A Look at William Strobeck’s Influence on Filmmaking in Skateboarding
How did one filmmaker manage to completely transform how skate videos are created today?
William Strobeck, a New York based filmmaker, videographer and director, has been standing at the forefront of influence in skate culture for the past decade.
Strobeck’s Artistic Style
Born and raised in New York, William Strobeck is one of the most influential figures in skateboarding today. He is widely known for his artistic and boundary pushing videos that seem more like a coming-of-age-movie than a skate video. As part of his signature filmmaking style, he consistently captures unique moments and visuals in his work, giving his videos a rawer feel.
A frequent user of social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, Strobeck has effectively leveraged his online presence to help boost his brand image in skating and allow his art to be instantly recognisable by many. His regularly posts on social media and ensures to film skaters he believes have a strong sense of personal style or in his words “seem cool”.
He states in the Village Pyschic Magazine in 2022 — “We did a photoshoot not too long ago with the Violet kids (the skate team for his company founded in 2021) and the editor of the magazine was there for the shoot. He was like, ‘Dude, where do you find all these people?’ I just zone in on someone that seems cool.”
His words perfectly embody his vision when creating his art, and as a result, the ways in which he uses social media.
Social Media Influence
Strobeck strongly believes in incorporating authenticity and rawness in his photographs and videos to communicate his ideas and this reflects in his communication on social media.
Using Instagram and YouTube, he posts picturesque moments shared with skater friends and passion-filled videos that resonate with fellow skaters in the community. Through social media he is able to make even the simplest moments evoke a strong sense of emotion to his audience. This method of communication has allowed him to garner a wide audience, with his Instagram and YouTube channel boasting nearly 600 thousand followers combined.
Strategies to Further Influence Beyond Skateboarding
Strobeck has earned the respect of many skateboarders globally through his use of social media. Consequently, it may also benefit him to collaborate with more influential figures outside of skating. He could consider leveraging his huge following and help others with the increased visibility he can provide from the skate community. Partnering with musicians and actors may be a good choice since both artistic disciplines share similar beliefs.
Although, Strobeck may be perceived as ‘selling out’ by his fans if he completely diverges from his style of social media content. So, it would be important for him to do this as an addition to what he already does, if he would like to positively benefit from increased growth on social media.
