Happy almost-Friday, AKAPAD'ers! The Film Buff is back with another gem sidelined by the pandemic: North Hollywood (2021). This vibrant coming-of-age skate flick would’ve been a thousand times more celebrated, watched, and loved if COVID hadn’t thrown its release off course. Trust us, this one deserves way more hype! #NorthHollywood #HiddenGem
North Hollywood is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Mikey Alfred. It follows Michael (Ryder McLaughlin), a high school graduate in North Hollywood, California, who dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder. Torn between his father Oliver’s (Vince Vaughn) expectations of pursuing a conventional career or joining the family construction business, Michael faces tension with his friends and family as he chases his passion. After connecting with professional skaters, he drifts from his childhood friends, who don’t share his ambition, and navigates a budding romance. The film explores themes of self-discovery, independence, and balancing personal dreams with familial pressures, set against the vibrant skate culture of Los Angeles.
Cast:
Ryder McLaughlin as Michael
Vince Vaughn as Oliver
Miranda Cosgrove as Rachel
Nico Hiraga as Jay
Aramis Hudson as Adolf
Angus Cloud as Walker
Tyshawn Jones as Isiah
Bob Worrest as Nolan
Gillian Jacobs as (uncredited role, noted in reviews)
Andrew Reynolds as (cameo, table scene)
Louie Lopez as (cameo, table scene)
Kader Sylla as (cameo, ticketer)
Davonte Jolly as (cameo, skate filmer)
Sunny Suljic as Clark (cameo, two appearances)
Na-Kel Smith as (cameo, multiple appearances)
Zach Saraceno as (cameo, skater)
Kevin White as (cameo, skater)
Crew:
Director: Mikey Alfred
Writer: Rusty Johnson
Producers: Mikey Alfred, Pharrell Williams, Noah Centineo, Yuri Shulga, Malcolm Washington, Katelin Espitia, Jus Ske
Cinematographer: Ayinde Anderson
Editor: Mikki Lovitch
Production Companies: Illegal Civilization, First Try Productions, Happy Place
Music Supervisor: Hal Williams
Soundtrack Contributors: (Various artists, noted for complementing skate culture visuals)
The film, loosely based on Alfred’s life, premiered at SoFi Stadium in March 2021 as a drive-in event and runs for 1 hour and 33 minutes. It’s unrated and features a mix of established actors and real professional skaters, reflecting the authentic skateboarding scene.