I think this is the best split section in BMX so far. Something about the contrast between the two riders really makes each of them stand out even more. I mean it even starts out with Tom and Ed riding the same spot but putting their different input to it. Nothing is worse when two riders have a split section and they’re virtually identical unless it’s those twins from Arizona. Same clothing, same style. It all merges into single section where you realize people aren’t so unique after all. But this section is well it’s anything but that.
It’s a section of contrast. One dude a seasoned legend, the other an up coming one. Tech Lord. Hesh Lord. Black dude from NYC who became a tastemaker for BMX, white dude from Philly who more or less wore the same thing and did the same thing his whole career. Even the song switches from the rapper Papoose to the sample, a soul song by the Spinners. It’s a section of contrast where each conflicting element only heightens the strength of the other.
But total contrast would be weird. Like you can put Hucker with Blackman and it wouldn’t work. There has to be some type of element and overarching theme to tie them together and in this case it’s East Coast street riding. It’s just that each rider is a different branch of the same tree. I want to say Navaz started the section with Tom and Ed riding the same long gone LA ledge spot purposefully to tie them in together from the get go. But even before then where Ed and Tom are sparring with one another it’s like Yin and Yang. Almost literally. To opposing forces and ideals conflicting with one another in a violent way. It’s almost all poetic but I like it. Whether it was something Navaz thought oh that’s interesting and put it in or purposeful who knows but it works.
Like back to Hucker and Blackman comparison. If Hucker is in California somewhere riding trails and Blackman in NYC. It would feel like two section forced to be with one another. Road Fools made use of this kind of underlying sense. You get a wide range of riders and put them in the same spot and see what they can do. It’s what gives it soul which is something Road Fools had more of than just Props Issues. Cause you know Blackman and Ed in this split section literally together. It’d be less of a split section and more of a section with different riders if there wasn’t that a tying aspect.
Even though the contrasting elements is what makes this section memorable, it’s the moments they share that make it memorable. Barcelona, being a big one. When the different elements come into one. That’s when the section gets real fun. Like I said in the beginning it starts with them at the same place but then it slowly drifts off but the union of the two riders solidifying them into a single unit for this section is when they share spots again. When they session the red benches in Barcelona back to back. The long hubba also in Barcelona also back to back. Even when Tom does an ice and Edwin comes back with a different ice. All those clips were placed next to each other for a reason most definitely.
Stuff like that is what gives a video form a certain rhythm. Which is something more harder to elaborate on but even someone like Stanley Kubrick said video form should be more akin to music than to literature. It goes back to the whole rhythm and pacing. It’s not something that is necessarily given much thought in BMX but something intuitively understood by a lot of the best editors. Like putting the best clips in the end and in the beginning is the most blatant example I can think of. There is a certain flow that has to be upheld and it shouldn’t be disrupted. There is a good level of back and forth between Tom clips and Ed’s clips that give it a nice flow instead of it just literally going from Tom to Ed and Ed to Tom. The reason I think that’s extra important for a split section like this is to let them both have time to individually shine for us digest each of their style individually.
In the beginning the rhythm is back and forth literally. Tom goes the Ed goes. The tricks are given the same level of length in time. Oner for oner and they’re given equal importance. No one rider really stands. The edit gives the same treatment to both riders This starts when you get the b-roll clip of Tom near the beginning eyeing up the flat handrail with the stairs on both ends and ends when Ed takes the lead with the line at the pool in NYC somewhere. Then Ed doubles up on the line with another line. This ends with Tom coming in after and doing what he does which isn’t lines but going big. This continues for a few clips until it gets to the benches. But with the benches Ed’s clip comes first but then Tom comes afterwards but Ed finishes it up. Transitioning back to Ed. Then Ed does what Tom does earlier and fill the clips with his style for a bit. This ends when Ed does the rail hop and the songs transitions back to Papoose. There is a back to back with Tom and Ed like in the beginning til the skinny hubba in Barcelona happens and they both put their 2cents on it. I know that was a lot but the point is that each clip has a reason for why it is in the timeline. It’s most definitely purposeful. There are smooth subtle transitions between riders where it makes everything more fluid and rhythmic. It’s not simply putting the 2nd best clips in the beginning, the worst in the middle with the lines and the best in the last.
The whole point I think I wanted to make with this is that, to me this section is even that much better cause Navaz gave it that type of treatment. There is a reason the filmer/editors we remember the best are remembered. It’s not simply filming and editing nicely cause theres plenty of people who use gimbals and skateboards and can do all that. It’s the people who give it that extra thought and push the progression of this whole aspect of BMX that end up creating the best work. Like Bob’s filming is the Animals videos aren’t clean but there is a subtle underlying way that he put it all together that Bob mastered that makes it what it is. Like in Cuts, every single has designated placement. Jersey riders with Jersey riders, NYC with NYC, and Philly with Philly. Watch it for the line up and it’s absolutely true. There are plenty of people who can put together something but theres very few people who can put together something and make it much more than just bike riding. This section is just that. Sure a lot of people will look at this section or Cuts and never dissect it to that level but good work isn’t explicitly stated, it’s subtly and subconsciously just understood. I think the most common comment I’ve gotten writing here is that I state something they people understood but just couldn’t put into words. The only reason I can, is cause I’d say I have a bit more art learning background including critique than most riders. This is the work of a master.
I wanna see Navaz work on something that excited him and pushes him. Animal House was good, I was worried he’s gonna cop out and do the drone intro / amazing but not soul pressing editing he did with his last few edits cause c’mon that’s so formulaic and not what’s he’s truly capable. He did make Cult - Talk is Cheap though which I include in my top 5 full lengths.
Edwin Delarosa & Tom White
You Made Your Choice by Papoose
Fit - Fitlife (2006)
Edited by Navaz
