Skating through Rome’s iconic Cinecitta Film Studios
- Text by Ashley Manning
- Photography by Davide Biondani
The street lights flicker off as day breaks over the relics of an ancient city; the image of the skyline blurring into focus in the haze of the watery sun; the grandeur of the Coliseum illuminated; the first shadows being cast on the cobbled roads. Is it any wonder why skateboarders are curious about the architectural brilliance of Italy’s capital?
Rome’s attention to detail and inspiring sense of design can also be seen 30 minutes away from its bustling streets in a magical location. Murder Skateboarding have teamed with Inti Carboni, an award winning local film director and producer, to create a short film that explores the movie sets at the Eternal City’s famous Cinecitta Film Studios.
Founded in 1937, the Italian studios have been hailed for their contribution to cinematic classics The Life Aquatic, Gangs of New York and Quo Vadis, to name a few. Italian master Federico Fellini referred to Cinecitta as the Factory of Dreams.
As the skateboarders perform tricks, curving around the cityscapes they pull the history of Cinecitta into the modern day as they discover the life size replica of Ancient Rome, the streets of 1930s New York and the medieval city of Assisi.
Cinecitta On Wheels is an exploration of space, surface and terrain, set amidst a fictional backdrop that merges with reality. The six minute production, which won Best Digital Film at San Francisco Frozen Film Festival 2016, is a journey through the iconic world of film, capturing a side to Rome that, although seen by millions on the big screen, still remains a mysterious place.
Find out more about Cinecitta On Wheels, directed by Inti Carboni.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
From his skating past to sculpting present, Arran Gregory revels in the organic
Sensing Earth Space — Having risen to prominence as an affiliate of Wayward Gallery and Slam City Skates, the shredder turned artist creates unique, temporal pieces out of earthly materials. Dorrell Merritt caught up with him to find out more about his creative process.
Written by: Dorrell Merritt
In Bristol, pub singers are keeping an age-old tradition alive
Ballads, backing tracks, beers — Bar closures, karaoke and jukeboxes have eroded a form of live music that was once an evening staple, but on the fringes of the southwest’s biggest city, a committed circuit remains.
Written by: Fred Dodgson
This new photobook celebrates the long history of queer photography
Calling the Shots — Curated by Zorian Clayton, it features the work of several groundbreaking artists including Robert Mapplethorpe, Sunil Gupta, Zanele Muholi and more.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Krept & Konan: “Being tough is indoctrinated into us”
Daddy Issues — In the latest from our interview column exploring fatherhood and masculinity, UK rap’s most successful double act reflect on loss, being vulnerable in their music, and how having a daughter has got Krept doing things he’d never have imagined.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
Vibrant polaroids of New York’s ’80s party scene
Camera Girl — After stumbling across a newspaper advert in 1980, Sharon Smith became one of the city’s most prolific nightlife photographers. Her new book revisits the array of stars and characters who frequented its most legendary clubs.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Bad Bunny: “People don’t know basic things about our country”
Reggaeton & Resistance — Topping the charts to kick off 2025, the Latin superstar is using his platform and music to spotlight the Puerto Rican cause on the global stage.
Written by: Catherine Jones