Against The Current - Featuring Stacy Peralta

"Against The Current," is a short film documenting the artistic process of the legendary Skateboarder and Filmmaker, Stacy Peralta. Made in conjunction with his art show debuting at CCC gallery this fall and directed by Dana Shaw, it’s not just a love letter to a life of skateboarding but a celebration of the spirit of creativity and commitment.

Stacy shares his various inspirations from childhood to present day, and the challenges and lessons learned while working to develop this new visual language in his iterations of these tools of joy from the past.

The work also explores his temporal and obsessive relationship to the skateboard collection that intrinsically holds the memories of those ephemeral halcyon days. As well as the decay and degradation that entropy and time have on our prized possessions, and even ourselves.

Stacy’s show opens on October 19th 2024 on the central coast of California, with a follow up show in downtown Los Angeles in late December.

Director - Dana Shaw
DP - Colin Nearman
16mm Cinematography - Dana Shaw
8mm Cinematography - Dana Shaw & Colin Nearman
Additional cinematography - Perry Gershkow
Producer - Charles Smith
Archival footage - Scott Dittrich & Stacy Peralta.
4k 16mm Motion Picture scans - Origins Archival
Music - Austin Gandler

[jimjam]

This should be shown in school. Brilliant lesson. You learn by just trying. You get better by just trying. You find new interests and understanding by just trying. You live a fuller life by just trying.

[susanhonnell]

"When you keep yourself in that kook phase, you expose yourself, you make yourself vulnerable, and you open yourself up so life has a chance to get in you, and work its magic on you." So good Stacy Peralta.

[wpridgen]

Kook for life.
Thanks for building a culture Stacey.
We love you.

[mariana.willinghamlmft]

what an incredible short film! I wish it was a longer documentary~ so inspiring!!!

[tommyc]

“Be a kook”…timeless advice from a legend.

[JenniferGreyfeather]

"Every kid needs to feel beautiful. Because when you feel beautiful, you're connected to yourself - and to the ground." Oh my gosh, how true and how beautiful. Because the truth is we are so individually very beautiful, and each person needs to know this about their self by feeling it. I always walk around reflecting a kid's beauty back to them - because I see it and I want them to always be reminded of that truth so that one day, when maybe they've been a bit too beat down by life or nobody let them hold on to that knowledge-through-feeling, my little confirmation will have added up within them as a resilience that protects them from the lies the world tells them about their self. I love turning into a crone of a woman. I love the rewards of being old(er)! I love this wisdom. But yeah, one has to fight against the gravity of life pressing down against you. ;) Love love love this message/story! LOVE YOUR ARTWORK! Thank you for sharing yourself! :D

[jimgoodrich]

So well done, Dana.👍
You've so brilliantly captured the essence of one of the most
cherished and inspirational people who have ever stepped on a skateboard.

[KillrMillr]

Lol, Sims pure juice wheels, tracker trucks and a Santana board was all of our favorites back in the day. Great memories of a simpler time.

[tomzkahuna]

Awesome perspective of art, surf and skate all rolled into one great guy! Thanks for keeping the STOKE alive!

[parkerjones]

Wow this is awesome, loved the hotel room paintings!

[TheLifePhoenix]

This was FREAKIN rad. So inspiring. Words of wisdom to the talents and creative minds

[Deejoohcee]

This stuff is so pure, inspirational and motivating at the same time. And to conclude with the message to be a Kook is the just nailing it!

[surfinairwaves]

This is the most beautiful thing ive witnessed in a long time. Thank you to Stacy Peralta for leading me back to seeing the beauty in the world again

[jerrybouchelle]

Stacey. You and Gregg Weaver were two of my favorite skaters in the 70s i just turned 64 .i unfortunately can't skate anymore but. I still follow the sport and still consider myself a skater. Love your paintings. I still have several of my old boards including one with Chicago trucks and Roller Sports Mk iv wheels . Keep the stoke alive

[WAGONJON]

...its so old its composting! I love it!!

[KevinJones-btib]

I've always loved how skateboards look, functional and an amazing ornament at the same time

[gregbeasley]

Fantastic video, and what a cool view of life.

[moraesigor]

I always stop to see anything about Stacy. Inspires me to do my own art.

[leonardalcalaii]

@DanaShaw That was a awesome documentary ✌️😇 Keep them coming ✌️😇

[elizisabel]

We want a full length documentary!!! Beautiful shots and directing, really helped the story take form