BMX is kind of crazy in a sense that it’s completely open for creation. There are no rules and in the process it allows a lot of creativity and originality to surface. That has also lead to a good number of creative people taking the sport and creating their own program through different mediums of art.
By now, you guys are probably well aware of the Act Like You Know crew and what they are all about. Between their insane video filled with almost unknown riders from Ohio that are now on everyones radar to their apparel line and other projects, they have definitely been doing things right. This crew made their place in BMX and created something that was simply based off a love for BMX and wanting to produce something quality, showing the world what they were capable of.
What you might not know is that a lot of the Act Like You Know image is based off the art work of Scotty Wemmer. Scotty is one of those people in the industry that took his love for bikes and art and was able to create his own spot that has directly influenced BMX and undoubtably impressed a lot of people.
With the release of the 2nd Act Like You Know DVD “No Days Off” getting real close to completion, we figured it would be a perfect time to get to know Scotty and to talk about his role with the brand and what kind of a career it has lead him into. Let’s find out what Scotty is all about!
Name:
Scotty Wemmer
Location: Akron, Ohio
Years riding: About 16
What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories come to mind?
A small group of kids rode in my town when I was in middle school. I got a DYNO the summer before 7th grade and started riding with them and haven’t stopped since. I still ride with a few of them occasionally now, which is pretty crazy to think about.
Your primary focus is graphic design. What got you interested in that?
Initially I was really into illustration and art in high school, but when I started college I figured it would be a smarter life decision to go the design direction instead of the starving artist route. Design has changed a lot since then, and the parameters of what a designer can do is a lot more broad and are more defined by the individual rather than a set of industry guidelines. I can get away with a lot more illustration and mixed media now than when I was just getting out of high school. I think I made the right decision and it seems to be working out so far.
Did you go to college for graphic design at all?
I have a BFA from the University of Akron, here in Ohio.
You’re pretty well known in BMX for Act Like You Know. What’s that all about? How did it get its started?
It started as an outlet for our crew of friends really. Brandon Galosi started filming for what would be the first video around 2007 and we didn’t really know what would come of it. We wanted to document what we were doing and try to give some of our friends a chance to be seen. That video was pretty much an extended web edit and was more or less everyone getting familiar with the camera and riding for a filmer. During that video he and I kinda took over a majority of the duties and put out the video, some posters, tees and physical DVDs for free. It has grown quite a bit since then and I guess you’d call it an actual business now.
For the most part the core group of us have remained the same, but each time we start a new video there is always a new cast. People move on and their priorities change so we find others to fill their spot. It’s a disappointment, I wish everyone could come through with a full part, but it’s a lot if work and pressure to film for that long and put out something of high quality when you aren’t a full time paid rider.
You guys produced your first full-length DVD a few years back and it was a banger that had everyone talking. Did you ever expect for the video to take off as well as it did?
No not at all. After we did the first project we kinda sat down and had a vision of what we wanted to do and we just tried to stick to it all the way through. Everything from filming styles and secondary cameras to shooting all our photos with altered disposable cameras for the printed zine we planned on doing. I think keeping that consistency throughout helped us with the end result, especially because we had never produced something like that before. It gave us something to fall back on when we were months and over a year into the project.
We were overwhelmed a little bit by the response and I wasn’t really ready to handle the orders we got. We sold out of the video pretty quick and I had to re-up on everything to be more realistic with the demand. I don’t think we could have asked for a better response. Then being nominated for NORA Cup video of the year was insane. We are just a group of friends from Ohio with no budget paying for everything out of pocket, going up against hand picked paid teams with budgets for traveling, marketing, and everything. So to be recognized for the work was awesome. It’s crazy to think that people who don’t know us voted for our video.
Right around the same time you decided to do some apparel with the brand. Was that the original plan or was it just something that fell into place after the DVD started?
We started printing shirts right from the start with the first video. They were terrible, I printed them in my basement without all the right equipment. The prints were so crooked, I didn’t use the right inks… Looking back I can’t believe I let my self put something out like that, but I was excited we were putting something out there for people to see. All of our friends loved it, they didn’t know the difference or care, they just wanted to support it. The shirts and posters I printed lasted about 15 minutes at the first premiere. Since then, I source all that stuff out. We have done quite a few tees, sweatshirts, and winter hats. I don’t consider us an apparel brand, its just something that we put out to go along with the videos and the riding.
You guys have been super busy filming for the next DVD. How is that coming along? Any estimate on when the video will be done?
“No Days Off” will be the longest we have ever filmed for anything, three years. A lot of that is my fault, I had some health complications and then was hurt for a long time and was slow filming. Like I said before the line up will be different than “Still Here”, but everyone has been putting in a lot of work. I’ve noticed that people are taking ownership of their parts more than any other video. I can only see that as a positive and the end result being the best thing we have put out.
We are planning for sometime in January if everything stays on schedule.
Any hints as to what people can expect from this video?
Just us continuing to do the same thing we have always put out. Not all of us are the greatest and most talented riders out here as far as tricks go, but we all put work in finding set ups and work hard for the clips we get. That doesn’t really tell you much but I’m not one to spoil things, if you’ve seen “Still Here” and liked it you should be into this too. We try to be consistent with the entire package and put something out thats quality from every angle.
Outside of the DVD, do you have some new stuff cooking for Act Like You Know as far as product goes?
Yeah, we have a few things that will be coming out the same time as the DVD. I’m still working out all the details for everything, but trying to expand the product range from just a few tees and sweats. I’d like to incorporate different items that you wouldn’t normally see from a smaller crew or company like us or even your typical BMX brand.
You stay really busy doing graphic design work for a handful of BMX brands. Who all have you done design work for in the past?
Other than ALYK. I pretty much handle everything design wise for The Come Up and OSS. Adam and I have been working together for a while now. We bounce ideas off of each other well and something good usually comes out of it. Ive done a few things for Primo as well. Working on a few other things at the moment, so hopefully you’ll see those soon too.
Bobby Simmons signature grip. Scotty handled the packaging.
Do you do much work outside of BMX? Care to name drop a few of your clients you have had in the past?
Yeah, most of my work is outside of BMX. I’ve worked on design or art direction projects with notable brands Unknwn Miami, Reason Brand, Next, Undercrwn, Nike Destroyer program, Play Cloths, and Blessed Label.
If you aren’t busy enough as is, you also do some web design work and screen printing. How did those both start coming about? Do you keep pretty constant with that or is it just side projects outside of your design and Act Like You Know work?
I only code websites for myself. If its for a client I’ll do the front end and sub out the back end. There are people much faster and better than me at that stuff. I do enjoy working on my sites on my own time though. Its like a big puzzle trying to piece it all together and make it work. You feel like you’ve accomplished something when you are done and everything works. Same thing goes for screen printing. I’ll print things for my self, like posters, little cards and things like that, but if its for a client I always source it out. It’s easier in the long run. If I’m responsible for the design and printing/web coding one usually suffers, not to mention the deadline is probably yesterday. I found it’s just easier and a lot less stressful for me to handle all the design and then oversee the printing/coding.
I’d imagine you have a really dialed setup to get the work done… Let’s start out with the cameras? What kinds of cameras are you guys working with these days? What’s your full setup looking like?
I’m not the main filmer for ALYK. so I don’t carry all the gear. Brandon would be considered the main filmer if we would dish out titles. We have three VX2000’s and a VX2100 we film with. Secondary shots and lifestyle stuff we shoot a lot of super 8.
Photography wise I am very simple: my iPhone 5 and a bunch of altered disposable film cameras. I have a little point and shoot digital camera but I never use it. If I need photography for client work I’ll story board stuff out and do test shots on my iPhone just for convenience and then hire a photographer. Same theory as web coding, there’s people who have years experience and can do everything better and faster than me. Not to mention keeping up with all the equipment for all of these fields professionally would be a bit pricey. I know exactly what I want 98% of the time so it works out pretty well.
What are you working with for a computer setup these days? What are some of the key programs you work with to get your jobs done?
I have a 27in iMac and a second display to work with. I live in Illustrator and Photoshop once I get onto the computer. I try to do as much by hand as possible when time allows.
How about your screen printing setup? Those are usually pretty interesting.
I don’t have a rotating press or anything. Most things I do are one or two colors, so I just do the color changes manually. I have a bunch of screens from 10″x10″ to 36″x48″. I’ve also been working on some lino cut prints lately, so I’m hyped to get those perfected and done.
Any other talents you have outside of that?
I’m just about to wrap up renovating my entire house which was built in 1913. All new electrical and plumbing, new floor plan, pretty much everything you can think of. Gutted every room to the studs and some past that. I’ll have a pretty serious office space in the second story of my garage, so I’m looking forward to that a lot. We haven’t spent one night there and have owned just about two years. I’m not sure if thats a talent or stupidity, but its consumed a ton of time and a lot of work so I’m anxious to get in there soon.
I’ve played basketball since I was in elementary school, I try to play pick up games once a week to stay in shape sometimes it works out sometimes not.
Let’s say somebody is looking to get some design work done. Are you available? How can they get in touch with you?
I’m always looking for new things to work on. Scotty@The-Worth.com is my email if someone is interested.
Where can people check out more of your work? What’s your portfolio site?
My site is www.The-Worth.com. It has a lot of my portfolio on there, I try to keep it updated as much as possible. I keep finished work up there and I’ll post sketches and rejected stuff on my Instagram.
So you are on Instagram? How can people keep up with you these days?
I run the ALYK. twitter which is @ALYKcru, and my Instagram is @scottywemmer.
Let’s say somebody is thinking about getting into graphic design, web design or film work. What kind of advice do you have for them?
I just try to work hard at everything I do. Whether it’s riding, work or whatever. I see a bunch of younger designers just out of school, or who skipped school, who don’t seem to get that it’s a lot of work to get a job and it’s probably not going to be one you were dreaming about. There’s a lot you can’t learn in school and need to work for a few years to pick up. Don’t sell your self short and give up if you don’t get a job right out of school. If you work hard and pay your dues for a few years its awesome, you get to make cool things all day and get paid for it.
Get off the internet. In any creative field, there is so much content out there for you to look at its easy for your personal style to be swayed into a trend. Do your own thing and try new stuff. The most that can happen is you fail and you start over, you don’t learn anything scrolling through endless images online.
Do you think you would be where you are today if it wasn’t for BMX?
Obviously not. I’ve spent a lot of time riding in the last 16 years, so my life would be totally different. I’ve met some of my best friends and traveled all over the world riding. I’d imagine its helped shape a good portion of the person I am. My work ethic is something I could see as something Ive gotten from BMX and carried into life. Spending an extended amount of time physically falling trying a trick and not giving up until you land it. Its a pretty deep way to look at it but its work ethic in the rawest form. Thats helped me a lot in my career and working with clients, sometimes its like they want the impossible, but you just have to keep working with them until you get it. I always wanted to have a job in BMX growing up, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve expanded my interests, maybe that has a lot to do with me being self employed and its beneficial for me to do so, but I think its helped me not get burnt out on riding.
Do you still find much time to ride these days?
As of right now I’m riding to finish filming my clips for our “No Days Off” video. I’m lucky if I get out once a week. Its probably been more like once every two weeks the last few months. With renovating the house, work, finishing up the ALYK. goods, it doesn’t leave me much time to cruise around right now. I have to make it count when I do get to go out.
Where do you hope to be in the next 5 years?
I’ll be happy if I can keep putting out interesting things work wise and be comfortable doing so. I’ll be about 35 then so hopefully still riding in some capacity and traveling. I’m open to where ever the years take me.
That about wraps it up. Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
All my friends, thanks for everything. Adriane. Justin. Everyone in ALYK. and everyone that supports it. Anyone that has given me a chance or is going to give me a chance in the future. Adam22 for OSS and for supporting ALYK. from the start. Everyone who has helped me out along the way in riding or life. Robbie at Cult for putting Bobby on and helping the crew out over the years. Skavenger for putting Ryan on and supporting his frame breaking habit. Anyone who helped out with the house. Thanks.
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