South Central Warhammer

Over a board game of Warhammer, a filmmaker interviews two men about growing up nerdy in a rough part of South Central Los Angeles. Featuring Mario and Eddie.
Consider supporting the filmmaker on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/benjaminhosking/goa...
#warhammer #southcentral #boardgames #nerd #miniatures #
#losangeles #latino #la #socal #california #gamesworkshop #warhammer40k #ageofsigmar #documentary #shortfilm #facesofwarhammer

[@joncarroll2040]

Nothing screams urban gaming like playing a table top game outside.

[@wesleystreet]

If I lived in Los Angeles, I'd be gaming outside all the time. Perfect weather for it.

[@WuBringsTheRuckus]

I love that Warhammer transcends cultural and economic boundaries and allows everyone to connect. This is awesome.

[@ghostoflazlo]

Yeah, it makes everyone poor, it don't discriminate 😅

[@sportyeight7769]

Except people on island like Australia or NZ. Too rich for the poors.

[@Senorcyborg]

that's the beauty of war games. you won't have enough money for drugs.

[@Canadish]

Its a really bittersweet watch this, and very familiar/nostalgic. I grew up in Liverpool, England. Also a very poor area, drugs and violence etc. That bit near the end where he said him and his friends called their area 'Mordor' is exactly what me and my buddies did. Half a world away, but we're cracking the same jokes. The Tabletop gaming community is such a wonderful collection of people.

[@BenjaminHosking]

Thank you. I'm glad watching felt meaningful :)

[@evan8654]

Liverpool!!!!

[@stochasticagency]

I love it when these kinds of videos come up randomly in my feed.

[@BenjaminHosking]

So do I! Glad the algorithm made it happen.

[@craigbrown04]

THIS!!!!!

[@mattgrandich3977]

Me too.

[@regularbear]

"I became a crackhead for plastic" 😅

[@skyisred213]

Always stoked to see more brown foos like me nerding out. Thank you for making this video.

[@wastucar8127]

Hell yeah 👑

[@BenjaminHosking]

Glad you liked it :)

[@Mr._Knight_138]

Same here

[@Paragon--bm1lp]

I second that notion.

[@DylanGuitar525]

saaaaame

[@oscar.p3214]

This hobby can be so nurturing for men from all walks of life . I’ve met so many ex military who created real friendship over plastic toys.

[@vaylintwilight]

“Like people out here addicted to drugs, but… they’re dwarves.” Bless this man. I love this hobby.

[@emiliogonzalez9555]

That's my buddy! Mario is such a great person. I met him at a local GW and he would tell me all the stories of him growing up in the hood and playing Warhammer. It was great playing at the Gnawhole up in LA.

[@WuBringsTheRuckus]

Please tell him to start a KZbin channel. The people want more South Central Warhammer!

[@MarioRodriguez-ms4ci]

Miss ya my boy

[@sixtwentysix]

Warhammer and painting is underrated for treating trauma and mental health… in moderation like anything else

[@g1stylempdesign929]

God bless the kids that decide to be themselves. Not allowing social pressures to destroy their sense of imagination, artistry and goodness. It’s good enough to be yourself and embrace the subtle goodness we all can enjoy if we try.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

As I get older and spend time with “unsavory types” and arguable one myself (I don’t look like the type you’d want to mug to the extent that I might just pull a uno reverse card out, me and my late brother have done it in the past) I find people respect passion regardless of about the topic, one of the hardest men I know has a Batman symbol tattooed on him, regardless of what it is, my 3 favorite things growing up were anime, playing cards and a good fight with someone who thought they could discriminate based on the first two things. A lot of folk who are “though guy” types came from broken homes and can’t stand bullies. Had to fight 6 guys with a buddy of mine while all the tendons were torn in my leg from a accident behind my local hobby shop one time because they thought they could roll over the local geeky kids and I’d have gladly done it again, I hope the stigma behind nerd culture has gotten better decades later, I hope that in some small way me and my band of reprobates helped back then.

[@TahuRaisao]

Man, this documentary hits home for me. Growing up in South LA, I unfortunately didn't encounter too many folks who enjoyed it, so it's awesome to see there were other people like me who grow up enjoying warhammer.

[@Jimmietwoshoes1]

mark my words this video is going to blow up. I hope it gets the exposure it needs

[@BenjaminHosking]

I sure hope so! Would love to make more of these.

[@yellowprime8491]

So glad this popped up in my algorithm. My partner and I got sucked into this respectful and heart-warming short-form documentary / interview piece. Subscribed. Look forward to more of your work!

[@HadoukenHero]

That roleplay story cracked me up, I had a huge smile watching this. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@jonathanspears214]

As the only white kid that grew up in a Chicano town I wish I could have met you guys. You feel alienated if you don't become the type of stereo type they expect. I did become the milkweed (blood in blood out) in highschool but reverted back to my nerdy self when I found my nerdy Chicana wife. I'm extremely grateful I met her but I wish I would have met you guys in highschool you guys are so cool.

[@markshepherd3632]

I grew up in Newcastle in the north of England. Me and my mate's were from working class areas lots of unemployment in the 80s. There was not much money about. We led double lifes being working class kids and geeks. I used to go to football on the Saturday looking for trouble and then game on the Sunday it was double life. Thankfully i joined the army to get away from trouble along with other fiends. Some of us were lucky to get jobs and learn a trade. We are all back playing now in our mid 50s on Sunday. Wargaming and fantasy gaming will always be a part of me

[@EvgeneXI]

Went to Newcastle recently, the Games Workshop was gone and all the shops were shut. The mall is barren. Really depressing to see as my dad is from there and the way he talks about it with such pride made me expect a lot more…

[@rosstee]

@@EvgeneXI There's still a Warhammer store in Newcastle according to Google maps, on Hood St.

[@tap5445]

This video is something special!! I love these types of documentaries, no quick hasty editing, no fancy effects or overly busy colour correction, just the words of people, their experience being the focus!!

[@BenjaminHosking]

Thank you!!! I completely agree

[@Mozzillest]

One of the greatest profiles I've seen. Love this video, Mario and his friends are awesome

[@Mr._Knight_138]

Glad to see raza is into the hobby. 🇲🇽

[@Hellvine]

We have the Mexicrons in 40K and Lizardmen in fantasy

[@mandu6665]

I grew up in a conservative Midwestern town and always felt like I was born in the wrong part of the country. Once the childhood innocence started to fade in late elementary/middle school and I saw my surroundings for what they were, I hated everything around me and was always in search of an escape. I remember a hobby shop opened up when I was in the 6th grade and my jaw dropped when I saw all the models in the window display. It looked like nothing I had ever seen before. Despite making my own spending money since I was 11 years old, my wonderful and totally supportive parents forbade me from entering or buying anything from the shop because the rumor was they sold that devil weed out the back of the store so I missed my chance to get into Warhammer until much later with the Total War games. Then in middle school, I was drawing a barbarian in my notebook because I was obsessed with Conan and Frazetta art. Some kids I knew but wasn't friends with approached me after seeing my drawing in passing and asked if I wanted to join their DnD group. They spent the entire lunch hour teaching me the basics and helping me design a character, a Chaotic Evil Dwarf, which I thought was the coolest ever, a short stout son of a bitch. When I asked my mom to drive me over to one of the kid's houses, she said not a chance in hell, told me the kid's older brother was a "known drug dealer" and forbade me from hanging out with them. Fast forward many years later, the irony that marijuana is basically legal all over America and DnD is a mainstream hobby free from the Satanic Panic stupidity of the 80s and early 90s isn't lost on me. But, it makes me a little sad I missed out because my parents never trusted me to make the right decisions and thought I'd fuck up whenever possible. I haven't spoken to my parents in years because of this and many other things. I may have missed my chances to partake in these hobbies growing up but it warms my heart to see the friendships other people made via these hobbies and people sharing with their own children the kinds of things many of us were bullied for or forbidden from partaking in back in the day. It restores a bit of faith in humanity and reminds me the world isn't only filled with ignorant, judgmental assholes. Great video!

[@JokerFace090]

I work in human services. My clients that are nerds from the hood are some of the most intelligent, respectful, and delightful folks I've met. I've been in this industry for 10 years and am back in school for psychology. I firmly believe in the promotion of local gaming communities for a healthier society. People need enrichment and like minded socialization.

[@loonyonthebeat9516]

This is beautiful to know that I’m not the only one from the hood that fell in love with this game, warhammer “40k” been in my life since about 2004 fresh from the hood stumbling across this in art class and it’s been a love of mine ever since And I’m in Phoenix, Arizona South Phoenix to be exact “Tyranids” all day.

[@erinweatherly6539]

And talking Venture Brothers! These are my kind of dudes!

[@smiley77777]

Wow I’m happy this is inspiring, I’m nerd for fantasy as Mexican, I’m happy and can listen to these guys all day

[@angerworm]

Ben!!! What a gift from the algorithm! Glad to see you still gaming, and now bringing us some great content as well!

[@Sercotani]

whoever edited all this, put it together directed it, shot it, whatever, all of y'all, you hit it right the first time somehow and its absolutely amazing. I'm amazed!

[@greynite1]

This is awesome, Love that the Hobby reaches and hits the imaginations of people in all places. Reminds me of playing Warhammer in the SF Mission district and Hunters point in the Early 90s.

[@LordMuzhy]

I’m from LA and the thought of Warhammer being a thing in south central LA never crossed my mind 😅

[@bleedlifedry]

As a Latino and a fellow hood nerd this was awesome to see

[@tylerdouglas480]

Same here haha ghetto needs have been some of the toughest mfers I've seen cause ppl would always try and mess with us.funny he used to carry a lock on a chain I'd do the same I'd have a chain around my waist with a lock and I'd clip em together with a climbers d clip.

[@jamalmalikshabaz4087]

My wife thought I was like a cholo. Boy was she wrong (me painting space marines)

[@CurseTheCosmos]

Thank you for showcasing why nerdy hobbies are such a lifeline to marginalized people in inner cities. Sincerely, a fellow Latino hood nerd from NYC.

[@Hedgehog_Prime]

I've been playing toy soldiers for twenty years now, and even as an incredibly self-absorbed and unaware teenager at the turn of the century, I often thought about that, how hard it would be for someone interested in the same stuff as me living outside of tony suburbs, and how the environment must have been so inhospitable. I'm so glad to find out some people were able to enjoy it, against the obstacles offered by the universe.

[@kingezey5891]

Another latino hood nerd from the bronx here great to see more of us.

[@Jon-mu7tn]

Fellow Latino hood nerd from Florida ✌️

[@Error8x8]

I fully agree with you. I grew up in East Oakland listening to punk, metal and playing D&D in the 80's and it was great.

[@similaritiesendhere]

Gaming in general teaches patience and sportsmanship.

[@Thornspyre81]

Hiding weed in a Stompa'!!!! Haha love it!

[@Tartersauce101]

6:11 bruh. Warhammer AND The Venture Bros? This guy rules haha

[@billiondollarclownfarm]

lmao the weed stompa, really cool documentary, if you guys ever want to play i'm in downtown LA!

[@MarioRodriguez-ms4ci]

Next game day Saturday I’ll invite you it’s fun I’m trying to run some games in the gnaw hole soon like early April

[@billiondollarclownfarm]

@@MarioRodriguez-ms4ci hell yeah thank you

[@MarioRodriguez-ms4ci]

@@billiondollarclownfarmI think I meet you a few years back in the Glendale GW I remember those custodes orks kit bash

[@GamingGuardians]

@@MarioRodriguez-ms4ciYou're one cool dude, Skaven. This was a great video.

[@MarioRodriguez-ms4ci]

@@GamingGuardians thank you

[@Rob-nq6br]

I'm a white kid from England, I don't think I could have had a different upbringing to these guys but goddam I love how we could still chat about Warhammer, Skaven, Kharadon's whatever and hang out with a game.

[@Ztzyyy]

more different?

[@mergenocide]

It's funny as I was I had a similar case but reversed! I grew up similar to the people in the vid, but think black Chicago instead of Hispanic LA, and a few years ago I used to work blue collar before grad school and the guy I worked with moved to the US from northern England and was from a decent background. No idea how it came up but we found out that we both enjoyed Warhammer and just started chatting it up.

[@wesleystreet]

Miniatures and table-top RPGs are a great cultural and class leveler. They're popular but still niche enough that if you're into them, you can be friends with anyone, no matter your upbringing.

[@jevonp]

bro theres so many quotables in this video the blood playing commander sounded fucking hilarious 💀would love to play his sliver deck!

[@Hellvine]

Literally lol’d at that

[@frank-tk6dr]

With his Sliver deck? hell nah. no wonder no one wanted to play against him

[@TheCommunistColin]

Beautiful video man. Thank you for taking the time to document these guys' experiences. I feel so honored to be part of this hobby. I'll never meet these guys but they almost feel like brothers.

[@dandaelpanda2485]

Man, this is a beautiful documentary!!!!!!! Greetings from central europe bois!

[@kendonfahr8337]

I've been in love with Warhammer 40K since I was twelve. Videos like this are charming and inspirational. They prove that anyone of any background can find joy in the hobby. Wonderful stuff.

[@ondarkendwings]

This was wholesome af.❤ I love that Wardollies is universal. I've painted and played with minis since I was a kid ( 20 years ago). Painting and posting stuff online the past couple years has brought me out of a dark place. I met some awesome people all around the world because of this hobby :)

[@cspo]

ok this is the best youtube video I've seen all year

[@LoveLetter_01]

I grew up in LA in the 80's. My friends and I spent our summers and weekends in another buddies back yard. His parents shelled out what little $$ they had to keep us there, in sight, well fed and playing D&D. All around us, drugs and violence. This was an escape. It worked.

[@BenjaminHosking]

Love this. Thanks for sharing.

[@MoMagnets]

Instant sub. This was such an interesting and wholesome mini documentary, very well made. These guys have such a good spirit about them when they talk about the darker parts of growing up where they did. They seem to have really been able to grow up as themselves and not lose themselves to their environment. Great paintjobs and great homebrew lore. I wish I could play with these guys. Much love from the other side of the nation CT.

[@hunterofajax1963]

Mans playing Skaven? Hell yeah

[@JustForTheTunes]

The Gnawhole is so fucking rad. These dudes seem like they'd be a blast to chill with. Great doc and hope it blows up some more!

[@smoss9813]

As an old goth from the u.k I know I could have a beer and great time with those guys. Love this hobby. Lovely little documentary, great work.

[@AgoreiosWargames]

I´ve never felt so identified watching a hobby video.

[@EvgeneXI]

To see a real documentary in this day and age is so refreshing. This is the shit Vice used to do. Exploring the world and finding the little blips of joy in an otherwise joyless place. Fantastic work, mate!

[@anthonyhosking5162]

Love that this popped up in my feed. It’s so cool to see how gaming can actually be enjoyed by everybody.

[@NynesGG]

This is one of the coolest setups ive ever seen and a great way to build communities and keep kids out of trouble, these guys are awesome.

[@fkaroundhandleit]

This really hit home, glad to see people are still able to have a chill old school kind of vibe. I wish I could vibe like this now from HS, that is the dream !

[@mattgrandich3977]

I wish I could give this video more than one like. Warhammer reaches many different people, I wish I met these guys growing up to play with back in the day.

[@MacLooken9019]

So many positive messages coming from this video. Many props to these guys and representing the community of gaming. They may be in Mordor, but their fellowship still stands!

[@jasonmpeate4887]

I truly discovered Warhammer in my early 20s through the video game Space Marine and love the lore. I knew of 40k but besides it being minis amd table I really had no idea prior to Space Marine and with time I read the books, played every video game on pc from the 90s to contemporary games. And this year took up painting minis after having our child. The community is welcoming, the local shop the people are awesome. WH was a true positive in my life.

[@alexmadrigal9703]

What an absolutely wonderful doc. Literally brought a tear to my eye. Thank you.

[@keithbonilla5141]

Crazy didnt know there were more out here. Live down the street. Got my first set at the Glendale mall. Man didnt have anyone to get a game with but my brothers but they grew out of it. The lore is what i loved so i would just buy the books from then on.

[@roberthowland9902]

This is very uplifting. As a warhammer 40k player since space crusade, its great to see lasting relationships be born from the tabletop. thank you for sharing

[@nattakunt]

Would love to see a feature-length documentary, especially because I love everything they love!

[@thewizardmf175]

Sending love from the San Fernando valley!

[@everydayisfriday4885]

Comes out of nowhere but love to see that warhammer is helping people everywhere!

[@jmw1513]

I could listen to these guys talk all fucking day. Fantastic doc.

[@Humaftw]

That was a great way to spend 12 minutes and 44 seconds. Interesting subject with likeable people, and also decently shot and edited too.

[@sir_ridley3886]

Being known as "skaven" sounds pretty awesome

[@anchoritesophist347]

I am these guys. Awesome to see that there are more people that also escaped the harsh realities through nerdy stuff.

[@stuartbanana5083]

Well that was Lovely and heartwarming. Love how “nerd culture” can bring humans together. Thank you for putting this together to share with us. This was pretty freaking cool

[@Rafma89]

Haha dope! Been living in south central since 2008 I always struggle to do hobby related stuff. I always have to venture out.

[@crazychadmb]

Thank you autism, and you weed, for bringing me this work of art. Thank you for making this masterpiece

[@Motorcitynights]

I love these guys! I grew up in a similar environment. They embody the vibe of a lot of my oldest friends. Pure souls who know how to survive and keep their heads doing it ❤

[@ronnmozz]

This was amazing.

[@ColorsIn-jk6lv]

Grew up in a bad neighborhood too, found a way out by getting into fantasy and Metal. It’s unfortunate I am the last one alive from the neighborhood.

[@4nc3st0r]

Glad to have these guys as a part of our wargaming community :)

[@DucksAndDucks]

The guy in the tank top is hilarious. The condom story had me cracking up

[@genedean5761]

Great video and portrait of these gamers, it's the opposite of the small town lgs stories, and yet it's the same thing.

[@PsychoDrunx]

Hey what’s up guys great video. I too live in south central and I just recently got into Warhammer keep it going (i just saw my high school) Manual Arts lol

[@Hirokae]

That intro into roleplay is insane 😂

[@buddhajew6259]

Bro you need to make a documentary, this is top tier quality

[@warbossgrimtoof569]

This is a fantastic video man. Like seriously premium. There’s news groups out there that wish they could get interviews and stories this intimate. I’m glad the algorithm put this on my front page. So cool to see how this game transcends barriers and regions and brings people together no matter where they are Edit to say I would love to play some games with these guys if I ever end up in LA, their love for the hobby is so obvious and is kinda infectious lol

[@EP-td4gs]

This video made my day!!! We need more foos playing warhammer!!

[@Comadycoyote01]

This was a pleasant little thing to stumble on

[@dukedevlan5457]

I started in nowhere kansas its crazy how wide spread the game is

[@Japsterise]

Fun tales, reality checks, and the joy of the hobby. My good friend got me into 40k last year, I hope for us to be connecting through it like these lads into the future!

[@jessecapra2350]

I got a bit of a chuckle about the walking into game stores and everyone staying away thing. Being the guy with facial piercings and the mohawk walking into the shops here i tend to have the same thing happen.

[@nickel-bolas951]

This is a lovely little documentary. Kudos to you. Authentic stories of the small groups of friends who have made lifelong connections through hobby are great to see.

[@JettHinde]

This was so humble I related so hard to this

[@josephmahar8809]

The algorithm finally pays off, great video, hope to see more.

[@dylanpiazza6358]

This is beautiful. The creative brainchild of others, sweeping acrosd the world and giving joy to anyone and everyone interested. Wonderful.

[@tarinindell8217]

This mught be the most wholesome thing ive ever seen

[@jordansorcery]

Wonderfully told, wonderfully made. It is always a pleasure to see how these games we love bring us all together, a community of communities.

[@RedGeist]

I can tell an actual director made this. Very professional. Sincerely, The Slaves to Darkness player you keep forgetting, Martin Orlando 🙂

[@BenjaminHosking]

After really seeing your army up close and talking with you, you’re unforgettable Martin. One of my LVO highlights was chatting with you.

[@CashMoneyDollar]

Hi guys, this was a really beautiful documentary that was super relatable! I grew up in the projects in Australia, its not as crazy as your life. But warhammer was an escape for us too, just a way for us to not get involved. Really loved it, thanks guys.

[@craigbrown04]

Absolutely love this. Showing the hobby isn’t just what people believe and how it can make a really positive impact in people’s lives. More of this

[@Blaowser]

This is such a cool story. I grew in California too and its so cool seeing people into the hobby when they grow up in a rough environment.

[@Simp-Bizkit]

South Central sounded wild back in the day.

[@xxelaxela333]

Ty so much, reminded me of being a poor kid in Gamers Sanctuary in Flint MI a decade and a half ago.

[@strategogod]

Random mysterious sword wielding ops lol

[@scottovegtable]

Randomly recommended this. So glad I got to see it

[@scottovegtable]

Truly amazing and beautiful

[@MansMan42069]

Thank you algorithm for recommending this

[@d_lamplight_painter]

THIS was a beautiful docuvideo! ❤ 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 It brought back so much nostalgia in the game. These guys are the reason why I want to open a gaming store. Like them, I just want people to just enjoy their time and just play.

[@meerkatblack]

these guys are hilarious. Great storytelling

[@InvisibleYogurt]

I know Mario from my local shop in socal. He's a pretty cool dude.