The skate legend opens up in our new film.

From the outside looking in, it would appear as though Jamie Thomas always had his shit together. Notoriously disciplined and driven, few have left an indelible mark in skateboarding like the Chief. As a pro skater, filmer, editor, brand builder, entrepreneur, and designer, Jamie has built a legacy on being meticulous, laser focused, and detail-oriented that hasn’t been matched since his meteoric rise to the top. If you grew up skating in the ’90s or 2000s, there’s a very solid chance that Jamie was your favorite skater and Zero was your favorite brand. Hell, even Graham Coxon, guitarist of Blur, wrote a song called “Jamie Thomas” at the height of their collective fame.

Now approaching 50 with a new perspective on balance and life, Jamie reflects on his decades of experience, acknowledging that his obsessiveness was actually a self-destructive coping mechanism—a fatal flaw preventing him from being the well rounded family man he’s become today. That’s isn’t to say he’s not still completely obsessed with everything he does. It’s just that he’s learned to compartmentalize his time in order to live a more balanced and fulfilled life.

Don’t think you’ll see him slow down anytime soon, though. As he says, “I don’t really think about retirement. I don’t want to just sit somewhere. That sounds like purgatory. I just want to keep learning and growing.” Without further ado, we’re proud to present A Portrait on Jamie Thomas, a short film about Jamie in 2022. The good, the bad, the Chief.

Directed by Jordan Lovelis

Presented by OTIS

Executive Produced by Monster Children and OTIS

Produced by Kevin Duffel

Shot and edited by Jordan Lovelis and Max Junk

Photography by Ryan Allan

AC - Taha Sobhani

Gaffer - Beau Trembly

Sound Recordist - Joel Jasper

Color - Connor Bailey

Sound Design - Thom Pringle

Last song - "You & I" by Francisco The Man