PHOTOS BY SPIKE SKATEBOARD DECKS
Timed coincidentally with the launch of the new cable TV channel from Vice Media, Viceland, of which Spike Jonze is co-president, is a series of skateboards featuring some of the photographer and filmmaker’s most iconic early images. Girl Skateboard Company, which Jonze co-founded in 1993, has just released the “Photos by Spike” board series and reproduced five of his favorite images that include The Beastie Boys (1994), Sonic Youth (1992), Bjork (1995), Nirvana (1991) and Karen O (2004).
Jonze began his career in the action sports world as a photographer shooting BMX and skateboarding for such vertical magazines as Freestylin’ and TransWorld Skateboarding. It was such skateboarding videos as “Video Days”, shot with his inimitable wit and point of view, often while skateboarding himself, that led to directing music videos as the Southern California skate culture intersected with the alternative music scene. The skateboarding footage he shot as cameraman for 100% by Sonic Youth got the attention of MTV in the early 90’s, and he went on to direct music videos for bands like Weezer, The Breeders, and later The Beastie Boys, creating some of their most memorable videos like Sabotage. Jonze’s feature film debut as director was “Being John Malkovich”, followed by such other notable classics as “Adaptation”, “Where The Wild Things Are”, and “Her”, which he also wrote and won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay in 2014.
The Photos by Spike decks are available now at your local skateboard shop and March 16th online at crailstore.com. Like all things Spike Jonze, these skateboard decks are guaranteed to become pop cult classics.
