The Vintagent Selects: A collection of our favorite films by artists around the world.

FROM VERT LEGEND TO CHOPPERICON: MAX SCHAAF – LET IT KILL YOU (2024)

Run Time: 36:24
Producer: VICE
Director: Ben McQueen
Editor: Jason Georgiades
Key Cast: Max Schaaf, Ramona Downey, Tommy Guerrer

FILM MAKERS

Let It Kill You is a docuseries by skateboarder and tattoo artist Ben McQueen. The series originated as a book that was released Ben McQueen under the same name, that explored the intersection between skateboarding and tattooing. The book featured interviews from an all-star line-up that included the likes of Jamie Thomas, Tyler Bledsoe, Eric Dressen, and Andrew Allen, among many more. After releasing the book Ben decided to open the scope of the project, turning to watchable thirty-minute episodes that go beyond tattooing and into the intersection between skateboarding and art. Each episode is a deep dive into the careers and contributions to skateboarding of an individual artist and features some of skateboarding’s best artists and creatives.

SUMMARY

Max Schaaf has been a household name in professional skateboarding for over 30 years. He honed his craft of vert skating in isolation on a vert ramp inside a warehouse rented by his mother, Ramona, in Oakland, CA. Max quickly became a formidable force in the skateboarding world and played a crucial role in the inception of Real Skateboards, a powerhouse company founded by Tommy Guerrero of the Bones Brigade and Jim Thiebaud.

With a remarkable career spanning over 20 years, Max eventually developed a deep interest in chopper motorcycles. Applying the same intensity to motorcycle building, he soon made a name for himself in the chopper scene, crafting one impressive bike after another.

Max is a true talent who would likely excel in any field he chose, but he has dedicated himself to being both a lifelong skateboarder and motorcycle builder. Join us in this episode as we explore his journey from skateboarding to the inception of 4Q Conditioning in Oakland, where he’s covered in grease and dog hair, working at his own pace to create beautiful, world-renowned choppers.

RELATED MEDIA

IG: Ben McQueen
IG: Max Schaaf, 4Q

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