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Los Angeles Native, Gantry Hill grew up cruising around town on his skateboard. It was through skating that he discovered his love for filmmaking while developing a mentality of creating with your friends, making something with what you have and getting the shot regardless of the obstacles. Gantry’s latest project, “Western Symphony” is all shot on Super 8 and is an ode to the city he loves and calls home. We caught up with Gantry to ask him a few questions about his early start and how he Finds his Outerknown through art and film.

Q: Being a Los Angeles native, how has growing up here shaped your creativity and perspective? 

A: LA has always felt like a magical place to me. You can turn your head in any direction and find inspiration. I grew up skateboarding so I spent most of my childhood exploring the city in search of handrails, ledges and stairs. It was a unique childhood that shaped how I look at the world. 

Q: How did you get into skateboarding and directing and how do the two overlap for you?  

A: One of my good friends growing up got a new board and I remember stepping foot on it for the first time. I’ll never forget it. The shape, the concave, the dark sparkly griptape. It had its own personality and soul. I always tell people that skateboarding is the best film school because it puts you in crazy scenarios that force you to be creative under pressure. That’s helped me so much as a director and filmmaker. I love being on set, solving problems, taking risks, creating something with the crew. And I always believe I’m going to get the shot. 

Q: What are a few of your favorite LA spots to skate?  

A: There are so many iconic spots out here. The LA Courthouse, Hollywood High, the old Graffiti Pit in Venice, the Wilshire Rails. But my personal favorite are the picnic tables in the valley schoolyards. The valley is notorious for picnic tables. It’s like a right of passage when you first grind one. That’s the skater’s bar-mitzvah.

Q: What is your favorite thing about making your own films?  

A: Film is a very expressive medium and it allows me to say things in a creative way, a lot like how I did with skateboarding. I’ve been fortunate to have quite a bit of creative freedom in my work, even with the larger brands I’ve directed for. I have an incredibly talented group of people I collaborate with on almost every project and it makes the whole process very damn fulfilling. 

Q: What was the inspiration behind your new short film, Western Symphony?  

A: The film is a collection of three Super8 shorts titled Visitor, Dreamer and Scorcher. I wanted to try something different on this project and landed on this concept of telling a dreamlike story of LA through a mosaic of portraits of the people who inspire me, all accompanied by a voiceover monologue that meanders through three different topics. I think the core idea was to create a symphony with portraits. 

Q: You may have seen or heard our tagline, "Find Your Outerknown." The Outerknown is part of who you are; it grounds you, resets your day and makes you the best version of yourself. Whether you're going across the globe or just outside your door, we encourage everyone to find their Outerknown every day. How do you Find Your Outerknown?  

A: Anything that sets me into motion I’m on board for. I don’t really care much for routine so I think embarking on new projects and challenging missions are what get me most excited. That’s how I Find My Outerknown. 

Q: What are your favorite Outerknown pieces? 

A: I love the Sojourn Shirt and The Field Pants. It’s such a comfortable and versatile combo that I can film, skate, travel and drink coffee in. Not necessarily in that order.