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Thrasher x Vans

Nothing Meaner - Skate documentary

Dean Lane skatepark epitomises skate culture in Bristol. The Deaner, as it’s also known, is one of the oldest skate parks in the UK and is legendary among skaters for its rough features – and a cast of lively locals who are equally rough around the edges. With our roots telling stories from music and sports subcultures, we were well equipped to chronicle Dean Lane’s rich and colourful history as the park approached its 40 year anniversary. This self-funded documentary picked up some serious heat; securing the support of two of the world’s leading skateboarding institutions.

100K+

Views

6

Premieres

£55K+

Raised

2,000

event attendees

300

DVDs

1

legendary skate park

EXECUTION

Trawling through 40 years of skate footage required serious patience and determination. Many of the clips in the film had sat untouched on VHS tapes in skaters’ attics for years. As we slowly began to uncover long lost gems from this monumental archive, we also shot interviews with a selection of key characters who have devoted much of their lives to the park over the last four decades. Each decade at Dean Lane provides a fascinating insight into broader trends in music, art and culture at the time.

The documentary started out as a passion project but soon attracted the attention of local publications including Bristol24/7, Bristol Cable, BBC Radio Bristol and Bristol Voice. This led to legendary skate brand Vans hosting the premiere at the House of Vans venue in London and Thrasher skateboard magazine broadcasting the film to a global audience via its website. The film struck a chord with skaters of several generations. Building on this incredible reception, Clockwise launched a fundraising campaign to help improve the park and secure its future. The response so far has been incredible, with thousands of pounds raised in just the first three days of the campaign.

You can find out more about the campaign here.

“Telling stories about the people and places that make our cities unique is what fascinates us at Clockwise. Anyone who’s skated in Bristol knows there’s nothing meaner than the Deaner - it has such a notorious reputation. I've long suspected the park's 40 year history would offer up a treasure trove of anecdotes and incredible footage. When there's a story like that on your doorstep, how can you not go out and tell it?" - Dan Higginson - Director - Clockwise Film

Director

Dan Higginson

Producer

Dan Higginson

Camera

Sim Higginson, Dan Higginson

Editor

Dan Higginson

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