Mark Eaton Interview

glideonk2

• November 12 2004
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In the late 80s/early 90s, the Plywood Hoods from York, PA, pushed flatland and riding in general into fast-forward mode, and they documented a lot of their antics in the legendary Dorkin’ in York video series. Mark Eaton recently released a DVD box set containing all of the videos, so we asked him a few questions about that project, and about his long-awaited BMX documentary, Joe Kid on a Stingray. For more info check out www.plywoodhoods.com

How long did it take you to get the Dorkin’ box set together?
The Dorkin’ DVD Box Set came to mind when I got the first Lord Of The Rings special four-disc DVD set. I was really impressed with the whole package and thought, “What a cool way to have a collector’s set like this.” It was then when I started getting inspired to do a full redo of the Dorkin’ series and remaster it to DVD.

Did you actually reedit all of the footage? And are you crazy?
Yes, I have to say that the only way that I was going to be satisfied with the DVD was if the videos were re-mastered to their best quality. Not all the original footage existed so in some cases I had to go off of the second generation edit tapes, but it was still cleaner than the VHS masters.

Since you released Dorkin’ 10 not too long ago, what made you decide to tackle this project?
The main reason to release this DVD set was to put an official and proper closing to the Dorkin’ series. There aren’t many people out there who physically own all of the Dorkin’ videos on VHS. I wanted to create this DVD set so that people could have the whole series in one set and proudly display it amongst their DVD collection.

How much is the set, and how can riders get a copy?
The set retails for $75 and you can get a copy at your favorite mail-order shop or buy it direct from www.plywoodhoods.com.For anyone who has ever owned a Dorkin’ video, this DVD box set is a must-have.

What kind of special features do you have on the discs?
All ten videos have an additional commentary track throughout the whole video that explains a lot of behind-the scenes stuff on the video, and there is a 20-minute bonus York Jam video, which includes footage from the first York Jam in 1990 all the way to 2003.

What’s the status of Joe Kid on a Stingray? A release anytime soon?
Joe Kid on a Stingray is finished and has been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. If Sundance selects the film, we will premiere it there in late January. We will then plan a full-on BMX industry premiere in Los Angeles sometime in February. The film should be released in the spring of 2005.

What do you do for a living these days?
I produce videos, commercials, and music videos full time, and freelance as a shooter, editor, and motion graphics artist whenever I can. The past year has been consumed with the Dorkin’ DVD set and Joe Kid on a Stingray. I’m also busy being a husband and a father to a little girl who is now 2-1/2 years old.

With a career and a family, do you still try to keep up on BMX?
I try keep up with the BMX scene and I usually try to ride an hour offlatland every day as a form of physical and mental exercise.

Do you still keep in touch with all of the Plywood Hoods?
Whenever I visit York, which is often, I’ll try to ride with Kevin Jones and the current York, PA, flatland crew. As far as The Plywood Hoods go, I am still in touch with everyone, but we’ve all sort of gone on our own separate ways. At this yeaar’s York Jam we all got together that night and ate pizza at this place that the Cardboard Lords used to go after breakdance practice on Saturdays-it was quite surreal.