Experiencing Interruptions?

Skate Or Die

Seventeen-year-old Leonardo Castillo uses skateboarding to help escape gang life and generational poverty in his Chicago neighborhood. When a gunshot wound threatens to take away his passion, Leo must face the world as an adult.

  • Ryan Ferguson
    Director
    Hannibal Takes Edinburgh
  • Nick Nummerdor
    Producer
    Sleeze Lake, Vannin
  • Jason Osder
    Producer
    Let the Fire Burn, America Sells Itself
  • Azam Ahmed
    Producer
    New York Times, Chicago Tribune
  • Ryan Ferguson
    Cinematographer
    Ringside, Dear Walmart, American Jail, Syl Johnson: Anyway the Wind Blows, The List
  • Zebediah Smith
    Editor
    Whatever It Takes
  • Theo Katsaounis
    Soundtrack
    Your War (Im one of You): Joan Of Arc (Polyvinyl Recording Artist)
  • Nick Nummerdor
    Outreach Coordinator
    Minding the Gap, Concrete Dreams
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Teen, Coming of age, inspirational
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 24 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • SF DOCS 2021
    San Francisco
    North American Premiere
  • Paris Skate and Surf Film Festival 2021
    Paris France
  • Moments Film Festival
    Malaga
    Spain
    STAF magazine pick!
  • Threadbare Mitten Film Festival
    Michigan
  • YoFi Film Festival
    New York, NY
    November 1, 2021
    NY Premiere
  • Big Water Film Festival
    Ashland Wisconsin
    Wi Premiere
    WINNER - BEST FEATURE
Director Biography - Ryan Ferguson

Ryan co-founded Flyback Productions in his last semester at Columbia College in Chicago. Through Flyback, he has spent the past 10 years producing, shooting, and editing videos for clients such as Ford Motor Company, Vh1, Illinois Holocaust Museam, & the Cook County Juvenile Court. Ryan is a regular volunteer video professional for Poverty Alleviation Chicago. In addition to his commercial work, Ryan also has directed, shot, and edited several independent documentary shorts. Ryan’s first feature film HANNIBAL TAKES EDINBURGH follows standup comedian Hannibal Buress for one month at the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Festival. Netflix purchased the film to rave reviews. Ryan has been a cinematographer on numerous documentaries about underserved communities including: Syl Johnson- Anyway the Wind Blows, Dear Walmart, Ringside, and Little Dresses for Africa. His next project covers a yearlong project about an African American High School doing a mock trial in his hometown of Detroit overseen by the Wolverine Bar Association. SKATE OR DIE is Ryan’s second feature film. Ryan@flybackproductions.com

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Director Statement

SKATE OR DIE was initially inspired by a Chicago Tribune article written by producer Azam Ahmed. It is comprised of over 100 hours of footage which was captured between 2008-2013. Director/Cinematographer Ryan Ferguson, armed with a hand-held camera and lavalier mic, bootstrapped this film as a full time unpaid job over those many years. Ryan’s sensitivity and “one man band” production approach created an environment where Leo felt comfortable sharing his most intimate experiences.

Editor Zeb Smith took this intimate footage and wove a character driven cinema-verite style journey. Zeb manages to show Leo growing into a young man right in front of our eyes. Often troubling, the film’s pacing reveals the ways violence and poverty affect our youth and it is a stunning look at living on society’s fringe.