After years of delivering seemingly easy bike stunts, it’s straightforward to take Danny MacAskill’s expertise with no consideration.
His capacity to persistently make jaw-dropping movies has change into an accepted a part of trendy tradition, like Stephen Spielberg filming one other blockbuster or LeBron James sinking one other three-pointer.
The grace and creativity of MacAskill had been on full show when he dropped his “Postcard From San Francisco” vid final month, which has predictably racked up over one million views in lower than 10 days.
Like most of his vids, it’s concerning the size of a single music and sees him, amongst different issues, driving the highest of a tennis web (due to course he can do this).
However what really goes into crafting one in all these pearlescent Danny MacAskill movies? Nicely, within the case of San Francisco — greater than we ever imagined.
The tireless biking star has launched a seven-episode collection detailing the behind-the-scenes work of simply that one video. Every of the episodes is not less than 10 minutes lengthy, cumulatively amounting to a feature-length documentary concerning the making of a five-minute edit.
The teachings gleaned from these movies may probably be utilized to any of MacAskill’s work: the numerous hours spent scouting places, the therapeutic from accidents, and the required rehearsal of the identical stunt time and again — typically for follow and typically for the cameraman.
The teachings gleaned from these movies may probably be utilized to any of MacAskill’s work: the numerous hours spent scouting places, the therapeutic from accidents, and the required rehearsal of the identical stunt time and again — typically for follow and typically for the cameraman.
But the San Francisco vid clearly resonated deeply with each MacAskill, who has an extended private historical past with the city, and with viewers.
“Instantly, remark sections had been stuffed with positivity and stoke and all viewers agreed: Danny had created one thing entertaining, inventive, and galvanizing — this movie introduced an amazing vibe that rippled nicely past the mountain bike neighborhood,” a information launch mentioned.
“In ‘Postcard from San Francisco,’ we see Danny blowing minds with unbelievably easy and well-executed avenue trials driving,” the discharge continued. “The one or two falls within the edit appear to be there simply to make Danny appear human.”
However evidently, MacAskill is extra human than his expertise suggests. In fact, the San Francisco edit was something however straightforward. To show it, he and his devoted workforce have launched this collection, which they’re calling “Again of the Postcard.”
The collection is supposed to “present us the unimaginable quantity of labor, crashes, blood, sweat and tears put into this challenge which took over 5 years to make,” the information launch mentioned.
This deeply private documentary supplies new perception into the challenges confronted by MacAskill and firm. They really tried to shoot this edit again in 2017, but all of it disintegrate when MacAskill fractured a kneecap whereas stunting in Alcatraz.
These fascinating “postcards” present how Danny approaches these tips, how he faces his self-doubts, and the way he repeatedly shatters the boundaries of what’s doable on two wheels.
As a location, San Fransisco introduced distinctive challenges, like battling in opposition to the clock, as many setpieces got here with time-limited permits.
These “Again of the Postcard” docs additionally introduce us to the technical workforce, which spends large quantities of time in manufacturing — each pre and submit — to carry all the things collectively in a neat bundle.
That features Movie Director Robbie Meade (Peny Movies), Producer Todd Barber (Hi5 Occasions), Photographer Dave Mackison, Stunt Coordinator Duncan Shaw and Safety Guard Preston.
That safety guard delivers one of many spotlight moments of the collection. In the beginning of Episode 6, a workforce member asks him to explain MacAskill.
“Half-crazy and half like a Zen Buddhist,” Preston says. “So like he’s half like a loopy man and half Buddhist — they mix nicely.”
Nonetheless can’t get sufficient Danny MacAskill? We perceive. We’ve had the identical illness for years. To binge all of this famous person’s suave and awe-inspiring vids, try his YouTube channel.
