The future of skate videos is the homemade DVD. Just as the internet has lowered the barrier to self publishing, cheap technology is making it easy for your average DIY skater to put together a video, burn it to DVD and offer it up for sale. One day, sooner or later, the next biggest, hottest, most talked about video is going to be something made by an anonymous skater and crew instead of an established skateboard manufacturer or media company.
Which brings us to Two Dollar Pistol, a movie put out by the force behind 70-71.com. a skateboarding web site that is named after the intersection of Interstate 70 (East-West) and 71 (North-South), or Columbus Ohio. Two Dollar Pistol is a two disc set containing a 30minute DVD and a CD soundtrack about twice as long. Two Dollar Pistol is a home brew affair, right down to the title, which is scrawled on the home burned discs with a marker. The cover is a black and white illustration on tan colored paper, inserted in a standard jewel case. The soundtrack disc features the tunes featured in the movie as well as about the same number of extras that are on there just to avoid empty space. The cover clearly states each band and the song used as well as note that says the music was used without permission of the band, so you should go buy something of theirs. You gotta love the attitude behind the thinking in that decision (unless you are in one of those bands!). Two Dollar Pistol wants to share good music with you in hope of turning you onto something you weren’t familiar with. That’s just great.
As far as the video goes, it’s comprised of footage from standard video cameras, featuring various Ohio locals which we can assume are from the greater Columbus area. Is there such a thing as the greater Columbus area? The skaters are from a variety of ages, skill levels, and styles. The terrain is mostly concrete parks with a healthy dose of flatland street, wooden bowls, and even some stairs and rails. You’ll see lots of carving and grinding, but also some flip tricks and hybrid skating. Heck, there is even some slalom and handstand footage. Bert slides and the occasional made up dork-style trick are fun to watch as well. Each sequence appears to be well thought out and not rushed. There aren’t a lot of quick cuts, instead you get to see the approach and the landings. It makes for a pleasantly paced video experience more akin to something like Northwest as far as the overall vibe, though certainly not as polished. Aside from Columbus area footage, Two Dollar Pistol does some traveling to some famous parks like Louisville, Lincoln City OR and Skatopia.
Two Dollar Pistol works well as a collection of footage of area riders even if you don’t know any of the spots and riders. What comes across foremost is a love for skateboarding. You are not going to be blown away by a massive and unattainable assault of trick after trick in impossible spots, so it may not appeal to those with a short attention span or anyone lacking a love of the root of the sport. That is not to say that the skating is lame, or that there aren’t some very skilled riders. Two Dollar Pistol has a few minor faults such as the overusage of footage from a particular spot. The soundtrack varies from folk to punk. I almost got derailed by the America song (the band with Neil Young) but on second watch I decided that it fit well. Two Dollar Pistol is a DIY effort that will leave you with a good feeling about skateboarding and can be watched and appreciated by any group of skaters with an open mind. It’s pure skateboarding and fun without a marketing agenda. .$15 gets you two discs, which is cheap if you consider that the film’s author has to sit there and burn the discs when he gets an order.
Online Action: www.70-71.com
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