The global skateboarding scene is thriving, yet making a sustainable career out of it in Australia remains challenging. Unless you’re a prominent figure like Jack O’Grady, Rowan Davis, or part of the Pass~Port team, you’re likely balancing a full-time job with your passion for skating. While this might be disheartening, it has also fostered a unique environment where skateboarding videos, boards, apparel, and the act of skating itself are often driven by genuine passion.
Redd Sarson, with his homie videos, perfectly embodies this labor of love ethos prevalent among Australian skaters. His latest video, Hell Cherub, showcases high-quality filming, editing, and skating, all achieved while juggling demanding jobs – a reality unfamiliar to many skaters in more privileged environments. Despite the lack of widespread recognition and financial support, Australian skaters continue to produce inspiring content, for which we are always thankful. To delve deeper into the world of Australian skate filmmaking, we interviewed Redd and gained valuable insights into his creative process.
Redd Sarson filming
Q&A with Redd Sarson
What’s an Australian stereotype that you find tiresome?
I’m tired of the stereotype that all Australians are perpetually drunk, always “sinking piss.” We don’t all do that [laughs]. Oh, and the idea that we drink Fosters. We don’t touch that stuff here. I honestly can’t recall the last time I saw Fosters on tap at a pub.
I realize I just contradicted myself, but whatever [laughs].
How would you describe the stereotypical American?
I’d say maybe a fear of the word “cunt” and spiders. That feels accurate.
The spiders are indeed quite something. Do you live in a part of Australia known for its spiders?
[Laughs] Yes, I do. It’s amusing how scared foreigners can be of spiders. The house I grew up in was under construction for a long time, and it was absolutely crawling with spiders. After a while, you sort of become friends with them and realize they’re just chilling. Except for Tarantulas, I can’t deal with those.
Hell Cherub title card
Where did the title Hell Cherub originate?
It actually came from a little drawing I used to do – now it’s a tattoo on my right arm – of a small devil with a halo above its head. The name came to me from that, and I just thought the words together looked cool.
What camera do you currently use for filming? Is the HVX still the standard among skaters?
Currently, I’m using an HVX200a, which is what I used to film all of Hell Cherub. It’s definitely a big factor if you want your footage to be included in larger projects or company videos. It’s the go-to camera right now.
Skateboarding trick
Have you experimented with any other HD cameras? What was your experience?
I haven’t tried any other HD cameras, but I’m open to it, especially since my HVX is on its last legs. The mic is being held on by tape, the LCD screen is broken, and I have to tape the battery in place so it doesn’t slip out. Yeah, it’s definitely seen better days [laughs].
Plus, I feel like a lot of footage is starting to look the same. I feel like other people are noticing that too. I’m excited to see what other HD cameras people start experimenting with.
On that note, Rowan’s opening line in his part contributed to my camera’s issues, like the loose battery, broken LCD screen, and chipped fisheye. We were crossing paths at the start of the line and came a bit too close. I crashed into a pole and basically threw my camera on the ground. That was a few weeks before the premiere deadline, which was pretty stressful.
I wanted to mention that so no one online would tell me to clean my lens. We filmed that line with a chipped fisheye and no LCD screen [laughs].
Redd on the streets
How difficult is it to make a living from skateboarding in Australia?
It’s nearly impossible. You have to be someone like Chima Ferguson to earn a decent living purely from skateboarding in Australia.
What other jobs have you done to support your filming?
Throughout the production of the video, I’ve had countless jobs. I’ve worked at a go-kart track, as a construction landscaper, in bushfire irrigation, and as a construction traffic controller. Now I help manage a skate store in Sydney, which is pretty great.
Ben did a nosepick to back 180 on a glass bank as his ender in KIDS – and in the first clip of Hell Cherub, he does a nosepick to back 360 in the same location. What’s the story there?
There’s a bit of a story behind that. Ben and I both thought it would be cool to have that as the first clip in the video, as a kind of nod to our previous video. It’s like we’re picking up where we left off.
That spot is tricky to skate. It’s located above Town Hall Station in Sydney and is busy at all hours. There is constant foot traffic because of a light rail stop nearby. That also makes it worse because the light rail drivers will call the police if they see you on the roof for even a second. There’s also a homelessness issue in that area, so the police are always around.
Knowing the police could appear at any moment, and think we’re trying to damage the glass roof was stressful. I think we went back three or four times. We had the cops called on us twice, but one morning Ben finally made it happen with no problems.
Skateboarding trick
What’s your editing process for a video like Hell Cherub?
I prefer to edit as I film; it helps me get a better sense of the video and feels more natural. This lets you see which songs hold up over time, and gives a better overview of everything you have in the timeline.
We started filming around April 2020, and I was continuously editing throughout that time. I finished editing at 5 am the morning of the premiere date – March 25th.
Do you ever have to take “porno breaks” while editing?
[Laughs] Don’t you focus better if you don’t have a boner or masturbate? I feel like I heard somewhere that fighters don’t do it in the weeks leading up to a fight because they’ll perform better.
Redd's film camera
You are also creating a printed zine to accompany the video, right?
Yes, I’m putting together a 20-page zine featuring photos from the making of the video, including my own photos and photos by my friend Brendan Frost. He took most of the skate photos. I plan to give one to everyone involved in the video and make it available online for others to check out.
Do you shoot with film or digital?
I shoot with both. It honestly depends on my mood, or what’s inspiring me at the time. Lately I’ve been shooting a lot with this Contax TIX which uses APS film. You can only buy it expired now, so you either get cool colors and contrasts, or completely messed-up photos [laughs].
With the prevalence of Instagram and phone clips, what’s the point of skate photography these days?
Is there a point to anything?
Video by: Redd Sarson
Photos by Redd Sarson, Brendan Frost & Riely Walker
