Skate video skits, once a staple featuring the often questionable acting skills of pro skaters, have largely faded from the scene, replaced by the likes of short-form content. However, like any classic art form, there are those determined to keep the tradition alive. WKND, led by Grant Yansura, is a prime example, elevating the skate video skit from half-baked to fully realized. Their latest project, Bottle Neck Sewage, takes inspiration from the classic The Search for Animal Chin, blending impressive skating from Jordan Taylor and Alex Schmidt with a narrative of the team navigating the LA River in a makeshift boat.
For Bottle Neck Sewage, Jordan and Alex ventured into the murky waters of the LA River to bring Grant’s vision to life. While awaiting their toxicology reports, we caught up with Grant, Alex, and Jordan to discuss the making of the skit, and the motivation behind it.
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Q&A with Grant Yansura, Alex Schmidt, and Jordan Taylor
What elements contribute to a successful skateboard video skit?
Alex Schmidt: That’s a tough question, as it depends heavily on the concept and execution. Skits can easily become corny, but we strive for WKND skits to be funny and engaging. A dedicated and enthusiastic crew is vital for making them work.
Grant Yansura: It’s hard to say. I prefer minimal dialogue because it can be difficult to pull off convincingly. However, some team members handle lines well. Jordan’s always solid, and Alex shines after a beer or two.
What are some of your favorite skits from videos you didn’t create?
A: The Chocolate Tour is a timeless classic. It’s a consistently engaging skit that showcases the crew as older men, coupled with amazing skating that creates a unique vibe. And like WKND, it is also an LA-based brand, which is very inspiring.
G: Growing up, I always appreciated the skits from Girl and Chocolate. The random, short 16mm skits in the CKY videos also stuck with me. Matt Price made a parody of the movie Can’t Hardly Wait, called Can’t Hardly Skate, which was gold.
Which sells more: a good video part or a good skit?
A: I think both are important. Skits help reveal a different side of the riders, making us more relatable and potentially driving sales of WKND products. Although, I’m not entirely sure.
Jordan Taylor: Ideally, a combination of both works best. But ultimately, if the skating is poor, people will notice right away. Skits tend to have a bit more leeway.
G: A skit that reveals a skater’s personality may lead people to pay closer attention to their skating. However, we’re not really structured enough to track the direct correlation with sales.
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Who originally conceived the idea for the video?
A: I believe it was Grant’s idea. Once Jordan and I committed to the skit, the three of us scouted locations on the river. Grant then wrote each scene. It took much longer to complete than we had anticipated. While WKND frequently creates skits, they are often parodies. This one was much more original, which was great. Having Jake Frank assist with production made everything possible.
G: I wanted to integrate a skit into a skate video. The idea came to me while sitting in traffic next to the LA River. The hardest part was initiating it because we don’t typically skate ditches. Once we got started, I knew Jordan and Alex’s personalities would be perfect for a boat scenario.
J: Alex and I had previously discussed an idea inspired by Dumb and Dumber, involving a moped ride through LA, but that eventually morphed into the boat trip down the LA River.
G: I remember that Dumb and Dumber concept, which could have been cool. I like remaking movie scenes, but it’s also nice to create something original. Still, there are many subtle movie references in this one, and I am curious if anyone will catch them all.
Where did the boat come from, and where is it now?
G: I bought the boat on Craigslist for $40 and the bike for $10 for parts. My girlfriend created the three-stripe flag, and Andrew Considine engineered the mast, steering wheel, and rudder. After filming, my girlfriend and I took the boat down the river, but we got stuck pretty quickly, less than a mile from our starting point. I just left it there to decompose.
Did anyone get any infections or anything from being in the LA River?
J: Surprisingly, no. But I would not be shocked if someone grew an extra limb in the next month or so.
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Trash bag waders seemed like a good idea in theory. How well did they actually work?
A: Not at all.
J: They seemed like a genius idea at first, but they only lasted for about 100 yards. After that, they were just water balloons strapped to our feet.
Does filming skits ever interfere with your street skating?
A: Yeah, I have to balance work, filming skits and video parts, and my life. It’s not getting easier, but it’s always worth it in the end.
Have you ever rejected one of Grant’s ideas for being too crazy or stupid?
A: Probably not, or this video wouldn’t have happened. I’ve trusted Grant since the beginning, and I know he will always make it look amazing.
J: We tend to just go along with his ideas, no matter how crazy they are. Everyone trusts his vision, so we do our best. I really enjoy making them, regardless of whether they are good or bad.
Has a skit ever been a total failure?
A: There was a skit where we introduced two new ams that didn’t make the cut. It just wasn’t funny, and they ended up quitting.
G: We did a Christmas table skit that was written much differently than it ended up. Originally, we had a “grown-ups” table conversation mirroring a “kids’ table” conversation. We had to make changes because the “kids” refused to say the lines I wrote for them. Apparently, they don’t say “gas” anymore; that was last month’s thing, and now everything is just “mid” or something. I ended up using some of the dumb things they said and then had a voiceover guide the whole thing.
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Who is the best and worst actor in the WKND crew?
A: Jordan is pretty good. He knows how to get into character. If you skate for WKND, you kind of have to be open to acting, so it’s hard to pick a worst person. At first, I thought Tom K might have difficulty with his American Psycho intro parody, but he nailed it. Trevor also tries to avoid skits, but he is better than he thinks.
J: The best is probably Taylor Caruso. He hasn’t had a huge part yet, but he always delivers his lines well. He would be an excellent actor, I think. The worst is maybe one of the young guys, but I won’t name him. The Guy will get better…
Would you ever eat something out of the LA River?
J: Personally, if I thought the joke would be great, I might. But then again, I don’t want a third leg.
Video by: Grant Yansura
Photos by: Brandon Yeunger & Dakota Mullins
