In 2010, Crystal Moselle’s film The Wolfpack captivated Sundance audiences with its portrayal of the Angulo brothers, whose isolated existence in New York City’s Lower East Side led to intricate reenactments of their favorite films and captured the attention of viewers. It ultimately won the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the festival. Now, Moselle is back at Sundance, debuting her new film Skate Kitchen.
Highlighting the story of Camille, a suburban teenager who befriends a group of girl skateboarders and begins to explore the world of the NYC subculture, Skate Kitchen tells the story of the city’s female skateboarding world and their growing friendships.
Adorama recently spoke with Moselle on her latest project, and the shooting of the film in Manhattan.
Q: It’s been reported that you initially met the women of ‘Skate Kitchen’ on the train. Can you tell us about that moment and first meeting, and how it grew from that introduction, to ‘That One Day’, to ‘Skate Kitchen’?
A: The thing about Nina is when you’re in a room and a bunch of people are talking, for some reason, her voice pierces through everything and you want to listen to what she is saying. That is what happened on the train that one day. I couldn’t pay attention to anything else besides what these teenage girls were talking about. So then I went up to them and and we became friends.
Q: How does your approach, style, and workflow change from working on a short to a film (and to a narrative feature)?
A: My approach for the feature was similar to the short but I just spent a lot more time on the feature. I completely immersed myself into the world of these girls. I would observe their interactions and they would tell me stories about things that would happen. The process was an open space for them to contribute and collaborate. I also interviewed the girls individually and integrated their point of view into the story. After I got a rough idea of what the film would be, we started rehearsing the scenes and discovering more. The process of trying things out helped me complete the script.
Q: What were some of the most difficult shots to capture in the making of Skate Kitchen?
A: Shooting these sequences in the Lower East Side Skate Park with the trains and the noise was not easy. There was a serious lack of control in those situations… but I think that’s how we stayed true to their world… but we still almost lost our minds.
Q: What cameras and lenses did you use?
A: We used an Alexa Mini with Panavision lenses. My Director of Photography Shabier Kirchner is incredible.
Q: Who are some of your influences? Which films or filmmakers have had a formative influence on you?
A: I have been incredibly inspired by filmmakers that are creating a movement of work that blurs the line between reality and fiction: Jonas Carpignano, Michal Marczak , Safdie Brothers, Sean Baker. It’s really exciting to see what is happening in cinema these days.
Q: When the Sundance lineup was announced, it revealed that 38 percent of the slate was women-directed. How do you see the industry changing and allowing for more women filmmakers at every level?
A: Time’s up! It’s changing because it has to.
Q: What advice do you have for an inspiring or beginner director looking to make his/her debut into the world of filmmaking?
A: Just keep making work and figuring out what works. Make 100 short films under a minute. Make them for cheap. Try things out. I made so many terrible films in my life and learned something from every one of them. Developing a point of view takes time.
