“Visões Notirnas” and the Process of Filming at Night
An interview with Gonçalo Silva
Photos by Adrian Matei and Gustavo Buga.
Visões Noturnas is a project about creating, making mistakes, insisting and leaving a mark on what only happens when the city sleeps. Everything was recorded after the sun goes down, in the most unexpected spots and with that light that gives it a special mystique. Skating at night is a different thing – fewer people, more silence, but also more pressure and challenges. Each trick is more sweaty, each fall more felt. This video is pure underground skateboarding: no filters, no schedules and with a crew that gave everything to make each trick a unique scene. Night Visions is about exploring the streets in a different way, where the dark is not a limit, but rather an inspiration.
What inspired you to create Visões Noturnas?
To create this project, I was inspired by my friends, our experiences, our nights out and, mainly, our skateboarding! When you believe in your idea and, fortunately, you have everyone giving you the necessary support to make it happen, the probability of success, I would say, is 99.9%.
Premiere day – Grémio. Cultural center.
Why did you choose to record exclusively at night?
I chose to record exclusively at night because I thought it was a challenging and unusual concept! I think that nowadays, creating something from scratch is practically impossible, however, I think this project showed that there are no limits and that impossible things happen…
Premiere day – Nose manual – Pedro Matos
What was the biggest challenge of recording maneuvers in nighttime environments?
There were several challenges, several stresses and several unforeseen events… however, I think that the fatigue of the team and myself was something very difficult to combat and deal with. We all had the responsibility of going to record at night… however, other commitments that each of us had during the day meant that, sometimes, fatigue set in at the time and sometimes things didn’t go so well.
How would you describe the energy of skating at night compared to during the day?
In my honest opinion, recording during the day and recording at night are completely different worlds! The feelings provoked by recording at night are very different… if you get home with the maneuver done and with a brutal footage… as soon as you close your eyes in bed, your happiness is greater than any other negative feeling you could have during the session or even during the day.
Premiere day – Gonçalo Silva giving the rules of the game.
How did you choose the locations to film?
When I choose a spot to film, I always think about choosing a place that has the potential for people to do tricks. On the other hand, one of the things that makes me happiest is being able to choose a spot that everyone likes and that everyone can have fun in, above all! Not everyone always likes the same spot because everyone has their own style of skateboarding… it’s natural… if you prefer a gap and I prefer a rail, if we go to the gap, I won’t feel as comfortable and I probably won’t even be able to skate the spot… this happens very often. If this happens, I won’t leave, of course, I’ll have fun and above all, I’ll motivate you. I think that’s the most important thing!
Premiere Day – Grémio. Cultural center.
Was there a location that was especially difficult to film in?
All the spots are different and difficult in their own way… some are more dangerous, others are not what we wanted… it’s all relative…If I had to choose just one spot, I would probably say the curved curb going down from Almada… we went there 3 times… it’s a very stylish curb to skate, but the possibility of there being a kick-out is huge… it’s at the entrance to a café… under people’s houses… a lot of people who pass by there complain… it’s not easy… on the other hand, if it were easy it wouldn’t be so much fun!
What kind of equipment did you use to record at night?
For this project to be possible, I used some necessary and essential equipment. In terms of recording, I used and still use a Sony Alpha 7SIII and a Sony Alpha 7! This Sony A7 belongs to Pina, and it was very important, because the possibility of mixing in the editing process with 2-camera shots is much greater at the moment! In terms of lenses, I used an 8mm Fisheye to be able to meet the skater, that is, to be as close as possible in an attempt to create an emotion in the viewer! I also used a 28-75 to be able to create a dynamic zoom in and zoom out shots and, last but not least, a Neewer lighting kit, to be able to have the best night vision for the spots!
Premiere day – Bs crooked – Gustavo Buga
Have you ever needed to improvise lighting or adapt to unexpected conditions?
In all the recordings for this project, our ability to adapt had to be always present! In terms of lighting, I think the equipment I have is the right one to be able to have good shots and also for the crew to be able to feel comfortable in terms of vision towards the spot.
Have you noticed any difference in people’s skating at night?
Your motivation when you start something new is different, you always have a huge boost to make things work out! And this was noticeable in many of the sessions, especially those that were outside our area, when we went to Porto or the Algarve, for example! If a tour is already great in itself, when you go on tour specifically to film at night… the motivation is different! You don’t spend as many hours filming, the kick-out is more likely, among other factors… on the other hand, the desire and adrenaline to pull off the stunt is much greater than all of that combined!
Premiere day – Fakie halfcab heelflip – Ruben Carlos
What was the most difficult maneuver anyone made in this process?
Honestly, I don’t know if I can answer that… we had several battles in which each touch was difficult in its own way… there were more technical touches but the spot didn’t demand much in terms of mentality… however, there were others in which, if our head and our mentality weren’t there at certain crucial moments, it could have gone wrong.
Premiere day – Kickflip over the trunk – Ricardo Ferreira
Were there any memorable moments during the sessions?
I think that every moment, every trip to record, is somehow memorable… I was at the premiere watching the video and I remembered every touch as if it were yesterday… it’s incredible.But yes, there were two memorable moments… unfortunately one, for bad reasons, and the other, in my opinion, a moment that conveys all the emotions that skateboarding brings. When you’re filming, the person lands the trick, you stop filming and tears come to your eyes from so much happiness and a sense of achievement… I don’t think there’s any money that can buy that, this moment was when Nuno, Puki G, lands the switch bs boardslide on the curb of Monte da Caparica! It’s very long and it wasn’t a spot he was, in any way, used to skating… and I think that was, perhaps, the biggest reason for all the emotion! And that’s what skateboarding is, being able to make you face your fears and get out of your comfort zone!
What is the message or feeling you want people to take away from Visões Noturnas?
No matter how many negative thoughts go through your head, if all the motivation, dedication and determination are there, everything will work out! Get out of your comfort zone and try to value skateboarding as it is! Live these moments, land tricks, fall… but get up the next moment… go home without clips and arrive the next day with twice as many… skateboarding is all this and much more! Skateboarding is life!
Is there a segment or part of the video that you are particularly proud of?
Yes, at the end of the film! It may seem strange but it isn’t. I feel happy, proud and above all, fulfilled by everything that was done! The last second of the film represents, for me, the achievement of yet another goal, yet another milestone in my history and that of all those who were with me!
Premiere day – Flip crooked – Pedro Castanheira
Looking back, what would you change about the project or process?
Honestly, even this episode was a huge milestone in this film… the capacity for resilience and overcoming that I had to have after this whole nightmare was enormous… above all, it was a lesson that I took with me for the rest of my life! A special thanks to everyone who was with me during this less good phase of my life, it’s not only in the good times that people should be there for each other!!
Do you have any plans for a sequel or something similar in the future?
There will always be a sequel, the process of filming at night is quite fun and different from the norm, as I have already explained before… I would say no to something similar, because I think I managed to achieve this goal in a very positive way… the plan now is to try to innovate and think of something new, as was done in this project. On the other hand, I want to have fun and have fun with my family, doing what we love most… SKATEBOARDING! If fun and motivation are present to be able to create more and better, it is halfway to achieving success!
I would like to say a word of thanks to GoodDay for this opportunity and for supporting the projects that are emerging in the world of skateboarding!
Thank you very much!
