Life hasn’t slowed down for the creators of Villa Villa Cola’s “Getting Nowhere Faster.” But during 15 years since the it’s release, the world of non-trad skateboarding has progressed at lighting speed. Recognized far and wide as a cult classic, the video is regularly referenced by the world’s best as the inspiration behind their original choice to start skating. Now parents, professionals, prolific artists and business owners, we tracked down members of the OG crew and asked for some reflections on the project, all these years later. ◆
TIFFANY CAMPBELL
I liked the idea of filming skating at a miniature golf course and Lori D had the idea to call it “Tiffanyland” because it was my dream. This is pretty much how every idea came about for the skits. Someone would say, “How about a life size cupcake and gingerbread man” (Lori & Faye) or the Dance Dance Revolution video game and synchronized dancing (Van Nguyen).
I still marvel that we went so far as to drill our own 15’ “Tiffanyland” sign on top of the park’s sign. No one stopped us!
A Canadian parade (the Canadians?) An arial shot from a tiny sketchy plane and motorcycle stunts (Nicole Young) a random cowboy with a life size Barbie doll girlfriend (our random cowboy neighbor, Eric Markegard, who had just been featured in Neil Young’s movie “Greendale” and was eager to be in something else (anything, clearly). The talking Barbie was unanimous; she had been featured in our other film projects and was a VVC mascot of sorts.
I took all these disparate plot lines, locations, ideas and what have you, and wove them into a story (if you can call it that, ha!)
These were different times, and we had the audacity to go around to mini golf courses in San Diego and ask if we could film a skate movie at their facilities. The mind blowing thing is that we had several options, no permits, no waivers, just “have at it”. We chose two of the mini golf courses with the majority of the movie being filmed at Boomers.
We started filming New Years Day 2004. Everyone and their mother plays mini golf on that holiday. We were filming scenes between people putting at the holes, begging them to wait so we could get our shots.
Because it was a holiday, I think the management wasn’t there. Only a skeleton crew of workers who were, for some reason, on our side. So when people complained, they were told where they could shove their clubs! Not really, but we were given priority in a very direct way. Clearly a movie with a talking doll and a gingerbread man was more important than a mini golf game, luckily they understood that.
I still marvel that we went so far as to drill our own 15 foot “Tiffanyland” sign on top of the park’s sign. No one stopped us!
Meanwhile Lisa Whitaker and the skaters were doing the real work of making a skate movie.
There were not many girl skaters at this time. I think practically every girl that skated in 2003-2005 is in GNF or was somehow involved in the making of it. It was a pivotal time before social media. VVC and GNF were the way we connected to each other in a world of virtually zero representation and hardly any means to find each other. Epic, fun times with just the weirdest group of friends making the magic. Thankful to have been a part of it and to everyone who made it possible.◆
