Chad Norman » Film

The 1990 Video

Chad Norman — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:53:01 +0000

You know, I got out of the habit of actually writing here despite that being one of the objectives for this project. My main focus was to create a repository for 100% original work. Because of this, I’ve been leaning on my photos…which is fine. But I totally forgot to post the 1990 video!

Huh?

Like all passionate skaters, we practiced self-documentation in ritualistic fashion. We filmed and we shot. We developed, edited, and screened. Guys were forever making sponsorship videos, and we analyzed contest films like fiendish hoops coaches. It was all part of the life.

Every year, my friend Todd and I would boil down a years worth of footage into “The Video.” We had two VCRs, one of which miraculously had an audio overdub feature, and we would spend hours getting our dub-on. After the segments were compiled and the hand drawn/written graphics were added, we slapped some tunes over the top.

I’ve been digitizing and posting these on YouTube for the crew…you can see the 1988 video here (Almost 20 years ago…gulp.) I had some flexibility when I worked on the 1990 video, because we hadn’t yet added the audio. I was able to mix the sounds of the skating with a the music, and this gave it a production quality that was unavailable back in the day.

So in writing this painfully long intro and posting a twenty-year-old video testament to skateboarding’s timelessness, I have pushed myself a little farther along. You poor soul. Here’s the video.

And for the record, the slams video gets watched the most on YouTube.

Steven Thompson in 1990

Chad Norman — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:27:17 +0000

Here’s a quick video of Steven I threw together last night. The footage is from both Indianapolis and Columbus. Check out a post-McSqueeb Steven shred a picnic table and bust out the goodies during an N-Orbit contest run.

Skateboarding Slams of the Old School Variety

Chad Norman — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 12:16:55 +0000

There are very few things more enjoyable than watching other people fall, especially when they are doing it for fun. Enjoy this collection of Skateboarding slams, captured in the late 80s.

Skateboarding in 1988

Chad Norman — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:40:20 +0000

Enjoy this classic old school skateboarding video featuring a hip-hop soundtrack that is definitely fresh for ’88. Come for the dated clothing, but stay for the funky boards.

Reservoir Shrubs

Chad Norman — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 02:33:21 +0000

I made this a little over a year ago, yet it’s just as spooky today:

Well I don’t know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain’t right,
I’m so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I’m wondering how I’ll get down the stairs,
Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.

Yes I’m stuck in the middle with you,
And I’m wondering what it is I should do,
It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face,
Losing control, yeah, I’m all over the place,
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Commander Gree Has Posse

Chad Norman — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 19:46:49 +0000

Clearly being the black (green) sheep hasn’t kept Gree from getting respect.

New Clone Troopers

Chad Norman — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 19:25:45 +0000

During our trip to Target tonight, it seems a small patrol of clone troopers infiltrated the cart. Hiding out among the diapers and place mats, these seven stowaways made it back to the house undetected, only to be captured and photographed for the entire empire to see.

Commander Gree and Commander Bly are very detailed figures – I’m always happy to see favorite characters get a good sculpt. I picked up a Green Clone Commander (previously had red), and a dirty super articulated clone. Target also had the other trooper evolutions pack, which even rebelscum.com hasn’t detailed at the time of this post. Out of the three, the Grey Commander from ROTS is the most menacing (third from the left). All in all a good haul.