Interview with Attila Toth from Hungary (Flatland Video Unknown?!)

From a Global Perspective Chris Ridener had a chance rencently to catch up with Attila from Hungary and discuss his new upcoming Flatland Video called Unknown?!....Attila is a great guy and passionate about Flatland and the Hungary scene....here is what we found out! Enjoy


Your name:My name is Attila Tóth.

Age:
I’m 19 years old.

Home Town:
I was born in a small village, Jánosháza, Hungary, now I studying at the University of Pannonia, in Veszprém, Hungary.

How Long Have you been riding Flatland?
I bougth my first bike in 2004, I’m practicing seriously since this year, so since 2008.

Name of your video?
My videos title is: Unknown?! – a hungarian bmx flatland video.

How long have you been shooting the video?
The first filming was in 4th of December, 2007, with Lóránt Kozák, but it was just a „test”, seriously filming starts probably 6 month ago, with Dániel Boros.

What is the name of your video going to be?
My video is focusing to hungarian bmx flatland riders, who stand in the background, so they are unknown or underground riders, or just to young. The people dont know their tricks and combos. And working contains more challenge with them, for me. I’m unknown too, hehe.

Do you have a planned release date?
Hehe, that is a good question! Yes, i planned one, it is 31th of November. But, everything can change around this fact.

Who are some of the riders in your video?
In the main section of the video will appear 6 riders, with their private sections.

These riders are:
Lóránt Kozák, Attila Széll, Dániel Boros, Péter Miklósi, Olivér Kállai and Gergő Szájer. Plus a friends section, with some riders, who have great skills too. And the DVD will contains some bonus footage. With this guys i have a good contact, all of them are friends of mine.

What are some of the riders ages?
They are so young, i think! Attila Széll is only 17years old! The others almost finished their teenage years, or just started to be 20+J

What inspired you to make the video?
Nowadays, the young riders are internet riders, and a full length DVD is lost a lot of reputation. The internet is fully filled with poor videos. When anyone want to see a high standard film, with good editing and filming quality, need to searching a lot or need to wait until it releases. So, i decided, i make my own video, i do the best i can, to see in the final video, what i want to see from a video of mine. I give all of my love to flatland into this video. Fortunatly, Hungary has a very strong filming scene too. And i want to show to the world, Hungary have many kick-ass, talented and young riders in the background.

What are some of the riding locations on the video?
The video shooted only on hungarian spots, i dont have any opportunity and money to visit other countries. All riders ride on his home spot usually. But the SGG2008 was a great deal, we filmed there a lot!

The cities list:
Veszprém
Zirc
Budaörs
Győr
Ajka
Siófok and others.

Why a Flatland video?
Flatland is my love, my life and it is plays a very important role in my lifestyle. That’s all.

How long have you been involved in Flatland?
Hm…seriously since 2007, i think. I progress so fast:D (or notJ)

When the video releases where can it be purchased at?
The video will be available only in my „webshop”:D so, send me an email, and i’ll send it to you. But i dont know everything about the shipping, and other things, so be patient please.

What will the price be?
7-10USD+shipping, but i dont know yet. I dont do it for money…

Many people in the bmx world especially young people like shooting video and want to produce their own....what kind of equipment did you use? What advice would you give our young people for shooting a video?
I’m not a professional. My equipment is pretty simple. I have a Panasonic NV-GS 75 video camera. This is a 3 years old one, my family and i bougth it. It has 3CCD system, and recording to super fine DV tape. This camera is good for me. When Attila Széll give me his friends semi-fisheye, i use itJ and i borrow from Dániel Boros a camera standerJ so, this is my „super high-tech equipment”J

My advices: use songs, what you dont heard in other video; try a lot of shooting angles; see awesome-edited films, to get inspired; show to your friends and to others your video, and ask them, what do they think about it; try to be maximalist, do the best you can. Endeavor to make high quality films!

What is the local Flatland scene like where you are from?
I said, i came from a village, where was a guy, but he practiced not very often in 2004, when i started flatlanding. So i was alone for 2 years. After I moved to Veszprém to study, i meet a lot of flatlanders, but from different cities. Unfortunetly, i have only one buddy, who i practicing with, sometimes, and a girl, who just started it. Flatland is dead here, but street is rising…
But i like to be alone when i riding. Totally focusing to the tricks. I hate, when anybody disturb me, when i try to concentrete.
How do you feel the riding style is different if at all in your country compared to other countries or the U.S?
I think, riding style is different between people, not just between countries. Everybody has a different personality, and personality cause the style. I think, the hungarian flatland scene is healthy, everybody know everybody, the riders are friendly, and helpful; the riders try to be original. But nowadays flatland isn’t fashionable. The riding level is so high, but the number of flatlanders are decreasing.

You mentioned you wanted to make the video global! What do you think other countries would benefit from your video?
Other counties people would benefit real flatland from my video. There is no alibi.
Every new international video is interesting, if a flatlander interests for other countries talents, and very good riders. The public will see in my video a lot of hard tricks, original combos, they will know their names, their styles. „This is a beginning of a beautiful” seriesJ

What kind of support have you received shooting this video?
I got a lot of support from the riders who will appear in the video. I try to get in contact with some shops or companies, but they dont interested to me. Unfortunatly. The riders and I dont have any sponsors.

Flatmonkey Bmx is designed to outreach to young riders what advice would you give our young readers about Flatland?
Do it, practicing, speak about it, thinking about it. My favourite sentence is the following: „ride the bikes, and shut up!” (from the Global-Flat forum) (Edited by Flatmonkey Bmx for Language)
But dont forget your real life, your friends, and the study. Flatland is a great sport, and a part of our life, lifestyle, but it will be boring and annoying after some time. When you practicing, focus only to flatland, but when you finished your training, forget all your worries around the tricks.

I have reviewed your trailers on the internet and I am excited and stoked and can't wait until your video is released! I will be first inline to purchase it.....do you have any final comments or words for our readers?
The good experiences are the most important things in your life. Never stop reaching the goal front of you.

Flatmonkey Bmx wants to thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to do this interview and we appreciate your dedication to Bmx and flatland! Is there anyone you would like to thank at this time?
Thank you this interview, and all of your support!
I would like to thank for my parents, their support me since 1989J for my beautiful girlfriend Andrea, to be „mini”J for Dániel Boros, to help me around my bike, and in the filming, and to be a good friend; for Olivér Kállai, to be a real person, without any fake and a good friend, for Lóránt Kozák, to help me and for a lot of other thing (the list is very long), for Attila Széll, to wear pink pants, and for the optics; for Gergő Szájer, to try to filming in Egypt; for Péter Miklósi, to accept my invitation to riding in the video; for Gábor Bálint with the Global-Flat updates; for Bálint Molnár to shocking me with new stuff again and again (keep skating 4ever bro!) for Richárd Anda, to be my „judge”. ahhh anyway, this list is very long! The boys, who will appear in the video are very good friends of mine! Finally, I would like to thank to everyone, who helps me in the video! I love everyone!:) Flatland is alive!