The intro to Zach Sayles’ new full-length video, Veil, immediately evokes the feeling of a classic whodunit. Imagine an old mansion, shrouded in mystery, with a sense of foreboding hanging heavy in the air. While it thankfully doesn’t require a detective to appreciate this video, it’s clear from the start that Veil is something special.
Sayles’ film showcases Philadelphia’s skateboarding scene, but not in the typical way. Instead of the usual Center City spots, he features lesser-known locations, skated by Philly mainstays like Matt Militano and Joel Miller. The combination of Sony VX1000 footage with a soft orchestral soundtrack creates a unique skateboarding film noir aesthetic. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, smart, sometimes strange, but always featuring gritty, powerful skating. Rather than just describing it, you really need to see it for yourself. Afterwards, check out our Q&A with Zach where we discuss his inspirations, Philly’s skateboarding scene, and his future plans, and you can pick up your own copy of Veil here.
Q&A with Zach Sayles
Do your friends call you “Say-less?”
Funnily enough, no one calls me that unless it’s by accident. Back in high school, I was nicknamed “Snayles,” so maybe this interview will bring it back!
Any stereotypes or gripes that Philly skaters have about NYC skaters?
On Instagram, it seems like most NYC skaters are part-time models. People I wouldn’t expect to see in that world are showing up in GQ or walking runways. It makes sense, though, there are a lot of good-looking skaters up there. I’m here for it. Go off.
What’s the most sketchy thing that happened while filming in Philly?
Dylan and I almost got stabbed while filming a bump over a wall in West Philly. A woman came at us with a 6-7 inch hunting knife, yelling that I was recording her instead of Dylan. As we tried to leave, she kept advancing, so I had to walk away. Dylan managed to get to his car and picked me up. We waited a few blocks away until it was safe. She tried slashing my tires but didn’t succeed. Luckily, she left, and my car was fine. We haven’t been back, but I’d like to try again.
The ground looks pretty rough in your clips. What’s your ideal filmer wheel setup?
I just use whatever lets me skate normally. I got tired of carrying two boards, so I switch between hard and soft wheels. I always want to skate. Sometimes you only have 10-15 minutes before someone asks to film something, so being comfortable on a cruiser is perfect.
Given the video’s spooky vibe, have you heard any ghost stories about Philly, or had any paranormal experiences?
Not in Philly, but my family had a weird experience when I was younger. My great-grandfather had recently passed away, and my mom and two sisters saw his ghost in mirror reflections throughout the house, on different days. We lived in an old, creaky house. It freaked me out, but I never saw him.
Are there any filmmakers that you are particularly interested in?
I’m a fan of David Lynch and John Cassavetes. I’ve also gotten into the Marvel Universe lately. However, it’s tough for me to find time to watch movies, I’m always busy doing something.
Marry, fuck, kill: Alfred Hitchcock, David Cronenberg, Guillermo Del Toro.
Kill Hitchcock since he was an ass. I’d fuck Cronenberg since he’s the freakiest [winks]. And I would marry Del Toro because he seems good for cuddling.
Was the entire video filmed on a VX or did you use other cameras for certain shots?
All the skateboarding footage was shot on a VX1000. The black and white footage was shot on either a Bolex or a Blackmagic Pocket 4k. I had set a premiere date before the video was done and didn’t have time to get film processed. I ended up using some Bolex lenses on the Pocket and hoped it would work well.
How many VX1000s do you have, and how many did you go through making Veil?
Right now, I have one working VX and maybe 4-5 for parts. During the making of Veil, I probably went through 5-6 VXs. Sadly, many of them were destroyed, including one that Tracy Goreman lent me. I still need to get him a new one.
What’s your take on tapeless VX setups? Is it HD all the way for you now?
I tried a tapeless setup halfway through filming and hated it. It was too awkward, and I didn’t want to spend the time making it work. The look of HD has really grown on me over the years, particularly HPX/HVX footage. I’d like to try something different, but finding a clean Xtreme at a good price is difficult.
Who are some of your favorite videographers and inspirations?
Josh Stewart, Ryan Garshell, Nick vonWerssowetz, Cooper Winterson, and Brian Panebianco have all influenced my approach to filming and editing. Outside of skateboarding, Lynch, Ray Metzker, Nathaniel Dorsky, Lis Rhodes, and Ingmar Bergman have changed my perspective on filmmaking.
Who’s the best skater/filmer right now? Is it Austin Leleu?
Matt Bublitz recently put out a part that I really enjoyed. Otto Ray is also amazing. Devon Connell and Austin are tied for best skater/filmer I know personally. The worst skater/filmer is Sean Spellissy. I mistakenly asked him to film a clip of me once, and he had his whole left leg in the frame [laughs]. Love you, Dre.
Video by: Zach Sayles
Photos: Devon Connell & Zach Sayles
Intro: Ben Komins
