Rob Munday

Ever since I was young, skate films played a major role in shaping my viewing habits and even to this day, I’m a real sucker for any movies that orbit around someone cruising the streets on their board. Jackson Kroopf’s You Know Where is a prime example of this. Following young skater Isaiah as he effortlessly coasts around town, shooting the sh*t with those that cross his path, this nine-minute short looks to induce a meditative state and ask its audience to consider where they find calm.

A film in which all the actors are playing a version of theirselves, You Know Where is an unusual piece, which I’m reluctant to label ‘experimental’ despite its unconventional approach. Motivated by a wide range of inspirations – from the South Dakota landscape to the idea that physical excursion can create an eerie sense of clarity – narratively Kroopf’s short adopts an almost documentary approach to proceedings to create a very genuine and accessible portrayal of a young man creating his own state of Nirvana.

Playing the role of director and editor himself, while Rachel Clark took on DP duties, You Know Where is a film with a structure very much dictated by its lead’s desire to keep moving and be on his board. Shot with the same camera, lens and mic used to make American Honey, the short was shot over one day, with all dialogue improvised and then edited over the course of a year and a half.

Now working on creating a feature version of his short BobbyAnna and a feature documentary titled Screen Effects, Jackson also has two new experimental documentary shorts in post and another short doc called Motion Portraits currently being submitted to festivals.