Werner Herzog is a pillar of cinema—a pioneer known for his prolific output, quick wit, and uncommon approach to film. He’s a guy who brings a true sense of uniqueness to an industry increasingly overrun with superheroes. But what does he have to do with skateboarding?
Technically speaking, nothing. Werner has no background in skating. But I believe he is one of us.
This suspicion started a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon Werner Herzog – A Guide for the Perplexed. Not knowing much about him I skimmed the back cover, which eerily read like a skater’s manifesto. Werner preaches maxims like getting the shot by any means necessary, carrying bolt cutters everywhere, and thwarting institutional cowardice with guerrilla tactics. His film school teaches lock picking, forgery, and his entire career has been built on a DIY approach to life, his craft banged into existence through decades of trial and failure.
Because Werner’s approach to life and filmmaking mirrors the ethos of skating in so many ways, I decided to track him down to chat about the similarities and differences between our two worlds.
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January 25, 2021 3:39 pm
Herzog Town and Z-Boys
January 25, 2021 3:50 pm
Blown away that you all made this happen. Werner is a “legend” in the true sense of the word.
January 25, 2021 3:52 pm
Wow – the crossover we never knew we needed. I find him really inspirational. That book looks great. I loved his musings on skateboarding from an outsider, and from someone with such an amazing approach to life and creating.
Thank you, Jenkem!
January 25, 2021 4:48 pm
best thing you’ve done — more film content plz