TREATMENT

SKATEBOARDING SOMERSET
Ben Stevens October 2023

LOG LINE
A group of media students explore the history of skateboarding in Somerset and whether it
ever became a prominent sub-culture in the County.

PLOT SUMMARY
Skateboarding Somerset follows the story of the skate scene in England’s cider county.
Caught between the two most prominent birthplaces of British skateboarding in Cornwall
and Bristol during the 70s, was Somerset ever affected by the boom in a new culture? To the
naked eye, the answer is hard to decipher. But take a deeper look into some of the county’s
rural towns - where unbeknown to most, rich skate hotspots are flourishing.

CAST & CONTRIBUTORS

Jack Bessant – A Cheddar local, 90s Rock band ‘Reef’ guitarist, and passionate skater.
Patrick Merryfield – Cheddar local, Patrick is one of the most talented skaters there.
Cheddar Town Council – For the reasons behind the installation of the skatepark.
Phil Williams – The driving force behind Nailsea Skatepark Project.
Reuben Todd – A young Nailsea local who has progressed incredibly since the restoration.
Alvin Lane – Alvin’s been skating the seafront from a young age and knows his stuff.
Ben Smart – A seasoned rider, Ben has experienced the Weston skate scene from day one.
Joanne Walker – Isaac's Mother (Transport)
Zoe Stevens – Ben's Mother (Transport)

SYNOPSIS
Skateboarding Somerset will take place in three of the county’s most prominent skate-spots.
Cheddar skatepark has been chosen for our first location, due to its flourishing skate culture,
extraordinary location, and incredible local talent. It is an iconic spot and has been for the
past 13 years, hence its prominence in the Somerset skate scene.

Second on our list is Nailsea Skatepark. For over 20 years this skatepark has been the home
of Somerset’s biggest and best annual skate festival, attracting riders of all backgrounds and
abilities. It has also seen one of the area’s most successful restoration projects in 2016,
replacing the old, worn wooden ramps with brand new spray concrete. Did this lead to an
increase in riders in the area, and go on to shape a new era of quality and expectations of
skateboarding in Somerset?
Finally, Italian Gardens on Weston Seafront has been chosen as our third location to
complete the story of Somerset’s skate scene. Specifically for this location, Somerset’s Street
scene. For years, the gardens have been used as a favoured plaza for all types of wheeled
shredders. Weston is home to its own skateparks, but why is it that the streets get more
use?

Our list of contributors will be just as vital in portraying the story of skateboarding in
Somerset as the locations.

SCREENPLAY
The film will open with the Boneless Pictures logo and jump into archive footage of
skateboarding in the 70s in Bristol and Cornwall, with some 70s alternative rock music
overlaying. Isaac’s voice will narrate the opening line of the film.

The film will then cut to drone shots and B-roll of Cheddar. A big title (CHEDDAR) will appear
on the screen over a drone shot approaching the skatepark. Issac will narrate a brief history
of skateboarding in somerset accompanied by archive footage and B-roll.

This will fade into our first interview with either Jack Bessant or Patrick Merryfield and the
story of cheddar will lead on from there depending on what they say.

A sick montage of Patrick and Jack skateboarding will be followed by Isaac narrating the next
era of concrete skateboarding, more importantly, Nailsea skatepark.

The interview with Phil Williams should transition in from here and go over the prominence
of the Skate Fest and the concrete renovation. This will be immediately followed by
Somerset Hanson’s interview.

Isaac’s narration will take us to Weston where he explains the fact that Weston has
skateparks but are not used as much as the streets. This will lead into the Alvin Lane
interview including B-roll shots of him skateboarding.

Ben Smart’s interview will follow and take the audience through the history of skateboarding
in Weston. Vox Pops will also be used in the Italian gardens and high street to understand
the public’s views on skateboarding in Weston.

A montage of Ben Smart’s amazing skate style will lead into the future of Somerset
Skateboarding, and an interview with myself (Ben) regarding the future and Locking
Skatepark Project.

Another montage will lead into the end credits.