Interview by Zach Moeller
Photos by Owen Basher
Josh Ferguson in Vacant Street Blues, a full length video by Ben Schmidt out of Baltimore, MD. Read on to hear from Ben about the making of the video and pick up a copy of the full length here.
Congrats on the video Ben, how was the video premiere?
It was pretty awesome. There was a whole bunch of family and friends that came out. It was pretty packed in the bar. We were definitely over capacity, but they let it slide which was tight. We had a DJ play some music after. It was a pretty lit night.
How long have you been working Vacant Street Blues?
The video took well over four years. There was a lot of buying new cameras, sending the old ones out, and waiting for film to get processed. There was a period where I kinda stopped filming for a little while after My Front Stoop, but I ultimately got the motivation to get back out there thanks to everyone. It was cool. I tried to fit as many homies in the video as possible, show the scene pretty well.
Baltimore definitely has a tight-knit scene. How does a project like this bring everyone together?
When there’s only a few spots and a couple of skateparks where people really meet up at we all become friends really quick. Going out on a 20 person sesh isn’t too unrealistic. So I was always trying to film whoever was already out on the sesh, you know? It’s not just one homie getting a clip, it’s whoever’s out trying something.
Speaking of homies, a lot of heads helped contribute to this project through various means. What were some of the ways your friends helped out, either big or small?
Dude for sure. Matty in Jersey, Nnamdi in DC, and Jeremy in New York all helped with filming. John John Rosemond and Jamie Rosier both nailed my ideas for DVD and shirt artwork. It’s a huge honor to collaborate with my super talented homies. Also, Alex Rose and Josh Shupe over at Threads both played a big role in burning the master copy and delivering the DVDs all the way from Tennessee for the premiere. None of my videos would have been possible without Threads Idea Vacuum. They hooked me up with my Super 8 probably five years ago, and we still get all of our film processed together.
Run me through the camera line up you used for the video.
I started filming B-roll with a Sony TRV15, which was my mom’s camera that she shot childhood videos of me and my sister on. It was really special for me to reuse it – I made sure not to tape over any memories! Alex Rose hooked me up with a Super 8 camera, a Bauer C3. I shoot a lot of color film on that. There’s only two settings on the camera, so it can get pretty blown out exposure-wise, but I kinda like the grainy/not clear aspect it gives off. Sending the film off to get transferred is pretty easy. Capturing the Video8 footage with just a TRV is a process – I have to tape it onto a mini DV tape and then to my computer. I’m basically refilming something, which is kind of a hassle.
While working on this video you also managed to film a full part yourself. Who was filming you?
Josh Ferguson, John John Rosemond, Matty Hilzenrath, Nnamdi Ihekwoaba, Jeremy Knott, Otto Blais-Nelson, shit, a lot of people. Also Kim Scott for sure. He helped out with the video a lot. Everyone loves Earthtone here in Baltimore. It’s sick that he helped out.
Do you feel more pressure when you’re behind the lens or in front of it?
Definitely in front of it. I get nervous and shit always takes way longer than it should. But it wouldn’t be as worth it if it didn’t take 100 tries.
Do you have a favorite part in the video, or a homie who you enjoyed working with the most?
Myles (Willard) was the easiest to film. He filmed that part in about 5-6 months. Josh (Ferguson) definitely had one of the best parts in the video in my opinion. But my personal favorite I’d have to say is Will Johnson. He’s my childhood best friend. I don’t want to speak for him, but it feels like this was the first part that he really went hard for. He really wanted to make sure shit was clean and proper. And he killed it.
Where can heads pick up a copy of the full video?
VacantStreetBlues.bigcartel.com or they can just hit me up on Instagram, I’m happy to send you a copy. And hopefully we can get more shirts made soon as well, I just ran out of those.
For anyone who’s not hip, why is Baltimore skateboarding the best?
The crust – everyone is gonna say that but I think it’s true. Just stoops and skrellies. I know Philly and DC have some of that too, but I don’t know man, Baltimore is just special. It’s homefield advantage!
Have you started to think about what’s coming next?
I’m going to try to put something else out without letting it take four years again! Haha hopefully something within a year. Maybe not a DVD full length this time, but definitely something over 10 minutes that I can just upload to the web to keep people updated on what’s been going on up here.
