Skate in LA

Skate in LA is a vignette short film exploring the feelings and stories of four local LA skaters.

Each shares their unique perspective of the skateboarding scene in LA and how it influences their lives.

In particular, Travis Bracken, who grew up without his parents in South Central Los Angeles, talks about how skateboarding saved him from a life as a gang member.

Skateboarding acts as a kind of short-hand international language that connects people from different countries and cultures. This is part of what makes it such a compelling window into local culture and life.

Tracie Garacochea also explains that the Olympics is changing how some parents of skaters see the sport, sometimes treating it as a way to get their child into the Olympics — skateboarding is now experiencing huge growth and change around the world; as it will be an Olympic sport for the first time in history in the now Tokyo 2021 Olympic games.

  • Steffan Roe Griffiths
    Director
    Skate in Perú, Skate in Tokyo, Mistakes in Tokyo
  • Travis Bracken
    Key Cast
  • Tracie Garacochea
    Key Cast
  • Tommy Calvert
    Key Cast
  • Mimi Sullivan
    Key Cast
  • Oliver Blue
    Music
    Skate in Perú, Skate in Tokyo, Mistakes in Tokyo
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Skateboarding, Sport, Documentary
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 3, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    300 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    September 12, 2021
    World Premiere
    Official Selection & Finalist in Network Round
Director Biography - Steffan Roe Griffiths

Steffan is a multi award-winning filmmaker from Swansea, Wales. From 2012-2018 he lived in Japan, where he taught English at a high school in Kyoto before moving to Tokyo to make films.

In 2019, he spent half the year travelling, including time in Los Angeles, when he filmed and documented experiences of local skateboarders.

Steffan’s previous documentary film, ‘Skate in Perú’, was an Official Selection at the Oscar-qualifying AmDocs Film Festival, 2021.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Skate in LA is my most recent film, finished in July 2021.

Many skaters from completely different parts of the world have shared the same statement -- 'skateboarding saved my life.'
If nothing else, this pattern gives me motivation to keep documenting skateboarding and the lives of skaters.

In addition to a cast of passionate local skaters, the film also features original music from the talented young American musician and composer, Oliver Blue.

I hope you enjoy watching the film as much as we did making it.