Tomaž Šantl

Freedom!

Yes, this edit has been online for two years now and no, it never got old since - as the real ones already know - sincere and finely executed skateboarding never ages. Also, an opportunity to invite you to (re-)watch "BROTHERS", the full-length video by Nino Jurlina, interviewed here and still at the head of Simple Skateboards, straight out of his humble workshop in the midst of the fantastic Croatian scene. Speaking of which, please make sure to stay tuned for Vladimir Film Festival-related news aplenty (including a brand new website), real soon!

"DOBRAAAJJ" / PREMIERE / Želve crew / INTERVIEW

The contents of LIVE's front page today owe enough to Ljubljana, Slovenia-based skater, photographer and artist Tomaž Šantl (of Original Copy) that we'd preface them with this acknowledgement; indeed, he is the one who suggested to Luka Demšar and Mark Pogačar Nikolić, of the local Želve crew and brand LYC, to get in touch with us, about their new video production: "DOBRAAAJJ", consisting in no less than sixteen minutes of skate footage logged straight from the streets of the capital, and feels like an exciting, communicative and honest capture of the current energy and motivation of a timelessly and remarkably strong scene that, somehow, frequently eludes mainstream recognition to this day - for better and for worse. The opportunity was just perfect to catch up with the Ljub front for some news, represented by some young blood that does like to stick to the Sony VX-1000, so we all got the ball rolling, and the following interview ensued...

SLO Country

"Nothing Less" is an eight-minute audiovisual gem out of Slovenia via the mind of Kristijan Stramic (with some technical help from, notably, LIVE regular Matej Počervina), that aims - and does well - at encapsulating the essence of the local skate scene, which just so appears to look super healthy. The filmmakers' approach is quite out of the ordinary, with a progressive sequencing of cinematic shots - first of urban settings, then of the Proper Skateparks locals for a mini ramp section featuring wild creative beast Deso, and cooking lessons from Tibor Rep; then, we get to catch up with national legend and underground artist Ali Jusović for some news and freestyle in between two mega ramp missions, before it all (only literally) starts going downhill thanks to some countryside bombing, notably featuring Tomaž Šantl, of Original Copy fame. The adventure finally wraps up on a D.I.Y. note, as though to remind the world that Slovenian photographer Peter Fettich just released "Rispect The Boul", a photo book assembled as a recap of years shared by fellow local humans around the local pouring of concrete and cementing of pool coping, only available in a limited edition as every copy is unique with a skated cover (sweet concept), most notably in Europe from Palomino, here!

VLADIMIR FILM FESTIVAL 2019 / REPORT

Vladimir - for the obscure.

The black sheep has only been developing exponentially over its now nine years of existence, and so has been the attention it's received with, this year, an approximation of three hundred people showing up from the whole planet over to attend this local festival in Fažana, Croatia - a little Istrian port town with a loaded history, testimonies of which still stand under the form of monuments everywhere (currently ensuring a steady flow of tourism), and the sensibilities of the inhabitants.

What originally started out as a very local initiative consisting in video screenings at the local skatepark quickly outgrew that embryonic phase as its instigators, Nikola Racan (of 'Solsticij' full-length video underground fame) and the Skateboard klub August Šenoa locals grew to use modern communication tools to get further and further in touch with universally renowned skate artists and documentarists - whether in the photo or video field.

P.E.K.I.

"Peki" is the nickname of Antonio Peković that also happens to double up as the title of the newest - and ninth! - production from the Slovenian Original Copy, a collective of artists involving Tomaž Šantl, whose works (and skating!) LIVE Skateboard Media has quite extensively featured before. Because yes, the man is as dynamic on a skateboard as he is in terms of video output; some might remember him as the titular of the last part in Nikola Racan's video, "Solsticij". Well, Antonio is quite the ripper too, whose skating is loaded with pop over some rather unexpected objects, kickflips out of backside tailslides on raw concrete in torn socks, and more cobblestones than Eastern Europe altogether could always dream to be able to keep count of. The final product is as grey as cement, sounds like rusty grinds and as to be expected from Tomzi, is put together in quite the experimental fashion - one of the genuine types, that is, and set to original music by Zlatko Djogić.

Iran trippin'

Original Copy (or Copies?) is the name code of the ongoing project of Slovenian photographer, videographer and extraordinaire skateboarder Tomaž Šantl, who coincidentally just happens to have  a new website up. You may remember him from earning the last part in Nikola Racan's Euro full-length epic "Solsticij" or, from more eons ago, being the filmer of some local shop videos that notably helped bring the name (and demented style) of a certain Ali Jusovic under the spotlight.

Tomzi's new baby is an Original Copy production, as expected, and also an audiovisual recap of an expedition to Iran that doubled up as a skate trip. Everything up to the musical score is original. The resulting piece is a quite conceptual one, more subtly appreciated in a quiet environment as opposed to a rush. Don't hesitate to take a gander at Tomzi's works, and skating, if you ever get such a chance.

Salud!

What a better message to send out these days that this new edit by the always creative Original Copies creative duo? Now, if everybody would sit down, and share a glass of wine, that'd be a nice little break, don't you think?

Truth hurts

Last Friday, our friends at Vladimir Film Festival were premiering the latest Original Copy project, and here it is finally online for us all to watch! And it would have been a shame to not get a chance to witness this singular yet talented point of view… This time, the Original Copy duo focuses on one character named Deso, that seems to embody skateboarding in all its rawness. And the man (it's not a kid, kids…) is portrayed in all its great beauty, with no embellishment, yet absolute truth. You will not be bored one second, yet will have things to ponder after watching it. One being that all this is aiming from Slovenia…

Live Skateboard MediaLive Skateboard Media

Wait to pass announcement...
Close