Tully West is back with another belter of a Melbourne scene video in the form of ‘Block Party’, filmed over the course of four months on the city’s streets. Tully not only has a knack for shooting Melbourne spots in an innovative way, but he can also pull off that Bill Strobeck zoom in/zoom out/zoom back in long lens business without looking like he’s having a seizure behind the camera, which is what comes across when most attempt that particular style. So props to him for that.
Music is always a major part of these videos as well, no trap music afterthoughts here but a selection of eclectica including The Beat’s classic ‘Save it for Later’ (from when they re-titled themselves ‘The English Beat’) which genuinely adds something to the skateboarding on display and gives a jaded skateboarding magazine writer faith in the continued weirdness of skateboarding culture. The level of goon worship also solidly places this geographically in Australia – see the clip at 8:26 where a random bloke downing box wine is the celebration for a solid bit of crookery. Australia’s finest alcoholic export is not only both cheap and a fast way to get hammered, but when the box is empty then the bag can be removed, blown up and used as a handy pillow when the need to pass out on a park bench becomes overwhelming. To anyone reading this who is planning to visit Oz in the near future, you’re welcome.
Featuring Max Couling, Jason Rainbird, Simon Frazzetto, Arthur Kay, Dom Henry, Gabriel Summers, Bryce Golder, Dean Johnson, Casey Foley, Digby Luxton, Liam McCulloch and a load more faces.
Additional filming by Dylan Bruns, Neihana Tonkin, Leo Carrol-Capp and Max Couling.
Peep Tully West’s previous visual offerings via the corresponding alphabetical figures below;
Gap Year (“It’s the result of a bunch of unemployed 20 year olds, their mentors and the best plaza in the world.”)
