Finally the announcment has been made.  Probably the most relevant Streetboard contest of last year is back, and with a different venue.  We caught up with Colin Horan to chat about the essence of Reel Life.   Forget the colours in the mix, I spilt red wine over half of it.

Ok -  For the under achievers and ill-informed what’s the concept behind Reel Life?

Reel life is pretty simple, you and your crew get 24 hours to film and edit a 2 minute streetboard film. Each team starts and ends in the same location but other then that there are no rules as to where you go or what you do.

What was the motivation for you to start the series in the first place?

A couple of years ago I was living in Morzine in the French alps for the winter, one of the local bars setup a  contest to create a ski or snowboard video in 7 days, me and some friends entered and we ended up winning, it was one of the funnest times I’ve ever had. When I got back to the UK I really wanted to do something similar with streetboarding so I started Reel Life.  I’ve always loved filming and making videos and I feel this kind of contest allows for much more creativity than a stardard skatepark event.

I know in the beginning you toyed with the idea of it being a 2 day event, you happy with it now being a straight 24 hours?

Yeah, in the beginning I was worried about the whole logistics of trying to fit everything in within such a short space of time, because its not just the skating and filming you have to worry about, but also the editing, which can often take up most of your time.  But I’m glad we went with 24 hours, its definetly not easy but it’s more exciting.  Everyone who entered last year got all their videos in on time, and they all got a lot of footage from so many different spots.

Any change in format for this year’s contest ?

It’s gonna be pretty much the same, last years contest was a huge success so I didn’t feel the need to change anything.

So Paris this year, any particular reasons?

My plan has always been to change the location of the event each year, this way it keeps things fresh and after all, and after all, the whole point is trying to find new spots and making use of what you find along the way so its good to have somewhere new each time. The reason I chose Paris was that it’s a great city full of spots and also its relelitivly untouched in the streetboard scene so it should make for an interesting event this year.  Also, Theo who filmed and edited for the Anti-Ductil crew last year really enjoyed the event and wanted to help out this year, so it kind of made sense to do something in France.

Last year you got a pretty good prize fund together.  How’s it looking for this year’s event?  Now the Euro is getting weaker are you gonna advertise the fund in Euro’s so it sounds like you get more wedge?

Haha, I think having a good prize fund is important.  I know its not all about the money but these riders push themselves so hard any these events and its about time they got some reward for it.  On top of that, it’s important to have a flow of money within the scene to help it grow.  This year we already have some of the big names in the scene putting money in and supporting it such as Highland, Dimension and Red Pen, so there should be a good sized prize purse again.

Who’s confirmed for this year’s event?

Well as usual DAYONE will have a team, I know True Skool are gonna be there for sure, and Flipside too.  Kai is keen to get Addicted there and also last years winners ‘Anti-Ductil’ will be returning.  It’s early days yet cos we only just announced the dates but I’m hoping some of the other crews will get involved.  Drop-Inn, Ositos, Neo-Brain, Dimension, Pivoting Souls etc and anyone else who wants to get a crew together.

What, for you personally, a good entry?

For me, it’s about the whole package.  The tricks make up a good part of it, but its also about the style, the filming, the editing, the creativity and the overall feeling you get from watching the video.  That’s what makes this different from other contests where its all about who does the most flips, and the biggest spins.

Any tips for a crew entering this year for the first time?

Yeah, make sure you get a good nights sleep before the contest and drink a strong coffee in the morning.  A spare camera battery is also pretty useful, as is a spare bar or any other board parts you might break easily.  Although its good to have a general idea of how you want your video to be, keep an open mind because you cant really plan how your day is gonna turn out.  Also leave a good amount of time for the editing. We had a couple of crews enter last year who has never made videos before, so its important to check your equipment before you start, make sure you know how your editing software works with your camera etc.

Finally….on to the good stuff, what everyone wants to know - the after party.  What’s happening? Who’s spinning? How late we reppin’ and are French girls down?

The after party plans are still ongoing, but as soon as its all confirmed we’ll let everyone know.  Last year was fun, there was a good turnout and it’s cool getting to see everyone’s interpretations of the last 24 hours put into a 2 minute film.

You got ten words to sell Reel Life to those considering it….GO!

From REAL to REEL in 24 hours, Reel Life 2010

Splafe…. anything else you wanna say ?

Thanks to everyone who helped make last years event so successful, without that support there wouldn’t be another Reel Life this year.  I hope to see you all there this time around.