Photographer Kevin Campbell and director James Cheeks, right, will premiere their documentary “On The Grind” at the Art Theatre this Saturday.

1:45pm | Director James Cheeks III – or “Cheeks,” to his friends – will premiere his documentary “On The Grind” this weekend, about the cultural rise of the black skateboarder in Long Beach and local efforts to build a new skatepark in an impoverished neighborhood.

Two showings of the 30-minute film will be held at the historic Long Beach Art Theatre on Saturday, at 11:00am and 12:00pm. Cheeks promises a special treat and teaser for audiences, but the film itself should be enough to draw large crowds. It’s been well received in the 20-25 film festivals that Cheeks has entered it into, and even won “Best Documentary Short” at the Mammoth Film Festival last year.

“You’re going to see a slice of life,” he says, standing in the center of the 14th Street Skate Park where the majority of the film takes place.

“The movie has all of these characters that are just ridiculous,” he says with a wide, fond smile. “But it’s out of a lot of pain.”

Cheeks sought to capture the pain of a troubled neighborhood and its youth with his film, documenting the murder of local skater Michael K. Green and the subsequent trial of his killers. Through Green’s story, Cheeks found a vibrant subculture of black skaters and their search for hope in a neighborhood with few opportunities.

As a black kid growing up in Oklahoma and rocking out to punk music, Cheeks connected with the Long Beach skaters who didn’t fit the typical mold. He followed them in the crushing aftermath of Green’s death, as so many friends had looked up to the man that many say was well on his way to becoming a professionally-endorsed skater.

Cheeks also filmed the trial and ultimate conviction of Green’s killers, as well as his mourning friends’ efforts to revitalize the 14th Street Skate Park and make something positive happen in their community.

Cheeks spent so much time on “On The Grind” that it became his graduate school thesis at USC Film School, which he completed last year. He also connected fiercely to his subjects, particularly some of the skaters and Green’s mother, who stood tearfully and triumphantly at the microphone in January as City officials unveiled the newly-designed Michael K. Green Skate Park.

Some proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit a fund for Green’s family, to support his mother, sisters and brothers – one of which suffers from cerebral palsy.

Cheeks says the experience has been more than he ever thought it would be.

“It’s humbling to be a part of the scene here, because it’s unique,” he says.

Check out the trailer for the film below, and click here to find information about the Art Theatre.