Inspiration from the Converse One Star
20-year-old skater and aspiring filmmaker Stanley Brock heads to Boston to learn about the classic One Star’s skateboarding roots.
In partnership with Converse
Words: The Face
Director: Hector Aponysus
First released as a basketball trainer in 1974, the Converse One Star is now renowned as the go-to skate-shoe across the world. Named after the single bold star emblazoned on its flank, the iconic silhouette was first picked up by skateboarders after its re-release in 1993 and remains pivotal to the community today. While co-signs from anti-conformists like Kurt Cobain, Edison Chen and Tyler, the Creator have asserted its counter culture significance around the world.
“Skateboarding is a very loyal scene. If things worked 30 years ago then people trust that they work now,” says aspiring filmmaker and skater Stanley Brock. A devoted wearer of the seminal sneaker, the 20-year-old explains that the scene’s obsession with the classic One Star is down to, “it making its mark in history, coming back and still working to this day.”
The North London creative headed to Converse’s Boston archive to further explore the shoe’s ‘90s skate roots and its continued significance in culture. “From the archive, we spoke lots about Mouse. It’s one of the biggest skate films and certified the One Star’s place in the skate community after Guy Mariano and Daniel Castillo wore them,” says Brock. “That video also inspired me because it mixed the best skating in the world with comedy sketches.”
It’s this mentality that resonated with the London-based artist’s “fun” creative process. “Skateboarding really doesn’t take itself too seriously. Seeing how the director Spike Jonze took the piss yet still went on to win Academy Awards really inspired me to show more of my personality.”
Taking lessons learned from the archive, the skater enlisted his friend Jonah to make a longer form videos that incorporates Brock’s playful spirit. “Having the freedom to experiment with my personality really opened me up to all these different styles,” he explains, “now I know that I can take my craft anywhere.”
Watch the video below to learn more about Stanley Brock’s creative process and to watch snippets of his plucky skate films.
Director Hector Aponysus D.O.P. Jack Exton
