Wu Wei
on 01/11/2010, 14:52.Videos ambassadors Bhangra Dane Webber Sam Weaver videos | Permalink.
Sam Weaver (filmer) and Dane Webber (rider) share their thoughts on Wu Wei, a new video featuring the Bhangra in its prototype stages.
SAM WEAVER
IDEA
For this video I wanted to create a world ideal for longboarding, free from cars and other distractions and hazards. I also wanted to film with unique lighting. I opted to try and capture summer's early morning fog. This location was perfect because it is located in a river valley and there for prone to fog, and because of the idyllic farm and woods setting.
I wanted the video to be relaxed, but build to an exciting finish, while focusing on Dane's fluid movements on the board, by shooting in slow motion. (I opted to rent and shoot with a 7D because I already had the lenses and gear to match it).
FILMING
I tried to have the camera always moving, either following on a longboard, on the dolly or just tilting and panning on the tripod. The home made dolly was frustrating as it made lots of noise and often was jittery. All focusing was done by hand.
Given the low light and need for a high shutter speed I shot at a pretty high ISO, and usually a large aperture, which necessitated a lot of focusing.
EQUIPMENT
Cameras- Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 7D
Lenses- 28-300mm f3.5-5.6, 20mm f2.8
Manfrotto Tripod
Home made track and dolly
Opteka Camera Grip
Software- Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop CS4 for time lapse.
DANE WEBBER
DESIGN
Wu Wei, a Taoist concept, means knowing how and when to move in the sense that you wouldn't think "NOW" is the right time to do "THIS", but instead just naturally doing it, doing it without the conscious effort. This is very simply the whole concept behind our video. Action with no action. No planned moves or tricks. Just flowing out the skating as naturally and fluid as possible.
ACTION
For 4 days in a row I’d wake up at 4:45am. I’d eat a bagel, an orange and a coffee and fly out the door to pick up Sam and head to one of our favorite spots “Topsfield”. The sun would be rising just as Sam set up the cameras and I stretch and yawn a bunch.
Sunrise is a very peaceful and meditative time to skate. I highly recommend it.
In this video I wanted to showcase the versatility of the version 2 dancer. It can take hills much better than the old dancer because of the concave, rocker and shorter wheel base. Also the nose and tail make tiger claw variations pop higher and manuals lock in tight. The cork core makes a HUGE difference when landing high impact tricks. No more getting bucked off of your bigspin landings. It just absorbs it all so beautifully. It has become my favorite all around longboard.
VIEW
Wu Wei skating is something every longboarder should be familiar with. Take a break from working on that move you've been trying to master and just flow down the street. You will find this to be the best way to get creative. Reflect. Come up with new moves. Skate in peace. Wu Wei style.