Redwood Senior Focuses Lens On Island Of Misunderstood Skateboarders

The Larkspur Youth Film Festival will spotlight some amazing local talent on Sunday, April 29. The festival starts at 11:30 a.m., so come on out and help us support the locals.

Among the local film makers is Redwood High student Spencer Cross, a veteran of the film festival. Spencer is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Francisco until his family moved to Larkspur when he was 7 years old. He has a firm grasp of Bay Area culture and presents it in his documentary The Island.

Following is a Q&A with Spencer:

Spencer Cross, 18, Larkspur
Redwood High senior
Film: The Island (Documentary)

• What's your film about?
My film is titled The Island and is a short documentary on the skateboarders/ bikers of the small patch of land between the SF Ferry Building and Market Street

• How did you hear about the festival?
I entered a film last year (Circular Motion) and so I wanted to try again one last time before I was ineligible.

• How did the idea for the film come about?
Keever, my co-producer, originally thought of the idea and I was all for making it happen.

• What were the challenges of making the film?
We ran into a lot of challenges some more minor like terrible traffic in the city and some more major like not having sufficient audio equipment to really cut down on wind noise.

• What's the best part of being a film maker?
I really enjoy being able to portray subjects and ideas that are misrepresented or not seen in the best light.

• Would you like to pursue a career in movies? In what area?
After applying to colleges and not getting into the film school I was really hoping to get into, I'm going to have to keep learning new video related skills and ablities on my own as I have up until this point. I hope to pursue cinematography and less video editing. I am content behind the camera and always looking to think of innovative angles and manners to shoot.

• What's your favorite movie?
It's funny one of my favorite movies is actual an animated movie, it's Princess Mononoke by the Japanese film maker Hayao Miyazaki. But if I had to choose a conventionally filmed movie I'd have to pick No Country for Old Men by the Coen Brothers.

• Who's your favorite actor/director?
Once again I'd say Miyazaki is probably my favorite director but Peter Jackson does an amazing job with the Lord of the Rings Series and I can't wait for The Hobbit coming in December.