Sonny Kielblock Designs

Interview with Joe Filamor
- What is your favorite skate video filmed in Philly?
  
  Sabotage 3. It was my introduction to independent skate videos.
  
  What qualities make a great skate video?
  
  For me it's about the music. There is so much amazing skating out there so for me it's about how it's all put together. If the music isn't synced with the skating and the editing isn't good then it just won't be memorable for me. Sometimes I'll hear a song in a video and not even like the song but enjoy the video just because of how the skating works with the song.
  
  Is skating different in Philly compared to other cities?
  
  It's hard to say because I haven't spent much time in any other city. I think Philly has a lot of history surrounding skating. I think it's fair to say Philly had in the past probably the biggest and most popular spot in skateboarding, Love Park. Because of Love Park a lot of skaters in Philly have been documented and therefore are easy to remember and identify for being part of Philly's skate history. Phillys is personal. You get to know a lot of the people just because of the lack of spots. Everyone goes to the same places.
  
  How long did it take to film Overcast?
  
  It took 2 years of filming 2 to 3 times a week.
  
  How much time did you spend editing for Overcast?
  
  When using a VX it's a good practice to not import footage until the tape is full. I edit pretty much every night even though sometimes it wears on the tapes.
  
  Is it worth using a VX when you have to deal with the tapes?
  
  It makes filming more fun. The process is part of it.
  
  Do you plan out your skating trips for specific tricks?
  
  Yes but often we get tricks that we weren't planning on just because there are always people at the spot trying new shit.
  
  How does Philly skating change in the winter?
  
  I mean its difficult to skate and film in the winter but sometimes its nice that there less skaters at the spots. Its easier to film and try a trick when there are less people at the spot. Its fine to be a seasonal skater but for those who are skating in the cold its simply easier with less people. Do you bring up that you are a skater to non skaters? Not usually. Skaters are viewed in a certain way and I don't want to have to convince people that me being a filmer or a skater is valid.
  
  Do you think you will move on to films not with skating in the future?
  
  In a perfect world I'll still be filming skating in the future but I would be happy doing pretty much any job where I get to film and edit and be creative.
  
  Any project in the works?
  
  I'm filming a short, probably 10 minute video. I don't have a name but it should be coming out within next year.

Joe Filamor---Filming in Philadelphia

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Joe Filamor is a talented up-and-coming skate videographer, filmmaker, and editor. I interviewed Joe about the logistics of filming skateboarding and how skaters are seen by the general population. Check out the interview and his recently released video: “Overcast.”

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Overcast

Interview with Tim Rodriguez
- What inspired you to create Moka?
  
  I always wanted to start a company but never was sure exactly what i wanted to do. But I’d say living in Spain for a while and seeing how my friend out there ran his company really got me hyped on the idea. And after learning how the cut n sew process works and getting the first few samples i knew i wanted to focus on hats and just go from there.
  
  How'd you settle on the name “Moka”?
  
  I really just liked how the letters look clean and simple
  
  What has been the biggest challenge for Moka thus far?
  
  Hmm probably dealing with manufacturers overseas during the beginning of the pandemic. Just because i was in the middle of trying to finish a collection and was really worried about things just not being able to get to the states, that was definitely stressful but it all worked out. And of course just learning how to run a business by myself haha I didn’t go to school for any of this so i just learned by researching and trying things out and learning from friends that also own companies.
  
  What has been the most rewarding aspect of Moka?
  
  Having the premiere for overcast with everyone, and getting this last collection done on time.
  
  How do you think skaters are viewed by the general non-skating population?
  
  Honestly i think people really like it now. growing up skating it was never like that but i think now its so big that people are genuinely interested in it and wanna know how tricks work. Besides cops and security though haha
  
  What's something you like about skating in Philly?
  
  The spots here look cool on film and are very rewarding cause nothing here is easy to skate.
  
  What's something you don't like about skating in Philly?
  
  Getting stuck at the same spots haha
  
  You just came out with the “overcast” video, are there any new skate projects in the works?
  
  Yeah we’re working on a shorter video called “Sourced”. Everyones been killing it so im hyped to see how it turns out. That should be coming out in July sometime.
  
  What's next for moka’s apparel, anything coming soon we can look forward to?
  
  Yeah a few new things will be coming out this summer, we’re about to put out a new bag that im pretty hyped on and I’ve been messing with a few new designs for hats as well. Its also about to hit the 3 year mark for Moka next month so we’ll be doing a pop up/party somewhere for that which should be a good time.
  
  ...Do you need a website?
  
  Haha yeah dude! I’d love to work on a new one with you sometime, lets get it.

Tim Rodriguez---Moka Int

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Tim Rodriguez is the owner and creator of the Philadelphia-based skate apparel brand, Moka Int. Over the past couple years, Moka has come out with a full-length skate video called “Overcast,” while consistently releasing unique and well-developed products.

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Overcast

Liam Kelly
- Whether you consider Skateboarding a sport, hobby, or expression, it was always been community driven. Barring more recent developments in highly publicized events via Street League, or more recently the Olympics; skateboarding has always survived and thrived on a “for people by people” approach. The ‘scene’ is dictated by those creating a living it in real time. And while this doesn’t equate to extreme profits, that is in a way exactly the point. Anyone with a passion for for skating in any way would agree that money isn’t a motivating factor. Many of the most talented skateboarders active are simultaneously the most polarizing, usually due to their shameless brand representation of major companies like Nike. The reason I lay this out, is because it is the major difference between ‘Skate culture’ and the groups surrounding other artists, performers, or athletes. Not that money is their major desire, but it is the clearest form of validation for a job well done. Whereas skateboarding’s payday has been decades of consistent unfiltered creativity regardless of public perception or popularity. So why is it that Skateboarding, like Sport/Music/Film, still has major issues with accountability amongst it’s (especially male) participants. If it is the counter-culture movement it’s been for decades, why fall into the same pitfalls as other significantly more mainstream industries. We read the news of Harvey Weinstein and our perception is that his positions of wealth and power gave him the ability to abuse those around him, and I think we are right in this analysis. But why then, in a progressive city like Philly of all places, do we see a man’s name on the back of Thrasher Magazine alongside other Philadelphia skateboarders less than a year after being ousted for grooming, and subsequently attempting to silence a minor after their sexual relationship? Important to note however was the absence of his face in the photo itself. Which some would (accurately) describe as an admission of guilt, although clearly not enough to be removed entirely. As was the temporary disappearance of his Instagram page, only to resurface later under a more indirect alias. If I sound personally upset about this it’s because I am. Not just for the obvious moral delinquency of said actions and sadness for the victim(s), but because of the failure of the culture as a whole. I don’t write this in hopes of the destruction of a scene, but in the hopes it begins to seriously challenge itself to be all it can and should be. I love skateboarding deeply despite being leagues below many of my friends that do it. It’s inherent infectiousness lies not just in the act of riding a board, but in the strange worldly connection it holds with everything else. A more obvious example being the immense impact it’s had on fashion, but also the less tangible, like how people like me can’t hear a great song without visualizing the perfect line that would match it’s chorus. Of course this would be impossible without the incredible people driving it to new heights, and they are EVERYWHERE, unfortunately including that aforementioned photo. It’s heartbreaking to think such people could be unknowingly associated with such a crime, forever tainting what should be an achievement of a lifetime. It’s further disheartening when one recognizes the increase in acknowledgment of female skaters of all orientations, again also in said photo. Are they to feel not just safe but respected as part of a group who protects a person who has preyed on other women? I wish that was a factitious question, but I wonder how these predominately male groups don’t see themselves shooting the furthering of their craft in the foot with every action, or rather inaction like this. If anything I would challenge them to differentiate themselves from the cops they claim to be disgusted by. As both are proving themselves a brotherhood of toxicity and ignorance, who protect those around them at any cost. It’s a piece of wood everyone deserves to ride, make sure they fucking can.

Liam Kelly--------skater and model

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Liam Kelly is a successful model but more importantly he's a skater and cares about skate culture. He has been all over the world and has some unique insight on what skating looks like in a wide range of cities and countries.

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Artical written by Liam Kelly
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