A main figure in the media dissemination of skateboarding and skater culture, ex-Vice and ex-Trasher staff member Patrick O’Dell is the creator of seminal skate blog Epicly Later’d, back in like day one of the internet. The blog eventually turned into a hugely influential show on Vice in the mid ‘00s. Comprised of mini documentaries of minor skaters before they went major, the show is widely recognized as they key innovator in skate filmmaking, going on to influence a generation of internet-savy filmmakers on wheels. O’Dell is in Shanghai speaking at Saturday’s PUSHFEST 2016, Asia’s first skateboarding film festival, at Central Studios.

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SmSh: How did you get into skateboarding? Which generation of skaters were you a part of and or feel a connection to?

Patrick O’Dell: I first got a board because of the movie Back to the Future. I had a Nash and then a Variflex from the toy store. My first real board was bought from a bike shop in Hong Kong. It’s a long story but I lived there for 2 years. I guess I identify with early ’90’s skateboarding the most.

SmSh: What’s different about skating and skating culture today compared to when you grew up?

Patrick O’Dell: Now it is more diverse and also more mainstream. When I started skating there was a specific way of skating and dressing that was very unique to skateboarding. It was more of a subculture then that didn’t mix as well with other subcultures.

SmSh: For people in China, can you introduce Epicly Later’d? What is it about the format that attracted you to doing blogs?

Patrick O’Dell: Back when I started my blog there weren’t a lot of other blogs, at least not in skateboarding. The word ‘blog’ wasn’t even widely used. I just liked trying to tell stories. Now the blog collects dust, I don’t update anymore. Epicly Later’d has become an internet-based skateboard documentary show.

SmSh: What are your influences as a documentary maker? Do you have a style for how you approach the craft? Whose work out there today do you think rates, both in the skating world and not?

Patrick O’Dell: I was most influenced by Louis Theroux, DA Pennebaker, and Werner Herzog, though my work is nowhere near as good as there’s. But they were the documentary makers that rattled around in my head. Now there are so many documentary makers I don’t know where to start … I like Alex Gibney’s Going Clear.

SmSh: Who’s shittier to work for, Vice or Thrasher?

Patrick O’Dell: Vice, by far. But both gave me a lot of opportunity and I am very thankful for both Thrasher and Vice for changing my life.

SmSh: Do you have a favorite episode? Do you have recommendations for episodes to check out for people looking for in-roads to the show?

Patrick O’Dell: I would say the Ali Boulala episode is my favorite. Then Maybe Cardiel and Eric Dressen. Chinese skaters might like the Jerry Hsu episode because he briefly speaks Mandarin in it.

SmSh: What are you working on these days?

Patrick O’Dell: I have a documentary that's coming out soon, about Big Brother magazine and how it became Jackass. I made it with Sean Cliver and Jeff Tremaine for Hulu. Then hopefully we will make more Epicly Later’d episodes. *** Patrick O'Dell is at PUSHFEST 2016 this Saturday evening at Central Studios. There's no entry fee. Runs 5pm to 10pm, with screenings, talks, and skate demos.