Shane O’Brien; Shane’s lived skateboarding for decades, in every facet of the industry. A Pro Skater from ‘86, for NHS, Ca (Santa Cruz™, Independent Trucks™, Speedwheels™ etc.) and Converse™. He travelled all over the world for competitions, demos and tours, skating his way through dozens of countries on every continent (bar Antarctica and Africa). He skated with/competed against/worked (and partied) with; Tony Hawk, Steve Cabellero, Mark Gonzales, Rodney Mullen, Jason Lee, Jeff Grosso… and ex-pats Steve Dougles, Bod Boyle, Rune Glifberg, Jeff Rowley, Christian Hosoi, and many more, all of whom are still personal friends.
During 91/92, Shane retired as a Pro, transitioning to European Team Manager for NHS Europe. He managed 12 skaters in 8 countries, and ran the NHS Europe™ Head Office from London. Previously he led the carnage, now he was responsible for controlling it! With a generous budget, he booked his skaters on competitions/tours/demos, booked the hotels, juggled itineraries, and travelled with them; he got sponsorships and raised their profile, booking TV pieces/media events/magazine interviews etc.; he was the liaison for European distributers; he ‘talent spotted’ up and coming skaters; he also arranged stands at the biggest trade shows in Europe, working the room to get bookings… In 97, Shane became a Team Manager for North and South America, and Product Manager at Fury Trucks, a Birdhouse Projects subsidiary, where he worked closely with Tony Hawk.
87 to 91, Shane was a senior contributor to RAD Magazine – the biggest skate Mag outside North America, and continued to act as ‘product’ liaison to corporations wanting expert guidance (which is how the English National Opera found him – a true story!). Shane’s experience gives this series is a unique, accurate and authentic view of the Pro/Am Circuit during this period.
Rebecca Handley; Screenwriter and novelist, has worked with independent UK and European Prod Co’s on TV treatments, pitches, and screenplays, as well as writing numerous Spec screenplays. She has an independent movie in post-production.
Rebecca managed a London skate shop 87-89, where she first met Shane. Skaters and the skate community have been part of her life ever since, and many of her friends work in the skate industry (Pros, deck-artists, photographers etc.). Skating, and the associated mayhem, is not a new world to her! Nor is the hustle of business; Rebecca has run small businesses, taken part in trade shows, run market stalls…
Rebecca traveled for years, backpacking/driving/camping/motorcycling through; Europe, Central America, Cuba, the US, coast to coast, working on the fly, 3 years in Australia... Years of writing, diverse experiences, in and out of the skate world, and – most importantly – attitude, combine with her screenwriting skills to bring FAKING IT to life.
Finalist in BBC Writers Room 2017, PAGE Gold Awards screenplay winner 2012, alumni of Script Angel mentoring services, consistent ‘placer’ in LSF, Blue Cat, Final Draft etc. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6026362/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
During 91/92, Shane retired as a Pro, transitioning to European Team Manager for NHS Europe. He managed 12 skaters in 8 countries, and ran the NHS Europe™ Head Office from London. Previously he led the carnage, now he was responsible for controlling it! With a generous budget, he booked his skaters on competitions/tours/demos, booked the hotels, juggled itineraries, and travelled with them; he got sponsorships and raised their profile, booking TV pieces/media events/magazine interviews etc.; he was the liaison for European distributers; he ‘talent spotted’ up and coming skaters; he also arranged stands at the biggest trade shows in Europe, working the room to get bookings… In 97, Shane became a Team Manager for North and South America, and Product Manager at Fury Trucks, a Birdhouse Projects subsidiary, where he worked closely with Tony Hawk.
87 to 91, Shane was a senior contributor to RAD Magazine – the biggest skate Mag outside North America, and continued to act as ‘product’ liaison to corporations wanting expert guidance (which is how the English National Opera found him – a true story!). Shane’s experience gives this series is a unique, accurate and authentic view of the Pro/Am Circuit during this period.
Rebecca Handley; Screenwriter and novelist, has worked with independent UK and European Prod Co’s on TV treatments, pitches, and screenplays, as well as writing numerous Spec screenplays. She has an independent movie in post-production.
Rebecca managed a London skate shop 87-89, where she first met Shane. Skaters and the skate community have been part of her life ever since, and many of her friends work in the skate industry (Pros, deck-artists, photographers etc.). Skating, and the associated mayhem, is not a new world to her! Nor is the hustle of business; Rebecca has run small businesses, taken part in trade shows, run market stalls…
Rebecca traveled for years, backpacking/driving/camping/motorcycling through; Europe, Central America, Cuba, the US, coast to coast, working on the fly, 3 years in Australia... Years of writing, diverse experiences, in and out of the skate world, and – most importantly – attitude, combine with her screenwriting skills to bring FAKING IT to life.
Finalist in BBC Writers Room 2017, PAGE Gold Awards screenplay winner 2012, alumni of Script Angel mentoring services, consistent ‘placer’ in LSF, Blue Cat, Final Draft etc. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6026362/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
