All The Streets Are Silent - What We Know So Far
New York has often enjoyed the spotlight as the center for exciting and thriving subcultures. There are tons of historical accounts, myths, and legends related to some of the city's most interesting eras, whether it be '70s punk and the CBGB club or the early 2000s hipster age with indie rock as the soundtrack. One era that doesn't usually get explored as much is the late '80s to early '90s span, when hip hop and skateboarding converged to create an influential union that's still being felt today.
The unique street subculture created during this era was the cool marriage between hip hop and skateboarding, and it's the focus of director Jeremy Elkin's upcoming documentary "All the Streets Are Silent." Per Quarter Snacks, Elkin, who was a skate videographer, initially set out to make a documentary about New York skateboarding company Zoo York and its video series "Mixtape." However, the project evolved beyond that by expanding on the late '80s and early '90s street scene in Lower Manhattan. Although completed in 2020, the documentary will finally premiere in theaters this summer.
Here's everything we know so far about "All the Streets Are Silent."
When's the release date for All the Streets Are Silent?
We won't have to wait too long for "All the Streets Are Silent." In fact, we'll actually have two options to see it. "All the Streets Are Silent" will make its worldwide debut through the Tribeca Film Festival this month. The movie is part of its 2020 Official Selection for Features. This is timed with Tribeca's debut of their Tribeca At Home platform, which is a virtual hub where fans who purchase tickets can enjoy the film festival by streaming from their own home. The festival will run from June 9-20. "All the Streets are Silent" will start streaming on June 11 and will be available on demand until June 23.
For those that aren't planning to view Tribeca At Home or would rather go out to the theaters, there'll be another opportunity to watch "All the Streets Are Silent" the following month. Deadline reported that the documentary was picked up by Greenwich Entertainment for U.S. Distribution, and that it will premiere in theaters on July 23.
Who's in the cast for All the Streets Are Silent?
While this may be director Jeremy Elkin's first feature-length documentary, he's definitely amassed an impressive list of contributors and interviews for it. Via Deadline, "All the Streets Are Silent" will have Zoo York co-founder Eli Gesner narrating the film. Seeing as how Zoo York was a vital part of street skating culture in the '90s, Gesner is a perfect fit. The movie's soundtrack comes from legendary hip hop producer and rapper Large Professor, best known for working with A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock, and Nas. Elkin is also a producer, along with Dana Brown.
As for some of the key interviews in the film, there are some pretty amazing names listed. One of the most recognizable faces is Rosario Dawson. In addition to her interview, the movie will also feature Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C., Leo Fitzpatrick, Moby, Fab 5 Freddy, Harold Hunter, Justin Pierce, Keith Hufnagel, Jefferson Pang, Bobbito Garcia, Stretch Armstrong, Kool Keith, Mike Hernandez, DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri, and Mike Carroll.
What's the plot for All the Streets Are Silent?
Tribeca has described "All the Streets Are Silent" as "Paris is Burning" meets Larry Clark's "KIDS." That's probably an apt description of the upcoming documentary. While "All the Streets Are Silent" looks at the pairing of skateboarding and hip hop culture in Lower Manhattan in a pre-9/11 New York City, it's also described as a movie that provides a snapshot of race, fashion, and street culture from the late '80s to the early '90s.
As Elkin said in his interview with Quarter Snacks, the bulk of "All the Streets Are Silent" relies on old footage. "A lot of the things we talk about in the film don't exist online," he explained. A lot of this archival footage will cover MARS, the famous club that was at the center of the merging of east coast skateboarding and hip-hop culture. There's also some footage of rare performances from the hip-hop radio show "Stretch And Bobbito," as well as the early formation and early ads for Zoo York. The collection of archival footage combined with the interviews should provide the perfect visual time capsule for such a noteworthy era in street culture.