Wow, two skateboarding articles within just a few days found in the mainstream media.  You can’t beat that.  Tony Hawk, doing an interview with the other less significant LAT, the Los Angeles Times, talks about his upcoming video game with Activision.  Can you believe that he’s been in the video game, game, for about ten years now?  That’s crazy.  He’s released about a game a year I suspect. 

As you probably already know, video games generate billions of dollars annually and Tony’s games have definitely contributed its share.  Even shmo’s such as myself who usually could care less about video games got really into the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series.  I used to cut class to play Pro Skater at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood for six hours straight.  I must say I got pretty good at it regularly scoring a million points.  That’s how savant I am. 

But those games didn’t just have a (positive) impact on me as a kid cutting class, but for thousands of skaters everywhere improving on their shred skillz.  You can’t deny that those games had some kind of influence on how skaters skate today with all the noseslide, to manual, to kickflip out renditions.  Sometimes when watching some of the videos today, I could swear I’ve seen runs reminiscent on Tony Hawk Pro Skater. 

Check out the article over at the LA TIMES.  If any skater were to reach a billion dollar net worth, it would have to be Tony.  He or Willy Manaloto Santos.  But not because of his skating, but for his acting chops.  That’s right, I have to give another shout out to my favorite skateboard film of all time, THE SKATEBOARD KID II. 

Those of you who know me know that Willy Manaloto Santos is one of my all time favorite skaters and heroes.  Going back to his early days with The Birdhouse Projects, to his groundbreaking role in one of my favorite films, “The Skateboard Kid II”.  Just in case you think I’m making this movie up, check out this high quality TRAILER if you don’t believe me.  Look close enough and you can see him at the 0:35.  And if you want a copy, email me, and ill burn you a DVD from the master copy I bought in Chinatown. 

Going back to my hero, Willy and his Workshop will be holding down one of the best contest in a long time.  Screw all the others; this is the only relevant thing going on right now.  Willy’s Workshop will be holding the Super Turbo Street Fighter II Double Elimination Tournament.  If you were born after 1989, you can stop reading because this probably has no significance to you. 

The tournament goes down on Sunday, November 16th at 5PM.  Willy’s Workshop is in Mira Mesa California and there is a $6 entry fee.  They are taking only 30 contestants so you better enter now. 

There has been a long history of skaters making the transition into film and television.  Not many skaters succeed either.  Like I’ve said before, the three most important roles ever played on film is:

#3. Andrew Reynolds “Skateboard Kid” Cop & 1/2 – As a kid minding his own business messing around on his shred stick, Andrew Reynolds’ character got caught off guard as the title character jacks him for his board to go after a criminal.  Andrew’s face while getting jack is timeless.  Never before have I seen a person so distraught after getting jacked in the medium of film.  As the viewer, you feel empathetic because we’ve all felt the feeling before. 

#2.  Tony Hawk “Pizza Delivery Boy” Gleaming The Cube – When Christian Slater’s character is in trouble and he needs to avenge the death of his adopted Vietnamese adopted brother, Tony’s Pizza Delivery Boy character was there as not only a good friend, but as a tool to maneuver the Pizza Hut truck.  You can’t win a football game without a good kicker, and you can’t avenge the death of a brother without a Pizza Hut Delivery Boy. 

#1.  Willy Manoloto Santos “Mike Roads” The Skateboard Kid II – When all the attention was on the talking skateboard played by Dom Deluise, Willy’s character Mike accidentally stole the show.  Without doing or saying much, Mike’s sidekick character gave the reincarnated Talking Skateboard a second chance at life with a deep and valuable message, “Even a skateboard can dream”. 

Well it looks like P-Rod is attempting to join this exclusive club of skaters turned actor. But I must say, it won’t be easy to achieve the kind of success that Andrew, Tony, or Willy have had as actors.  Fortunately for Paul, his new film “Vicious Circle” is heading in the right direction by winning Best Picture at the HBO New York International Latino Film Festival.  Check out the press release below for more info. 

“VICIOUS CIRCLE” WINS BIG AT THE HBO NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
 
Los Angeles, CA (July 28, 2008) – VICIOUS CIRCLE wins the top prize, “Best Picture”, at the 2008 HBO New York International Film Festival in New York City. 
 
The film screened to enthusiastic audiences while both screenings attracted “sold out” ticket sales!  Filmmaker Paul Boyd’s directorial debut, VICIOUS CIRCLE stars Nike endorsed, professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez (also known as “P-Rod”) and Emily Rios  (“Quinceañera”).
 
“We are so thrilled to have premiered our film in New York and to the Latino community,” says Paul Boyd. “It is exciting to see how well received the film was and to win this award!” Boyd looks forward to screening the film again soon.

Set on the streets of Venice Beach CA, VICIOUS CIRCLE is a raw, edgy, modern day, teenage “Romeo and Juliet” Latino love story.
 
RJ (Paul Rodriguez) an artist and skater who dreams of moving to New York City to pursue his aspirations to create comic books, meets his first love Angel (Emily Rios) a rebellious singer in a local teen age punk band. Soon their unexpected story of true love causes the tides to turn in both lives, when RJ reveals a secret that will cost the life of his new love.
 
VICIOUS CIRCLE conveys a strong message of the consequences of what happens when you choose to go down the wrong path in life.

With great powers comes great responsibility.  No I’m not talking about Spiderman, but two veterans in the acting game, Willy Monaloto Santos and Steve Caballero.  If you do not know who these two great icons are, then go do your research.  Actually I’ll just tell you.  Willy Monaloto Santos from San Diego California back in 1995 took on the daring role of “Mike Roads” in the instant classic “The Skateboard Kid II” starring Dom Deluis as the voice of the skateboard. 
And Steve Caballero starred in 1986’s “Thrashin”, which also starred Josh Brolin.  Believe it or not, Steve’s film career did not end there.  He went on to do a film the following year entitled “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol”.  I know you’ve seen it. 

Well these two great American actors have taken time off their busy film careers to spend it with the kiddies this July 18th to 18th for the Mevyn Clothing Company skate camp at Graceland Skatepark in Kauai Hawaii.  I doubt that it has anything to do with Elvis’s Graceland but I hope they know what they are in for since they are probably Hollywood divas and all.

It’s great when cities have party festivals for the kids. Families can spend the entire day together and enjoy a parades, carnival games and rides that are severely outdated. The only thing that matters is that the families spend the whole day together. Sure it’s great for families with young kids, but what if you’re an adolescent? We in the city of Walnut had the Walnut Family Festival and it was actually quite depressing. There was once a dancing crew that performed one year that taught about the dangers of drugs. Unfortunately later that year, one of the dancers got hooked on meth.

Hopefully with Willy’s Workshop showing up at the Rancho Penasquitos Street Fair this year, they will have an entirely different outcome with something more positive. They will be out there with their own booth and will provide a skate demo from 11am – 5pm. The event takes place on Sunday May 4th and should be a lot better than the Walnut Family Fest…