Skate Thursday: "Shanghai 5" by Charles Lanceplaine

A while back I was just cruising the net looking at various skate videos and I came across a full length documentary about the skate scene in Shanghai. I expected the video to be just straight action, but it turned out to be much more than that! It's a full on film that presents the voices of the skaters from Shanghai as well as those who from abroad who live there. Please enjoy today's feature film by Charles Lanceplaine, "Shanghai-5." For more insight of the film, check his interview is below.


Shanghai 5 from Charles Lanceplaine on Vimeo.


DTV: How did you decide to make a documentary about skateboarding in Shanghai?

CHARLES: Well after living in Shanghai for a bit, I felt that the scene was underexposed, the only footage we would see in the west would be in American or European videos. When I moved there I got really surprised by the amount of spots and the level of skating and I felt it was a shame that nobody was really documenting what was happening at the time.

DTV: Where are you from and why did you decide to move to Shanghai?

CHARLES: I’m from Brittany, France. I decided to move to Shanghai after studying in the US in Missouri, when I got back home I felt that there wasn’t much to do back in my hometown. I always heard a lot of good things about Shanghai so I decided to get out there and see what was happening. I was only supposed to stay for 6 months but ended being almost 5 years now.

DTV: Have you made any other skate films in the past?

Charles: Actually no. I just filmed a bit for local videos and did some clips for Vans, but Shanghai 5 was really my first skate video, I actually bought my first camera 2 years ago, so this documentary in a way was just me trying to figure out how to make a skate video/documentary and somehow it turned out alright. Even though I grew up skateboarding, I’ve never really been exposed to the whole filming thing back in France, it really struck me when I got in Shanghai.

DTV: Have you entered the film in any festivals? Where has it been shown?

CHARLES: The film has been shown at a couple of festivals in Europe, in Spain and UK. It has been mostly going around the web, with this project I wanted to show the scene and a positive side of China and Shanghai, I never really intended to show it everywhere or win awards with it.

DTV: As far as film making is concerned, do you look up to anyone in particular?

CHARLES: As far as film making I get really inspired by all those music video directors from the 90’s like Spike Jonze, Jonathan Glazer or Gondry. I really like Jonze and Gondry’s quirkiness and sort of childish vision on things and Glazer for the color tones he always uses and the heavy atmosphere. Other than those guys I’m really into the Daniels ( the directors who did the dogboarding video) I love how they combine sfx and humor.

DTV: What's your all time favorite skate video?

CHARLES: If there had to be one it would the Fully Flared, it’s the first video that was using HD and it blew my mind when it first came out, it’s what got me to buy a camera and start filming.

DTV: Have you skated in other cities in China besides Shanghai?

CHARLES: Yes I have been around a lot of different cities in China, I have been to Shenzhen a lot and Beijing as well, during the Thrasher King of the road China we had to travel through small cities and we found amazing spots, China is full of gems. No matter where you go you will always find a marble ledge or a plaza.

DTV: Do you have any future film making goals?

CHARLES: Well I’m currently working on a acoustic music video website called Dabaoge (Dabaoge.net) so I’m trying to push it and film more videos, as for future goals I would love to make a proper music video and do more commercials.

Check out more Films on Charles Lanceplaine's Diversion TV channel!