Latvian scene had a period of video output stagnation. Us (rajontv), MobilaFilm and ocassional BigMac clips were the main sources for actual camera filmed vids (ig doesn’t count) for a while. Both former ones, for the lack of a better word, contributed to the unc visions, and latter shinned at the next gen, though primarly in skateparks. Basically, same old heads made vids for years, kids were playing only a little, which is fine but sad too.
Now shit’s changing for the better. Takeover crew added video production to their repertoire of scene activities and in one week put out two vids. A tour video from their Athens visit and street edit filmed mostly in Riga by our intern Henrijs Sirmais filmed on his newly aquired Panasonic camera (happy crying emoji). We are stocked for Henrijs and hope he’ll make more vids.
A quick Whatsapp chat with Henrijs
Rajon: Wtf you made an edit Henijs!
Henrijis: Hellyeah brother!
Why did you decide to pick up a camera at all and not just film with your iphone like everyone else?
I fucking hate filming clips with an iphone that shit is the worst it’s not fun at all for me. I’d rather not skate than film someone do a bullshit trick five million times at the skatepark maybe that’s why I don’t have clips on instagram anymore, I feel guilty asking someone to film my bullshit tricks five million tries. I have always enjoyed holding a camera whether it’s taking pictures of the homies band or filming clips, the footage you obtain with a real camera is not as disposable as iphone clips, so when I saw that Grisha from Tallinn was selling his camera I knew that I couldnt pass that opportunity.
So are you a filmer now?
Maybe, I wish I could skate more, but that might be my destiny due to injuries.
How did you like filming for the first time?
Filming is hella tight I fuck with it, but it’s a whole other world, to switch your mindset from just looking at tricks to making them look good on camera is pretty interesting. Filming is hard I feel like sometimes filming a clip good might be almost as hard as doing the trick because if you fuck up the skater has to do it again.
Are you a cat person or a dog person btw?
Fuck it, give me a snail. I will problably forget to feed a cat or a dog one too many times, need something low maintenance.
Who’s the sickest skater to film with in your crew?
100% Francis or Fredijs or both of them at the same time, I really like how they approach spots and tricks, what they do is not always the most obvious path and both of them skate fast as fuck that is my number one need in a skater. I also have known Francis since 2018, so the chemistry is there and Fred is just a true rastaman its nice to have that energy at a spot.
What makes a good rastaman?
XD, a good rastaman is true and real, loves to be in nature has the soul of a thousand hearts and knows all the good reggae songs.
Okay, as a new filmer you are probably dreaming of a full lenght. What would be a perfect roster for you dream vid? LV only!
Jāzeps Podnieks, Herbe, Rudzīts, Armands Baumanis, Francis Vimba, Ģirts Murāns, Jānis Pūga the tikari family and all of the takeover gang and that is just to name a few.
So many OGs, nice! It’s gonna warm their hearts. Who do you think has the best style in LV?
Though question, right now problably Artis Strazdiņš or Fred they can make anything they do look effortless and proper, no sketchy shit because the sketchy shit looks good when they do it. Shoutout Kristofers Ozols though, style KING.
Do you think more skaters in LV must make vids?
More vids would be awesome, but I don’t think that they should force it. If you don’t care, then you don’t care. I’m not in the position to say that someone must film videos considering this is my first “real” edit.
Takeover vid by Henrijs:
Takeover Greece trip Video: