“Slice life”—the phenomenon of only being able to afford cheap food like pizza slices—is a reality for many skaters across Canada, and Jeremiah Doubt is turning that reality into a video. Although he’s frequently on the move, Jeremiah is currently based in Toronto, and I was able to catch up with him to learn his motivation behind the video and what it’s all about.

Check local skate shops and slicelife.ca for the video and support some legit Canadian skateboarding.

First up, what’s the story behind the name?
The name Slice Life came from Taylor, Cory, Calen Knauf and I discussing a name while eating a slice outside this pizza joint on Seymour, just north of Pender, in Vancouver. I can’t speak for those guys, but I was eating pizza three meals a day that entire summer. It was a dollar, but it was fresh, healthy and big portions. You skate hard, you need energy. Calen, who designed the logo by the way, said we should call the video “a slice of life” and I instantly said, “slice life.” I was struggling to make it; I still am. We were all on the program. I was two summers deep with my VX. Jarvis Nigelsky, Cory Beck, Taylor Clark and Nick Posso and I were all sharing a 400 square foot studio in Railtown just to skate and work on projects. Skateboarding is a way of life, just like hip hop is a way of life. You don’t have to explain to a skater what skateboarding means to them. Or to a DJ or MC that lives music. It’s a release; its freedom and fun. It’s a connection to something greater than us.

photo Matt Cockerell

You’re rider list seems pretty coast-to-coast. How did that come around?
I’ve moved around a lot since I was 18 to skate, go to school, and I have family all over Canada. In that time, many talented individuals have crossed my path from all over the world. I love you guys and this video is for you. It would be nothing without you and your willingness to work, and your individuality. You saw my vision at one point and here we are. Thank you for being patient. Stay up and stay away from the dumb ish.

Touch on the music within the video. It seems you are pretty deep in the Canadian music scene as well. Trying to help all those cats out, too…
Music is a huge part of my life. Recorded music is life chopped up and assembled, just like video or art, for example. Music can also be live, just coming out of somebody on the street. Every one of the tracks in this video has come to me at the right time by the right person. I either felt the way the connection happened or felt the message. I get so much inspiration and understanding from good music. I would say that all the skaters in the video are skating to a track that relates to them personally. Prince Brown’s mother Lisa said to me once, “its better if you all come up together,” and I believe and respected that then and still do. Sometimes people just have to say the words. So that’s why I would rather deal with artists that are working hard and haven’t been signed to a major label yet. Not to say that a signed artist isn’t working hard, but I like the realness of a mix tape, demo or first album. I want to create relationships for future collaborations and promote the musicians so they get closer to their goals.

What’s up with the message board beefs? You seem pretty involved in all that compared to others who will just stand back and let the message boards slag them.
I stand up for anybody or anything I care about. It’s easy to talk ish on a message board. I’m still here, we’re still skating, this production is going to drop and I’ll still be grinding. Yo, Chad Dickson: one!

How long has this video been in the making?
I think the fist time I really wanted to make a skate video is when I saw the Transworld Sight Unseen opening sequence. I was always making short productions and putting them online. My first mini-DV tape is from February, 2003 and it has Joe Buffalo on it, skating the old Port Moody indoor. I just got serious about it, kicked down the money for a Final Cut edit suite, a VX2000 and a death lens. I’ve been through two laptops, three hard drives, one set of warranteed CCD’s for my camera and one more VX2K since then. It takes time, money and patience.

Who riding has surprised you? Who’s been killing it?
It’s a hard question, because every time I go out and somebody rolls away, I get that feeling. We all get that feeling and everybody is so different, but… TJ Rogers is next. You want to shoot with somebody who will land nine hammers in one day. Dallas Ives is another one to keep an eye on, just look up! Mikey Plantus is so creative when he skates a spot, he’s got a really good mix of styles like his custom tie-dye tees. Get Dallas and Mikey together and you’ll never laugh so much in your life. Prince Brown has really been surprising me; I hear rumors of him practicing by himself at the beach spot and the plaza like clockwork. Mitch Barrette is bent on getting the one of hottest parts out there; Mitch is killin’ it most’ def’ and has mad game. Andre Tusougrianis is next level, so is Mike Crook. It’s really cool to see Paul Wiens grow as a skater and producer. Every sequence I see of Trevor Houlihan surprises me and I keep seeing them. Don’t stop Trev—you’re shinin’. Calen Knauf has an impressive part, and for the record, Calen brought the original benches to the ghetto spot in Van. So on behalf of the international skateboard community, thanks for making a dope spot. Steve Strang is a Shaolin monk that prefers to loc’ out Vancouver Island and make recon missions with digital agents all in the name of letting the world know… he ain’t playin’. Skaters in Toronto surprise the *** out of me. Gab Ekoe is amazing; dope spirit and agility. Dan Pageau is a vet. If you don’t know by now, ya know! Cory Beck and Martin Tyc need to skate again; you’re going to see why. Cory and Will Durie share a part and I’d say that Will can BS 180 just about anything—just make sure it’s huge. Jordan Bandula is merkin’ on it night-shift stee’, and comes to the city to kickflip fence drops. Reppin’ ‘Shwa real hard these days. I haven’t skated with Taylor Clark in a few years now, but I know he’s still got the meanest switch back tail in the game. After he graduated from Vancouver Film School, Taylor’s been doing comedy in Seattle, and I hear in New York. He really is one funny dude. Miss you, T.

Whats next for Jam Jam Productions?
I want to get closer to writing, creating and producing music, but that will just come in time. In the short term I’d really like to work on some music videos and produce a video for a larger skateboard brand. Start to finish in HD, proper HD, ya’ll! In terms of all the connections I’ve made over the years, doing some live events combining music, skateboarding, dance and art is in order. My vision for the premieres is just that.

photo Matt Cockerell

Any last words?
I want to thank my family for your love and support. Thanks to the creator for giving me eyes to see, ears to hear and a soul to feel. To the people like Jarvis Nigelsky, Alex Bastide, Ben Chibber, and especially Pasi Posti, who did what they could to put me on: thank you. All the producers and filmers who’ve contributed to this film, so many, but they are all on the slicelife.ca site. I’m really hyped to have you all on deck. Yanni, holla at me! Thank you to all the musicians, producers, DJs and writers for your significant contribution to this production. To all the skaters that I’ve filmed: respect and blessings. Thanks to Dominique Morisset, Lauren Pirie, Elliot Heintzman at Four Star Distribution and Virgil Baruchel for linking C1rca. Adrian Fenty at New Era for seeing my vision and helping me produce some caps. Sean Shuttleworth at Ogio for making sure all the young, emerging producers are dipped in packs. Andrew Sayer at Red Bull, and of course all the Red Bull girls, for linking product. Dan Saindon and the heads at Control; I’m looking forward to that snap, crackle, pop! Bruce Tucker at United Riders for bringing it all full circle. Bruce sponsors some talented individuals in this video. Brian Caissie for hooking up this interview. Thanks to all the people I talked to over the phone and barraged with emails; I hope we can work together in the future. Raj Mehra, let’s do this! Claude Regnier, Carlos Benevides at the Toronto Parks and Recreation Trinity Community Centre, Piero Del Bianco at The Rail, Brian Egert at Community in Ottawa, Mark Janzen and Norm Funk at Willingdon and Deal Dhal at Skate Life in Van, and Tim Crooks at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto: thank you for your prayers, support and the opportunity to connect with so many young skaters. Your dedication to the lives of others will always be remembered. Live your dreams; don’t hesitate when the time is right ‘cause you’ve got one chance. The present is a gift. And 15% of the sales from this video are going towards stopping violence against women. CSL Eu te amo.