In this series, Frank 151 invites you on a captivating journey around the globe, providing a unique glimpse into the narratives and imaginative landscapes of individuals who are driving creativity to new heights worldwide.
Embark on a visual and intellectual adventure as we delve into the worlds of not only photographers and actors but also delve into the realms of rappers, musicians, graffiti artists, filmmakers, and the visionary minds behind emerging brands. Our creative chronicles are set to unfold, offering a rich tapestry of insights, anecdotes, and life wisdom that traverse the vibrant streets to the dynamic boardrooms, from the vast oceans to the majestic mountains.
Join us as we connect with the crème de la crème of the creative realm, bringing forth a diverse spectrum of perspectives that highlight the intersection of artistry, innovation, and entrepreneurship. From the pulse of urban streets to the serene landscapes, this series promises to capture the essence of the global creative scene, providing an immersive experience that transcends boundaries and celebrates the multifaceted expressions of human ingenuity.
Before Instagram feeds and YouTube docuseries, Patrick O’Dell was capturing raw, unfiltered moments of skateboarding culture through his blog, Epicly Later’d. What started as a personal archive of the Downtown NYC scene quickly evolved into one of the most influential skate documentaries of all time. By the mid-2000s, Epicly Later’d found a home on Vice, where it set the blueprint for modern-day skate documentaries—long before content creators flooded the internet with similar formats.
O’Dell’s signature approach—combining intimate interviews with rare archival footage—provided an in-depth look into the lives of both underground legends and household names. His lens treated skateboarding with the same reverence as fine art, a stark contrast to the DIY punk energy that defined much of the skate media at the time. With early episodes featuring icons like John Cardiel, Alex Olson, and Jason Dill, the series quickly became the most respected skate show online.
Beyond filmmaking, O’Dell has made his mark as a photographer, having served as Vice’s photo editor and contributing to Thrasher and numerous brands over the years. While he considers portraiture his true passion, his skate photography stands as some of the best in the game. Part documentarian, part historian, and part storyteller, O’Dell has spent decades preserving the culture that raised him.
For this installment of Creative Chronicles, we sit down with Patrick O’Dell to talk about his journey, his impact on skateboarding, and the art of storytelling through film and photography.
FRANK 151: Epicly Later’d became a cult classic for skate culture. When you first started, did you ever think it’d hit the kind of legendary status it has now? Or was it just something for you and the homies?
No, I had no expectation of it being a cult classic or anything like that. I really thought of it as a weekly webshow, a lot of the early ones are really embarrassing in retrospect and I wish I had had a proper production budget back then.
FRANK 151: You’re known for your photography, but with Epicly Later’d, you switched gears into video storytelling. What made you take that leap, and how’d you land on the style that became your signature?
It was just luck, it fell into my lap at Vice. They were trying out all these shows in different genres, and for skateboarding I was an easy choice because I was already working at Vice Magazine.
Frank 151: Skateboarding is all about staying underground and raw, but platforms like Vice take it to the mainstream. How do you keep the grit alive when you’re creating for such a big audience?
I don’t really think about it. Especially since Vice is barely afloat as far as I’ve read. Epicly Later’d is its own little island at Vice and I only know one person that works there.
FRANK 151: Your interviews go way deeper than just skating—they’re raw, vulnerable, and personal. How do you get skaters to trust you enough to open up like that?
I don’t know. Its just the kind of things I’m curious about. I get bored of skateboarding sometimes, or just bored of going through every video part they ever filmed or every sponsor the skater ever had. I’d just rather talk about real shit.
FRANK 151: Out of all the episodes you’ve done, which one hit the hardest for you? Like, whether it was a crazy challenge to film or just something that stuck with you long after. Skateboarding’s changed a lot since you started documenting it?
I think John Cardiel’s has lived as my most classic episode, or the one from back then people still talk about. Other than that I just think about whichever one is newest. After they have been out for a week, I usually forget they exist.
FRANK 151: From your view, how has the culture shifted, and do you feel like Epicly Later’d has played a role in those changes?
I don’t know. I can’t really say, someone else could answer that. We just try to make episodes about skaters and topics that already exist. I think maybe it helps that we try to pick interesting people and not just whoever is the top skater at the moment.
FRANK 151: You’ve covered legends like Bam Margera and Andrew Reynolds—guys with heavy stories. How do you walk the line between telling the truth and not glamorizing the darker parts of their lives?
I’m not worried about glamorizing drugs or anything, if anything the show does the opposite at this point. We have done a lot of recovery episodes.
FRANK 151: You’ve always been someone who bridges skate culture and the mainstream. Do you ever feel like there’s a tension between staying true to the core community and bringing these stories to a wider audience?
No, the only thing we do that might take the audience into account is agonizing over the episode lengths. Sometimes we have to cut through things we don’t find as important and kind take liberties with storytelling vs an accurate bibliography of someone’s skate career, kind of: “lets cut this tanget about Dog Butt skateboards and 3rd video part with the Kansas Homies”. Or ‘I think people will be bored here, lets tighten it up.’ I figure people can go on podcasts or other shows later and expand on stuff we missed.
FRANK 151: Turning Epicly Later’d into a book feels like such a natural move, but was it as smooth as it seems? Did you hit any walls trying to translate all those visuals and vibes onto paper?
No it was pretty easy. We had a great team helping me out. Jesse Pearson who launched VBS.TV back in the day helped edit it. Su Barber, Amy Kellner… a bunch of NY legends helped me out.
Patrick O’Dell: Epicly Later’d
FRANK 151: For all the young creatives out there who want to document skateboarding—or any subculture, really—what’s your advice for keeping it real and not just chasing clout?
Chasing Clout is fine, that might be how I got it done. Nowadays, I the work is its own reward. For me the best thing is getting out there, out of bed, off TV, and into the world with a camera.