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In The Know: Austin Paz - 08/01/15People have been talking a lot about Austin Paz lately. This is because of his skating skills as well as because of his filming and photographing abilities. The last very remarkable thing Austin did was producing his first DVD called ‘The Truth’. Because of this Be-mag decided to give it’s readers a chance to ask some questions. Here you get to read a selection of those questions.  What was your motivation behind making videos? Do you ever feel obligated to take off your skates and film when someone is throwing down, even IF you are in the midst of doing something on YOUR blades? ALL THE TIME. I can't miss anything, even if it is to sacrifice my own clips or skating. Off the top of my head I can think of a few times during the filming for The Truth that I had to do that. It sucks, but I gota do what I gota do. Do you see yourself making more videos, or was "The Truth" just something you wanted to try out? It's safe to say that you can expect something from us next year. How did you come up with the line-up for "The Truth"? There's no way I would do a video without Franco and Fish, even if I tried to for some reason, I skate with them to much not to get a sections worth of footage of them after the summer. So they're both in. It was the same with the Kelsos also. Chesh is to Philly and to pimp not to have him be a part of it. Having a crew like this made us push ourselves that much further; we knew we had the ball rolling. Is it fun touring the world with Valo, picking Julio's brain, chillen with the boys? Travelling is always the most fun shit to me, but getting to travel with all these people makes it that much iller. I get to know everyone a little better since everyone’s a character in their own ways. I hope to go to Europe with these dudes soon because they seem to go a lot. We'll see how shit goes in the future I guess.  Austin Paz - BS Nugen If you could change one thing about the industry what would it be? (Mine is the need for more store front shops where kids can chill and learn about skating). One thing I been thinking about lately is how there should be tours like Hoax again in America. Tours with some of the best skaters around who go to huge events around the country where all the kids can come chill with pros and skate with them and have Demos or ASA’s somewhere public like a mall parking lot where everyone can see and be a part of. RFCC was doing something like that, but I think it was different in the Hoax days, it just looked way more fun and wayyy more successful. Did the Kelso's help in the editing/ track list/ design, or were they more talent and filming? Can't have The Truth without the Kelsos. Besides having sections in the video, they filmed A LOT of it. I couldn't give you a percentage or anything off the top, but like I said, there wouldn't be The Truth without them. For some sections I would edit half way through, show them to see what they thought, they would give me their input, and I would work off that. Or Sean would edit a section simple and with a basic layout that he liked, and I would base a section off that. They also had input about the soundtrack. I don't think there's a skate video out there that's based like that. How does it feel to release a dope video straight out the gate, and how do you plan on outdoing yourself? I'm proud of it, we all are, everyone who's in it and who was a part of it. There were a few concerns that we would all like to change about it that we will improve on next year. One thing we all agree on is travelling. For this video, we only had like 4 months to do everything from the skating to editing, so we didn't have much time to travel and plan things out. Some of our pockets were hurting. Maybe we will hit up Europe next year??????? Who knows? How long have you been skating? About 12 years. Who do you look up to in rollerblading in the following areas? a. As a skater : Dominic Sagona, Walt Austin (even though you don't see him much anymore), Fish, Colin Kelso, Brosky b. As a role-model : Shima c. As a comedian : Dustin Halleran haha d. As the future : Erik Stokley e. As a photographer : B.Smith and Jero f. As a videographer : Doug Urghart  Austin Paz - Topsoul Do you get mad when u see Ivan’s myspace and realize how handsome he is compared to you? Every time I go to Ivan’s myspace, I want to throw up. Do you miss city streets band nights? Yes :( Name one thing which distinguishes NYC scene from any other. I can name a number of things, but since you asked for only one, its gota be the scenery, straight up. Shooting in downtown or midtown Manhattan with all the people, buildings, architecture, taxis, bums. It makes clips more interesting, gives you something to look at besides just the skating. Do you want to fight Colin Farrell? Me and Colin Farrell are boys, we go to the city and pick u chicks, get a drink, hit up tity bars all the time. What do you think about pot/weed/hash? I don't smoke it, not a big fan. I hate when people smoke and just become a waste of life, like when you ask them what they did yesterday and they say "I just smoked" like its an activity. But if you can smoke and still be normal, then I don't really give a fuck to much. What’s your equipment - photo and video? Photo: Canon 20D (I know, I need an upgrade), Tokina 10-17mm fisheye, Canon 18-55mm stock lens, Canon 70-200 L f/2.8, Canon 50mm f/1.8, 2 Sunpak 555's, 2 sunpak pz5000's, light stands, tripods, pocket wizards, batterygrip and all that good stuff. Video: Panasonic DVX-100B, Century Optics .3x fisheye  Austin Paz - Makio What member of Wu-Tang is your favourite? GZA with Raekwon in a close second. Top 5 songs this week on your mp3 player 1- Green Day - J.A.R. 2- Deep Purple - Child In Time 3- Iron Maiden - Run To The Hills 4- Green Day - Waiting 5- Rehasher - Sinking Your opinion on DipScoot? Even though I'm not a Dipset fan or anything, I'm a fan of rollerblading and would like for more people to support it to help skating grow. How do you feel about the NYC scene? Does it suck that bad? The NYC scene doesn't suck at all. A lot of people still skate in every borough all the time. It's def growing. I noticed from the last Last Man Standing Comp that more skaters are around and coming out to support skating. I've notice recently in Staten Island that new kids are skating all over. For the past few years we knew everyone who skated in SI and every once in a while we'll go to a spot and there will be a group of young kids we never seen before learning how to soul grind. It's pretty cool seeing it grow again. Would you rather get free pickle sunflower seeds for a month, or go to lunch with Chris Hansen? Free pickle sunflower seeds, Chris Hansen will just keep telling me to take a seat. Why do you base your looks off of Jesus? Jesus bases his looks off me. Why do you wear Jugs in Valos? It's fucking ugly. I put Jugs in Valos because they're the best liners. They're not ugly, especially since my pants cover everything but the tongue. If I were to say, "it smells like Illinois in here" while you were three topsouling a 35 stair in Atlanta, what do you think I meant? I would think your a sick animal, and please tell me why you said that!!! Haha Do your sponsors pay you? Eulgoy Have you ever considered switching skate brands/sponsors? I'm happy with everyone I ride for, no need to switch to anyone else. I honestly think if I was dropped from all my sponsors, that my setup will remain the same. Favourite Kelso? Mr. & Mrs. Kelso How does it feel to have an ugly last name? Paz is G sucka. What type of clan would not be anything to fuck with? One of the Wu-Tang variety maybe???  Austin Paz - Rough Top Porn Do you prefer photography or videography? I prefer photography, even though I don't mess with it as much as video. It requires more skill and playing with lighting it fun. Do you like your style in Valos compared to other roller skates? I honestly didn't like my style till I had Valos. When I rode USDs for like 4 years before Valos, I was never proud of my skating or didn't think it was anything special. After I started riding Valos, my skating grew on me more and I'm very satisfied with the way my skating looks now. How do you feel about global warming? Kicks ass in the winter, but aint helping much as of now. Spin to win, or solid tricks with style? Solid tricks with style of course. I can't stand looking at people throwing themselves at rails and ledges with their arms and legs all over the place haha. But if you got spin tricks with style, then go for it. How did u get into blading, your very talented and seem reasonably intelligent, shouldn't you be doing something cool? I got into blading from my old brother; he skated for like a year and a half before he stopped. I plan on skating for as long as I can because I love it, but that won’t be forever. I hope to be involved on the industry side when I can't skate anymore. Perhaps either with photography and/or videography. As long as there's a way for me to help out and contribute to rollerblading, I'd like to for as long as I can. What was your favourite place to visit while filming for The Truth? Staying in Philly with the Kelsos at their parents’ house is always cool. Always had a good time skating there because before this summer, I only skated Philly once or twice before so everything was pretty much new to me. Connecticut was also good times when we got to go up with Jero while he was shooting fish for his Be-mag interview. We stayed with our boy Brenden who had a chill place with Nintendo, darts, a lil bar, porno style rug. But all those spots were new to me also, so it was fun skating new shit there too. I hope to go back there next year and do it all again. What shampoo do you use? Suave I think? I'm not really sure but for some reason Suave sounds familiar. Do you think the Kelso's styles are overdone? I don't know why kids say that. Colin has been skating the same way today as he has been since he started skating. He is a perfectionist. I noticed that when they showed me footage of them skating Love Park in 95. Both of their skating styles are all natural. They're just having fun on their skates like everyone else. Tags: austin paz eulogy in the know the truth valo | |
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13 comments so far
The PZA killing it as usual. Need to see The Truth.
Austin Paz is a G
man, good interview. liked it alot.
think I have to get The Truth right away…
i was watching the truth the other night and its a well done video-not too long-good music-clean editing and skating. sean kelso’s part was my favorite. although colin is one of my favourite skaters. paz came through hella hard as well. all the guys had hard sections.
I need to see that video !
austin paz is the shit straight up
the truth is honestly the best video i’ve seen in a very long time.
it reminds me of all my favorite old school videos from `97 that were shot in NYC. It’s fresh to see all the dope east coast footage.
hahahahahhahaha bump the Wu!
*too
great interview
think i’m going to order The Truth on friday when i get paid
can’t wait to see it
really nice read, Mr. PZA ;)
best “In The Know” interview yet!
OOOO STEEEEZY
I dig it. Good stuff.
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