Behind the lens: Jenna Selby

What inspired you to make Days Like These?
In 2009 I made my first full length skate film called “As If and What?” and had always thought I’d make another. I started on a project called “Scratch the Surface” in 2011, which was to be a worldwide edit but unfortunately all of my equipment got stolen at the first stop in Ecuador. I ummed and arred for a while about making another film, then in 2015 there seemed to be loads of new female riders coming through in the UK and it just seemed like the right time to do another.

What was the filming process like? How long did you work on it and what was the most challenging part?
I’m not going to lie, it is a hard/fun slog!! I set myself a deadline of a year, decided on who to ask to be part of it and then started organising meet ups with people. I spoke to the riders involved and said that I’d be looking for most of the footage to be shot in the street. I also mentioned that I was really keen to focus on their individual styles and try and steer clear, where possible, from the very standard tricks. Unfortunately for Camilla, she broke her hip on one of our early filming missions coming out of a tailslide awkwardly and we had to use previous footage which is why she ended up having a bit more park than the others. Then we broke Sabine Haller (her coccyx) on the first day of filming over in Ireland… so it wasn’t a good start! We actually used that bit of footage at the start of the video though—but I can’t watch it anymore. I think the only really challenging thing was when I arranged to meet up with one of the girls (generally it involved travelling a fair distance/time and cost) and then they’d turn around and say ‘I’m not feeling it today’ which did prove a bit frustrating. But all in all I enjoyed doing it.

Do you have any advice for girls thinking about producing a skate video?
When I started out filming I had no idea what I was doing. I’d watched a lot of skate films and took more note of the bits that I liked from each. I guess in a way that was my research. I love music, I love seeing and being able to capture people landing tricks and that’s the feeling and energy I wanted to put into my work. The one thing that has really stuck with me throughout making the films was an article I read in Kingpin years ago which said ‘filming skateboarding has no rules’. This is the thing you should remember when making a film—you are creating for you, not someone else.

Which do you prefer, filming or shooting still photos?
Photography has always been my first love, filming just kind of happened through it.

You shoot skateboarding in a very classic style. What inspires your skate photography?
I don’t really think I’ve focused on a style as such, I just shoot in the way I see skateboarding. It’s a bit like how you as a skater, envisage a trick on an obstacle. As soon as you see something skateable you start thinking what trick do I want to do on that, where would I start the trick, come out, the landing etc—it works in the same way for me when I take a photograph. The only way I can put it is that I just get a feeling of what I know is right (for me) and the outcome I want.

What are your thoughts about skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport?
Ha, hmm, well I guess I am not too keen on the idea but I always contradict myself when someone asks me this question! My idea of a comp is a bunch a skaters all shouting/cheering at whoever is on the course and going absolutely nuts when they land a trick you can see they really wanted. Watching some of the higher profile comps, this atmosphere seems to have been lost and it’s almost verging on being sterile. Personally I find it strange to ‘train’ for skateboarding. However, that said, I do have friends who have the chance to compete, fulfilling their dreams at the Olympics in 2020, so from their point of view I can see that it can be a positive thing.

Interview: Sarah Huston
Photos: Jenna Selby