some dickhead trying to shake his junk all up on his lady's trunk and very politely tells him that she's taken and to please leave. Dickhead ignores him and keeps gyrating. P-Rod asks again. From there the details got a little fuzzy but we do know that Rob got hit and that's when Compton Ass Terry stepped in and handled it, delivering blow after blow to Dickhead's face while yelling "No one hits Rob!" Things got taken outside and that's where Nino's fate was sealed. His eye caught another guy preparing to pounce from the balcony and into the brawl, so he spider-manned his way up and hit him, which was seen by an anxious security guard. The second Nino's feet hit the ground, he was maced. Foam mace to be exact. Terry flew to the rescue and swept him up like Mother Goose, gently wiping the foam from his eyes. Nino passed out after that, but remembers waking up "with [his] face all red and feeling like it had been napalmed, surrounded by jugs of milk. That's when [he] remembered what happened and just started laughing."
After spending the day with them, hearing stories and watching them chat like hens in a coop; we could tell that they were more than just friends. They were brothers, but not like real brothers, like the way black people mean it, which is more meaningful. And even if only half of that energy gets translated into the film (but we're willing to bet it'll be a lot more than half), then there is no way that this will turn out to be the skate version of "In God's Hands."
Diamonds are a slasher's best friend
We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. As a Fuel TV correspondent (a.k.a. blogger), Mahea had a vague idea from an e-mail about what we were being sent to cover. To both our amazements, the not-so casual afternoon turned out to be the highlight of the already epic weekend. All we knew was that we were suddenly expected to interview Rob Dyrdek, Paul Rodriguez, Terry Kennedy and Ryan Sheckler and the sky was breathing, the trees were dancing, and it was getting harder and harder to suppress the laughter. We were on mushrooms. Thank God we were wearing shades.
What we presumed might be some minor event that would involve lots of people and an open bar turned out to be an intimate photo shoot with the cast of Street Dreams, a serious skate film done by skaters, for skaters, and to show the world what it takes to make it in this ever expanding sub culture. Paul Rodriguez takes the leading role in this flick, which was written and produced by Rob Dyrdek and is loosely based on the superstar's own life. The story follows the life of Derreck, a small town kid from the Midwest, on his path to glory, fame and professional status while dodging life's water balloons of parents, girls, and mentors-turned-rivals. We asked Rob if in place of the stiff formal interview we could all go discuss things at a bar after the shoot, but were quickly shot down. Something about wanting to go home and not being able to drink beer at this hour...granted it was only two in the afternoon...
So, with the climax of our Jimi Hendrix Experience, we approached the cluster of men as they stood in their circle of sexy black cars and obscene amounts of bling awaiting their next shoot. Looking like piles and hinting with a smell of party on our beings, we casually lit our cigarettes and charged with our first question: who would be best suited for winner of the Slashie award for best skater/actor? The answer was a resounding, unanimous: P. Rod. I guess that one was obvious, acting is in his blood. Paul Rodriguez, the comedian, is his father after all. But funny enough, this blatant fact wasn't their reason for the nomination of P-Rod, but rather his intense focus and motivation. While filming, he pulled off tricks that even Sheckler admitted were unfathomable. Time to make-up a second question, and being as we were surrounded by more diamonds than the seven dwarfs could shake a pick at (and that was just on Terry), Devon asked if they were real....
SHOCK. HORROR. GASPS.
An "Oh no she di'int!" from Rob.
"Of course they're real, I'm black!" yelled Terry, and threw the necklace over her head so she could feel the true weight of success. Clearly, success is having your initials laid out in diamonds weighing in at something comparable with a Chihuahua.
Needing to change the subject because we had obviously crossed some line, we seamlessly segued into asking if they had any incidents or injuries while filming. One fateful 4th of July Ryan stepped back upon a searing hot barbeque resulting in a skin graft after which he STILL performed skate maneuvers for the film. But the wining story definitely went to Ice Cream team manager Nino Scalia, who also leant his talents towards the writing of the script. The setting is lil ol' bar in America's Mid West where our crew find themselves on the sauce. P-Rod sees some dickhead trying to shake his junk all up on his lady's trunk and very politely tells him that she's taken and to please leave. Dickhead ignores him and keeps gyrating. P-Rod asks again. From there the details got a little fuzzy but we do know that Rob got hit and that's when Compton Ass Terry stepped in and handled it, delivering blow after blow to Dickhead's face while yelling "No one hits Rob!" Things got taken outside and that's where Nino's fate was sealed. His eye caught another guy preparing to pounce from the balcony and into the brawl, so he spider-manned his way up and hit him, which was seen by an anxious security guard. The second Nino's feet hit the ground, he was maced. Foam mace to be exact. Terry flew to the rescue and swept him up like Mother Goose, gently wiping the foam from his eyes. Nino passed out after that, but remembers waking up "with [his] face all red and feeling like it had been napalmed, surrounded by jugs of milk. That's when [he] remembered what happened and just started laughing."
After spending the day with them, hearing stories and watching them chat like hens in a coop; we could tell that they were more than just friends. They were brothers, but not like real brothers, like the way black people mean it, which is more meaningful. And even if only half of that energy gets translated into the film (but we're willing to bet it'll be a lot more than half), then there is no way that this will turn out to be the skate version of "In God's Hands."
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21
by The Seppos
April 1, 2009