Chelsea Pictures has added Stacy Peralta–the director of seminal documentaries Dog Town and Z Boys and Riding Giants–to its roster for commercial and branded content representation in North America.
One of the first professional skateboarders to break through into popular culture, Peralta has gone on to become equal parts skater, entrepreneur, writer, producer and filmmaker. After a brief, but profoundly influential skateboarding career, he co-founded skateboarding company POWELL-PERALTA. It was during his tenure here that they not only became the industry leader in decks, urethane wheels, graphics, advertising, but they also formed the indefatigable skateboard team The Bones Brigade, which launched the careers of not only Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen, as well as a half dozen more world skateboard champions. Peralta’s first foray into filmmaking, The Bones Brigade Video Show, which he shot, edited and directed, pioneered an entirely new genre which is now commonly referred to as Action Sports Videos.
His first feature documentary, the autobiographical Dog Town and Z Boys, established him as consummate filmmaker. The film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, garnering him both the Best Director Award and the Audience Award.
Since regarded for his ability to straddle subcultures as both insider and outsider, Peralta has gained access and the ability to document real people in their environments, leading to an additional three feature documentary premieres at Sundance, of which Riding Giants was the first ever documentary chosen as the festival’s opening night film. He has also gone on to write the narrative feature The Lords of Dogtown starring the late Heath Ledger.
Lisa Mehling, Chelsea president, said of signing Peralta, “Dogtown and Riding Giants are two of my all-time favorite documentaries. Stacy has the ability to not only tell heartfelt, honest stories, but his films introduce us to vibrant subcultures, celebrating the most remarkable characters, which prior to his films were just outside of view.”
Peralta shared, “My ability to straddle these subcultures with one foot in, one foot out has allowed me great access and the ability to document real people in their unique environments without causing interruption, which carries through to my recent and commercial work.”
Regarding his new roost, Peralta said, “I’ve been a member of some spectacular teams in my life and I have benefited greatly from the association. Being asked to join Chelsea has given me the opportunity to once again to be on a spectacular team. To be in the same stable as Alex Gibney, Amir Bar-Lev and Lauren Greenfield is a dream come true.”
Peralta’s commercial filmmaking career spans genres, from documentary to visual storytelling, and has included work for clients and agencies ranging from LinkedIn and North Face, Carhartt to MullenLowe, Ogilvy and GTB. Prior to joining Chelsea, Peralta was handled by Nonfiction Unlimited for spots and branded content.
Peralta comes aboard a Chelsea directorial roster which includes David Gordon Green, Lauren Greenfield, Alex Gibney, Bruce Hunt, Jack Cole, Nadav Kander, Amir Bar-Lev, Thomas Beug, Alan Poul, Gregory Jacobs, Matthias Zentner, Peyton Wilson and The Bear.
Chelsea maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles, owned and managed by Lisa Mehling with executive producers Pat McGoldrick and Michel Waxman. Chelsea is represented by Denise Blate Roederer of RHODA on the East Coast, Doug Stephen & Partners in the Midwest, and Get Reehl Get Davis on the West Coast.
