Independent Spokane filmmaker Justin Marko is a skateboarder with a passion for filming fellow local skateboarders at locations familiar to most Spokanites. In fact, he is in production for his second feature skateboard film, Folklore, slated for release next year.
Marko started filming at a young age while growing up in Elk, just north of Spokane, and is passionate about supporting the local skateboarding scene, including local stores. Marko says that it is tough to film in certain spots of Spokane because people are not always friendly toward that kind of community, but he happily admitted that "rough spots generally breed strong talented skateboarders."
"The greatest feeling I get is when all four wheels touch down and roll out of screen," Marko says. "The connection between skater and filmer is like no other — even though he landed the trick, said person probably would have never been trying that trick unless I was there."
The photos I took of him filming were from a scene showing some of his trick shots. Folklore will feature a few of the riders from his first film, Public Announcement, including Ronnie Schroder, Nathan Akers, Adrian Santillan, as well as first timers Bryan McGlynn and Alex Delgado.