The Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story

THE ONE SKATEBOARD FILM YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS YEAR

World Premiere June 20 at the LA Live in Los Angeles Followed by Worldwide Release on iTunes June 23 through The Orchard

This summer, director Adam Bhala Lough will again deliver a unique view into the world of skateboarding with his sequel documentary Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story, in which we learn of the trials and triumphs of an underdog that made it all the way to the top. Featuring interviews with some of the most respected figures in skateboarding, including Tony Hawk, Rob Dyrdek, Stevie Williams, Rodney Mullen, Bam Margera and Jamie Thomas, this is already one of the most anticipated sport documentaries of the year.

Street skateboarding has evolved from a subculture into a legitimate sport, and with that has emerged very real physical and psychological struggles for the athletes. It was to gain an understanding and appreciation for the behind-the-scenes world that the Tribeca Film Festival favorite The Motivation was produced, following eight of the world’s top street skateboarders in the lead-up to the Street League world championship. In Motivation 2, Lough brings the lens closer to focus on a single champion: Chris Cole.

“One of my favorite things is to watch a kid be so obviously obsessed and in love with skating. I like to be a part of their experience in that way,” says professional skateboarder Chris Cole. “I know that there are kids out there that are just waiting for something to inspire them. If my story can be that inspiration for a kid, that’s really exciting.”

Shot over the course of a year in San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and China, Motivation 2 is the story of a man that earned his place as an innovator, motivator and legend in skateboarding that now creates inspiration and opportunity for a new generation. Cole’s progression from humble neighborhood beginnings to the world of elite street skateboarding is revealed through recently discovered archival footage, presenting a skater that went on to achieve the highest amount of skate contest wins, a list of defining video parts, being twice selected as Thrasher magazine’s Skater of the Year, back-to-back X-Games gold medals, and becoming the 2013 Street League Super Crown World Champion.

American film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough has made a mark in exposing alluring subcultures, and is already highly acclaimed: nominated for a Spirit Award for Best First Feature, included in Filmmaker Magazine’s Top 25 Independent Filmmakers to Watch list, and is the only filmmaker to have a documentary, a fictional film and a screenplay at Sundance Film Festival. Scored by Julian Wass, Motivation 2 features original tracks from a host of up-and-coming talent including former Das Racist member KOOL A.D., Bay Area punk band Younger Lovers, NPR Tiny Desk winner Fantastic Negrito, acclaimed San Jose rapper Antwon, Jim Jarmusch's band SQURL, KOOL A.D.’s punk outfit Party Animal, and Philadelphia hardcore legends Turmoil.

“This is the most inspiring film I've made to date, and not just because of Chris's incredible back-story. What's truly inspiring is the work he's doing today,” says director Adam Bhala Lough. “Skateboarding is a global phenomenon and an untapped well of stories; we want to tell their stories. We are focused on making The Motivation series the No.1 documentary film series in skateboarding, eventually reaching beyond to other sports.”

Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story will premiere June 20, at LA Live in Los Angeles, followed by an exclusive after-party at The Berrics. The worldwide release will be on iTunes through The Orchard June 23.

For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

"I Am Thalente" Proves that the Human Spirit can Skateboard

From the Streets of South Africa to California and into the Heart of skateboarding.

I Am Thalente is a verité documentary about once homeless skateboarder Thalente Biyela’s journey from the streets of South Africa to Los Angeles, California and into the heart of skateboarding. With the support of skate companies LRG and Bombshell, and skateboarding legends Kenny Anderson, Guy Mariano, and Marc Johnson, the producers have turned to specialist film crowd funding platform Seed & Spark to finance the completion of the documentary film offering unprecedented incentives and access to some of skateboarding’s greatest.

Nineteen year old Thalente Biyela has been homeless since age nine... At age 10, he was given his first skateboard. Skateboarding gave him an escape from the harsh realities of street life, a way to express himself, and led him to a community of friends who would become his family. His effortless style at a public skatepark in Durban quickly attracted international attention, and last year Thalente was given the opportunity to travel to the states and skate with some of the industry’s most accomplished pros: A dream unimaginable for a homeless kid whose inevitable journey begins and ends on the streets.

Whilst this story hinges on Thalente’s love of skateboarding, it gives insight into the challenges that homeless youths face without family, literacy, role models, or hope. Skateboarding becomes a source of strength and competence for Thalente to rise out of circumstance and make a place for himself in the world. His journey offers a unique perspective on skateboarding, the power of uncompromised acceptance, community and individuality.

Says director Natalie Johns, “I Am Thalente is this young man’s resume, his character reference and his best chance to continue down the path of building a better life. More than this, it is a chance to experience and support one boy’s struggle for survival and unwavering dream to spread the love of skateboarding.”

Johns met Thalente through friends and family in her hometown of Durban and was instantly captivated by his incredibly story. She has documented his journey to the US, his warm acceptance into the skateboarding community in LA, and the guidance by pro skater Kenny Anderson. In the opening of I am Thalente’s Seed&Spark pitch video, Kenny Anderson is at a loss for words to describe Thalente’s affinity for skateboarding: “I don’t know, it’s just like that unexplainable type thing. When you see it, you know it.” Which is perhaps why Johns’ film will be so important to bring Thalente’s story to the screen: audiences will see what words cannot capture.