When we started the Weareorangejuice blog there where a few brands that really inspired us. The Act Like You Know crew is one of these. It’s one of these groups of people who are really doing their own thing. The guys grabbed a camera and started a video project together with friends and people who they just have seen around and never met before. ALYK never works with a consistent line up, people just come and go. Now ALYK is a well known organization in BMX: they make shirts, stickers and they are already working on the third ALYK dvd. The best thing of it all is that they are still a big group of friends who just want to have fun, ride and film.
Ladies and gentleman the Act Like You Know interview (answered by ALYK owners: Scotty Wemmer and Brandon Galosi), after you read the interview make sure you check out the sweet ALYK giveaway!
1. What’s the story behind the name: Act like you know?
Brandon
The name stems from every Papoose mix tape. At the time (06-07), me and friend were listening to these mix tapes quite a bit. DJ Kay Slay would jump on the beginning of every track and say “ALYK.” The name wasn’t very serious at first. I’m not sure if people take it serious or not now. But I know it certainly holds it’s own weight, especially in the bmx industry and thats even more apparent after my recent move to NYC with a couple crew members.
Scotty
It for sure started off as a joke between all of us, and still kind of still is in some instances. Its just one of those things that someone in the group says and then it eventually caught on and before you know it we have shirts and stickers and DVD’s with it printed all over it.
2. The half of the ALYK crew is from New York and the other half is living in Ohio. How did you guys met and how did the project started?
Brandon
Everyone is originally from Ohio. When I started the video I wanted to put people in who were down for the cause. They rode with the same style and had the same ideas. I added good friends with people who I’ve just seen around and never met before. I gave them a chance to have a part because I knew it would be motivational for all of us. So far from the first trailer there has not been an original line up. People come and go, they lose motivation, or just have other priorities.
Scotty
The main core of us are all actually from about a 20 mile radius in northeast Ohio. We have all known each other for a long ass time and have basically grown up together, so we have always been riding, filming and shooting photos together. The others who come and go tend to be friends that just ride more or less during the filming of a certain video. I’m sure all crews that don’t have a set paid team, go through something similar like that. But its cool that the same 4-5 of us have known and rode together since most were in high school.
3. Who are the guys behind the project; do you have set “roles” for everyone?
Brandon
From the beginning my goal was to have everyone lend a helping hand in the project. It still runs along those lines. Everyone one puts in their two cents which is for the better or worse. I think it actually makes the process take a little longer. We don’t really come out with something unless everyone is happy. I am sort of the creative director. I decide who is having parts, music, design, and the main filmer. We have a couple guys doing Graphic Design such as Scotty Wemmer and Torey Kish. Scotty handles the website as well and ships your orders out. Jason White films the guys still left in Ohio. Scott Marceau is the genius behind any video editing. Milby is our protection agency. And Ryan howard will crooked grind any rail both right or left in any ones hometown.
Scotty
It started off as just me and Brandon doing everything, but as we have grown so has the need for more help. Everybody helps out when they need to with whatever. Bobby helps me out a lot with shipping orders when I can’t get out of work in time. We all work full time jobs and do all this on the side, so if it seems like it goes a length of time before you see something new from us all that plays into account. With design and editing it’s a little more defined. Like Brandon said, Scott Marceau pretty much handles all the editing and does a great job. Up until now I have handled the design for everything and ran the site, but Torey has recently been helping me out with some ideas for the new shirts and clothes that are coming out so thats cool. In the end if something needs done someone is there to make sure it gets done. Everyone supports and thats the best way to help really.
4. What was the best part about filming for the two ALYK videos?
Brandon
I don’t think the first one counts as much. It was more or less an introduction to using a camera and us hanging out at spots. Still Here involved a lot of effort, trips specifically for filming, traveling every weekend, working all week, and doing it all over the next weekend for a year. It was really enjoyable to hear the feedback negative or positive. Hearing people say they loved the video that I’ve always looked up to in bmx was the most rewarding. If we didn’t sell any copies and those people were still happy, I’d be just as stoked. Real recognize real. I personally can’t stand watching the video, but I think that’s something that happens whenever you make a video.
Scotty
Seeing the reaction from people is amazing. We just put the video out because we wanted to do something creatively as a whole. We had no idea we would get the response we did both positive and negative. It was awesome seeing people I look up to saying such positive things. I’m psyched to see more dudes are doing stuff like this again. Without a big company behind them with a budget and shit, like Bad Timing, The trip, Deadline, OSS, The Bank, BMXFU, AOTC, I know there is probably more but those guys are sticking out right now. Its just refreshing to see people appreciate the work that goes into making something and taking the time to do it right. We also got a lot of hate about the video, which is fine, its motivating. A lot of it honestly came from around where we are from which caught us off guard a little. Hopefully it will be better while filming the next video. We want everyone to have a good time whether its at a spot filming or at the premiere, whenever that may be.
5. You’ve probably seen a lot of crazy stuff while filming for ALYK, which story does stand out the most?
Brandon
This one is too hard. As cliche as this sounds, riding different projects is always my favorite. The people in the projects have so much to say and usually are some of the most funny real people. I’d much rather hang out there than any street in NY. Having multiple guns pulled on us was pretty awesome. I think some non-riding related crazy stuff and the comments people were leaving after seeing video were just as crazy. The positive reactions from the bmx world was pretty crazy, I never expected it to be like that.
Scotty
Whats more crazy than guns being pulled on you for riding a bike?
6. What kind of a camera setup did you use for filming the videos?
Brandon
We use multiple Sony VX 2000′s that have been through hell and fixed multiple times. As well as assorted super 8mm cameras found on Ebay or garage sales.
7. What is your vision on the whole ‘DVD’s are dead’ topic?
Brandon
I could probably write a few page essay on this topic. DVDs are both relevant and non in this day and age. Our crew doesn’t really get into web content. For a lot of different reasons, some of which for example are the simple facts that the spot goes to waste. I like to view the dvd as a documentation of what has been done on a certain setup. It’s really the only way to keep track of what has been done. For example from No Where Fast, Insight, United, and OSS they have a nice progression of what has been done on the famous El Toro set. I use to watch every web video, but now I literally can’t keep up with all the content that’s being placed in front of me.
With camera set up we use, we will always get the best quality through a DVD. For us being a “crew” video, its hard to keep pushing out content weekly, we’d only be promoting our selves, not the crew. But this isn’t to say we’re never going to do web content. We’re actually going to try to push out web content every two months to keep things fresh. It’s just the sign of the times. It has to be done to keep people locked in. In today’s society people need to be reminded everyday that this group or person is doing something, or it makes it seem like they we’re never doing shit. DVDs will always have their place though. There will always be at least 500 homies out there searching for a copy. The downfall of all this, is that kids will never see how much hard work and organization goes into making this happen. But those who know, know, and ignorance is bliss.
Scotty
I can’t really understand the people that are against DVDs being made. Seems pointless to even be in the game if you feel that way. Web content has its place for sure, it just cant be the only outlet. The problem with making a DVD now is that its a lot of work and money for someone such as our selves or another crew, BT, OSS ect… to just break even and not loose money. I’m hoping that if we can still make a run of DVD’s and make an awesome product there will be a select group of people out there who will seek it out. I mean I had orders come in on the last video from people who said they didn’t ride anymore or even at all who just bought it for the package as a whole because they liked it an appreciated what we did. On the other hand we might have some kid just to upload that shit to the internet and a thousand kids see it for free. Obviously nothing we can do about it, and in the long run if more people see it and are psyched on what we are doing than awesome.
Maybe one day some of those kids who make 20 anonymous hate comments on The Come Up everyday will grow up and be like damn I should have bought that ALYK., Deadline or OSS DVD a few years back I can’t find it online anymore the Vimeo/You Tube page is taken down. Then what will they do?
8. The last DVD Still Here came out in the winter of 2010, are you guys working on a new DVD already?
Brandon
Yeah, were hard at work already on the next one. We have yet to name it. Ryan Howard already has a full part, but is not happy with everything. The line up as once again changed, and I’m sure it will change again by the expected deadline of Spring/Summer 2012. You can expect full parts from Me, Torey Kish, Ryan Howard, Troy Tunney, and Kyle Murway. Hoping for full parts from Scotty Wemmer, Jason White, Bobby Simmons, Scott Marceau, and Matt Skaggs. But that’s the beauty of it, will never know till the end.
Scotty
Yea it’s been a challenge for us here in Northern Ohio so far this year with the weather. Then our camera broke right as the rain stopped so we are just about to get that back so we will be back going strong so no need to worry about us, always come through in the end.
Should be a really great mix of riding, there is a lot of diversity in those names.
9. On the site you can also buy the famous ALYK shirts, are you planning to make a new shirt line somewhere this year?
Brandon
Yes, thank you for asking. We’re actually working on a new line of clothing. We’re going to try something different and see if it works out. Hopefully by the end of the summer you’ll be able to see the new look book.
Scotty
Its a few different things to see how they do and then maybe a larger line towards winter if everything goes well with these new products. Hoping by end of summer you guys will be able to pick everything up.
10. You recently decided to make a sort of newspaper called ‘The ALYK Times’. Is the paper/poster just a one-time project?
Brandon
I’m not exactly sure who called it that. But we didn’t. But yes, that was a one time thing. This time around were going to do something different again. But that all depends on how the year works out. But yes, we will defiantly have some sort of zine publication coming out with the next DVD.
Scotty
Yea it wasn’t called the ALYK. Times. That may have been the blog title I cant remember, sometimes I just try to label the post with a different title so it’s not just a boring title like bike photo or some shit like that ya know. We just wanted to do something different and cool to give out to kids when they ordered stuff from our site or stores that carried our stuff. I still have some so if anyone or any shops want them send me an email. We won’t do the same thing but something print again. It’s cool to give people something they can have and keep if they want or throw away if they hate it. We are all for online promotion and web content, but we are going to be the last people to be producing print and in hand take away items. Its just more fun and gives you a sense of “oh these guys are real people” not just some dudes on there internet. Its pretty easy to put a site up and write whatever the hell you want, without putting actual products and tangible objects out on the street. That actually might be the thing I get emailed about the most, people just saying how much they like it, or asking where they can get one. That’s what makes it worth spending the money to make them and giving it away for free.
11. Where can we find more information about ALYK and where can we buy the DVD and the apparel?
Brandon
You can find information and buy gear at www.alykcru.com as well as all the fine distributors such as animal, tip plus, 10 pack, and strictly bmx. Sorry to anyone I forgot.
Scotty
Tumblr page is linked from the main site above. I try to keep everything updated as much as possible. For sure email with any comments or questions. Or get at me on twitter @Alykcru.
12. Any last words?
Brandon
First to go last to know. This no game. We knew the deal before people started asking. I’ll shake your hand dawg, but I ain’t your man dawg. Shout out to everyone who likes what we do. Expect the new product to be better than the last. Thanks to everyone who bought a DVD and carried it in their shop. Thanks for reading my jaded opinions.
Scotty
Thanks for the questions and everyone who bought, stole, downloaded, and watched the video however you did. Thanks to everyone that has helped any of us out along the way we appreciate it. Robbie at Cult is the boss, thanks for everything homie. Primo and Vans for hooking Bobby up. Skavenger/Animal for hooking Ryan up. Adam for always posting our stuff on TCU from the very start. Shout out to Nuno at Defgrip for always showing us love too we see you. All the shops and distros that carry ALYK. Support all the other crews of dudes out there doing their thing: Bad Timing, OSS, Deadline, The Trip, The Bank, AOTC, BMXFU.
ALYK.- “Still Here” Teaser from ACT LIKE YOU KNOW. on Vimeo.
