Mission Statement Episode 17: William Strobeck

William Strobeck, known simply as Bill by those closest to him, is this generation’s Spike Jonze. In 2014, he singlehandedly changed the direction of modern skate videos with the release of “cherry”. It was the first full-length from both Strobeck and Supreme, and had a similar impact to Jonze and Mark Gonzales’s Video Days when that debuted in 1991.
“cherry” introduced the world to a group of skaters that would go on to become icons. At the time, most videos felt like blockbuster movies that were far removed from the D.I.Y. spirit that birthed them. With street life vignettes that feel like you are watching the sessions live, Strobeck brought back an aesthetic that was lost sometime during the transition from standard to high definition. It had clearly been missed.
Bill’s trajectory was foreshadowed over a decade earlier. Before Tyshawn Jones, Na-Kel Smith, and “BLESSED”, there was Anthony Pappalardo, Brian Wenning, and Photosynthesis. He cut his teeth during the Josh Kalis and Stevie Williams era at Love Park. And his footage helped craft the Sovereign Sect’s look during its golden age. With that sort of pedigree, no one should be surprised by what Strobeck would go on to accomplish after.
But Bill didn’t get to where he is today without a little bit of luck. His Alien Workshop years were the start of an ongoing collaboration with Jason Dill. This friendship has landed him in “the right place at the right time” at multiple points during his career. The connection with Dill and a breakup with a longtime girlfriend were responsible for transplanting Strobeck to New York in 2002 after a seven-year stint in Philly. And N.Y.C. would prove to be a key element in the progression of his craft.
There were still shades of the old New York during those initial post-911 years. Bill, Dill, Chloë Sevigny, Ben Cho, Leo Fitzpatrick, Dash Snow, the Razo brothers, etcetera’s gallivanting between Max Fish, Sway, and The Hole is well-documented in the archives of Patrick O’Dell’s Epicly Later’d blog. They seemed to be the heirs apparent of the Downtown scene created by Warhol, Basquiat, Futura, Jim Jarmusch, Debbie Harry, and the rest of the legendary denizens of ‘80s L.E.S. Mingling with artists, designers, actors, and fashionistas allowed Strobeck to further develop his eye for what’s cool. This influence is highly visible in his output over the past six years.
Instead of just showcasing tricks, Strobeck creates a mood through providing a glimpse into his subjects’ lifestyles. It’s more in line with what Larry Clark and Mathieu Kassovitz did with KIDS and La Haine, respectively, than a traditional skate video. And it works so seamlessly with Supreme’s branding that it's hard to imagine anyone else making its films. Currently, you’d be hard-pressed to watch one of the dozens of skate edits that are released weekly and find one that doesn’t borrow a little (or a lot) from Strobeck’s work. If those that shape the culture is the underlying theme of Mission Statement, there isn’t a more fitting guest for our 2020 season premiere.
Host: Lee Smith
Executive Producer: Artem Gorelik
Art Director: Brett Dalzell
Editorial Director: Leland Ware
Listen on SoundCloud: bit.ly/MSSoundC...
Filmed on location at: monaliza.studio/
For more news, visit: skatenewswire.com/

[@ryanrowe1975]

Great episode

[@huntereaton3501]

There needs to be some new Aiden footage, Bill if you are reading this, I know you have Aiden clips and you need to put them out ASAP

[@kman3hunna]

Hunter Sk8123 new Aidan footy on Instagram today

[@pablotorrero]

@@kman3hunna fr?

[@isaacpeter9851]

8 months later, your wish came through. Dancing On Thin Ice.

[@bradensmith661]

Wow, Bill hit the nail on the head with why I don’t smoke weed anymore and all my homies think I’m buggin or some shit when I explain why

[@dollarbillfilms7616]

The bugging on weed thing has happened to me a few times, had the same thoughts that I had I'd gone crazy and would never be normal again. Fortunately for me it was just puking and sleeping it off and I'd be fine again, Bill sounds like he really got put through the ringer with that shit.

[@paddyskate]

@j suvix right at the start

[@ResidenceSkater]

So stoked to hear him talking about Cher she’s the sweetest and skating with her is always a fun and uplifting time. Can’t wait to shred with her again!

[@ShredzShop]

These are always great! Keep em coming Lee!!

[@ssjcj4081]

Bill cares about these kids alot💯

[@MultiBeautifulDays]

your intro is the best six seconds of my day

[@khrissyboy69]

Art Cor real shit best intro

[@joeyrusso9419]

That Dill impression was spot on hahaha

[@AHauris]

Makes me feel lucky to live in the Bay Area

[@cameronfasching6415]

Stro Stro "2" The Beck.. You are an amazing person. And a Inspiration.. ..

[@Getoffme732]

I live in Binghamton and that museum spot in Syracuse is fucking sick

[@reillyjunger4077]

These dudes probably said like, like 5000 times each

[@_WARSAW_]

take a shot every time bill says like

[@gtorphins]

Nice one Lee 🙏

[@acey1169]

The Patriot downtown was a sick spot in the 2000's

[@MFSHECKS]

Really good episode ! Bill is a fucking legend

[@switchcrook]

Wish he talked about sean greene's hill bomb

[@Buuuuuuuuumba]

“like”

[@NineHellHeaven]

I read this comment and now I can't ignore it. 🙉

[@paddyskate]

Dude

[@e.t.finger7215]

lee smith part filmed by bill? next week?

[@chaseartica]

We need the Dill episode

[@mosmith3026]

Fuck yeah Lee. Thank you

[@stephenwrobel4960]

Bill is cool get rick O on here

[@christhew4129]

Cool Show, Awesome Guest! Watch the NineClub although saw this and watched this one first. Keep up the good work!

[@paddyskate]

Onasurftrip you think people aren’t interested in it anymore ?

[@Stefan.X.]

Tht host is hitting his mic mad rough. Get microphones 🎤 or something

[@michaelnusbaum]

Was bill thinking Lee was Javier Nunez?

[@reason2910]

What hoodie is Bill rocking?

[@reason2910]

@Gonz Wouldgo I think its a old supreme hoodie. I thought it was the David Lynch capsule at first. Blue velvet hoodie.

[@pencilboy34]

Supreme burning crosses hoodie from f/w14’. He tore the collar on it

[@ssjcj4081]

Wow 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🔥 needed

[@waves1point0]

120 minutes was the shit.

[@chartreuseninjano.7762]

Yeah man my pants got me in plenty of fights..but then went to school the next year everybody is wearing jnco

[@BG-sj7zh]

why wouldnthe link with all those dudes and make a full length. Quim, Freddy, Stevie, Josh, Papallardo, Wenning, and whomever esle Ricky etc and make a supreme video with those dudes. Dill....

[@johnarbuckle2823]

Yesssss

[@peps1mega]

Gotta love 2 middle aged men speaking like 16 year olds girls. lol

[@mexifoodlover]

I'm talking HONG KONG club ........SWAY ??? lol.

[@jcpsk8]

Yeah bill! 😀

[@CRASSsk8s]

1:34:57: I heard an audible toot.

[@OBFLife]

Get Mikey Alfred! Ask him why he's not fucking with Jonah or Spike anymore!

[@kxntra]

Like and like um kinda like ah like sorta like dude like

[@meetthow9250]

You know what I mean

[@armin38822]

Cut the '' likes '' out and this podcast is 30 min long

[@therealwewin]

This the guy who filmed baker 4?

[@RA-us6db]

Beagle, not Bill

[@Adamsracing15]

Hahaha “like “yeah

[@jacobsnead4203]

totally the guy, which was why it wasnt as baker as we all wanted

[@teatrulemonhead]

R A don’t forget Felix

[@crikey1mate]

He basically did

[@jayblummer146]

42:51

[@Hardbody94]

1:23:18

[@traddad9172]

5 minutes is all I could take Too much "like, um, like" but I do enjoy your videos Bill😶👌

[@fleezuschrist7879]

KigwahahHHH

[@crummerholla]

I think I just heard a fart at 1:34:57

[@mexifoodlover]

Fat bill you just too high!!

[@brandona230]

2:11:18