What more can be said about Gustav Tonnesen? He's a wizard, a critic's choice, one of the best skaters in not just Europe, but the world, one of adidas' international pros, and over the past few years, he's put his talents to use behind the lens for the Sour squad. He killed it with The Cinematographer Project World View, and this past February, the skate world had its mind exploded with Sour Solution II. We really wanted to get some insight from Gustav himself, though we know he usually lets his skating and filming do the talking. He finally got back to us to answer a few questions, and tune in to the new series of Sour Files straight from the hands of Gustav.
Interview by Blair Alley
Photos by Gerard Riera
Have you always been into filming and editing? Or did that interest just take shape in recent years?
When [Jonathan] Lomar who made videos for Sour started studying about three years ago, I bought his VX1000 setup and started filming. Simon [Isaksson] had filmed a bit before, so we had the idea that we could film each other.
How did the whole idea of this video come about?
We had just been out skating and filming for some months with a thought of making a shorter kind of video. Then the idea of making a full length video came up and we got stoked on that.
Why did you guys decide to use VX cameras for this?
Because that's what all of us like. I think HD 4:3 format looks good as well, but there's just something special about the look and sound of VX1000 footage.
Has being on the other side of the lens changed the way you approach your skateboarding?
Not that much. Maybe sometimes doing "this instead of that" on a spot that doesn't have many ways of filming it. To choose the tricks that look good with the best camera angle of the spot.
How long has this video been in the works?
One and a half to two years.
What’s your take on videos in 2019, are they to be sold or put out online for free?
I'm not really sure about this. Thinking about what it takes to make a full length video, and if the result is good; it should be worth ten dollars or something—even if it's a big company behind it. But then it's also promoting a brand, so maybe it should be for free... I don't know.
I think independent projects can be sold, for sure.
Do you have another video project in mind you’re going to start working on?
Not sure what format yet—but something, yes.
How important is music in your videos?
The music is really important to me; to create a vibe with the footage. Even if it's a song I wouldn't normally listen to, I can really like it because it creates something together with the footage. Then again, people have different musical taste. Some people maybe can't stand some of the music I choose. I can't watch a part or even an Instagram video with trap—if I still want to see what the skater does, i'll just mute it, which kind of sucks as well.
What filmers influence you?
I'm gonna say my top three VX filmers are: French Fred, Colin Read, Jacob Harris.
What’s the whole back story behind Simon’s loop? I’ve heard other people tried it and deemed it impossible. How many tries/trips did it take for him?
It started with us talking about the loop as a joke kind of. One day we were in the area where the loop is, so we went to look at it. Simon started rolling up it while holding his hands on to the top of the loop—then he kind of figured out how to go around the loop with that technique. He ended up making one where he spins 180 in the loop.
Then he started trying it without holding with his hands. He took some slams and got tired from going around it for two hours, so we decided to come back another day. The second time the police kicked us out after trying for an hour or something.
Third time the same...
Fourth time the same, and the loop was pretty much not doable in the end because the plastic/wood material it's made of was broken in three different places. We put my shoes in the holes and the pieces kind of slanted on top. It was the same police officers all three times. I don't understand why they didn't give us a ticket or anything, as pissed off as they were.
Fifth time we went back, two months later, they had fixed the loop. Simon put bigger and softer wheels on, hoping that the pieces wouldn't break again. That time he tried for about an hour and a half, and he took a slam on his hip I think, so he couldn't keep trying.
Sixth time he made it after two hours of trying it. I remember I brought three tapes (60 mins. each) and used two full tapes on the still angle. I pressed the button on the still angle camera while filming him throw down the board in the run up, to save tape. It said 0 minutes left when he did it. So I barely got two angles of it. When we sat down at the cafe next to the loop for five minutes, the police showed up. Different police officers, but still...
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Your favorite clip in the video we should look out for:
Well, the loop. Other than that it's really hard to choose—the guys did so much good stuff.
After the last several years, and two full-length videos, what is the Sour solution?
A family, a company where we get to do stuff how we want. Hopefully giving some stoke to people out there.
