While Spike Jonze has risen from a music video director to an acclaimed filmmaker, he's never forgotten his roots. He still finds time to produce the "Jackass" movies with his longtime friends, and dips his toes back into the music video world as well from time to time. His love of skateboarding hasn't wavered either: a longtime fan of BMX bikes and boards, Jonze is co-owner of the company Girl Skateboards. While we patiently wait for his next film "Her," starring Joaquin Phoenix, the director grabbed a camera and got back out on the street just like the old days.
Teaming up with Ty Evans and Cory Weincheque, Jonze is a co-director on "Pretty Sweet," a video shot around the world — Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, China, and Barcelona are a few of the locations — that is more or less a promo for Girl and Chocolate skateboard brands. But it also looks pretty great, with some obvious high def cameras being used to capture the tricks and twists performed by the skaters. This video also apparently has a "storyline" or at least a very inventive person writing the synopsis. Here it is:
This is an epic tale of two gangs, like The Jets and The Sharks. But Girl and Chocolate aren't even gangs. Some of them act tough and some of them act like babies. But they are even more unlike the Jets and The Sharks in that they aren't even battling each other for territory. They really don't know what the hell they are doing. They don't have a feud, most of them really like each other so that is another thing they don't have in common with the Jets and the Sharks. What they do have in common with The Jets and The Sharks is they love to dance. And when I say dance, I mean SKATE. And when I say SKATE, I mean really good. From the directors that brought you Mouse, Yeah Right and Fully Flared, another chapter in this tale with no plot, no ending but beautiful inner battles acted out on a little board with wheels.
"Pretty Sweet" is now available on iTunes, DVD and Blu-ray. Get a taste below. [/Film]