Behind the Lens - J Grant Brittain Talks Skate Photography

I was working for TWS in ’87 and was allowed on the "Gleaming the Cube" filming set, which was located at an empty swimming pool at a nice house in the Hollywood Hills. Upon arrival, I was stoked to see a few people I knew like Stacy; screen actor Tony Hawk, who plays Buddy; stunt double Mike McGill; stunt double Eric Dressen; screen actor Tommy Guerrero, who plays Sam; cinematographer Pat Darren (Animal Chin Filmer); and skater-actors Christian Jacobs and Max Perlich. I was given a few rules: don’t shoot photos while dialog by the actors is being filmed unless I have a camera blimp (a housing for my camera that makes it silent—yeah, like we use those in skate photography), stay out of the shot, and above all, enjoy the craft services (free food and beverages).

I was very lucky to have been around at the time that Mark Gonzales, Tommy Guerrero and Natas Kaupas were forming what we know as Street Skating. I was fortunate to have been invited into their creative studios out in the streets. Thank you Guys!  

Natas Kaupas, Tommy Guerrero and Mark Gonzales are the Holy Trinity of Street Skating