Iconoclasts - Season4 - Tony Hawk + John Favreau

Tony Hawk

SKATEBOARDER

Fans are not sure if he is more gymnast, acrobat or magician. The only thing certain about Tony Hawk is that he is skateboarding's primary icon. His physical skill and dazzling artistry have left fans slack-jawed ever since he turned pro at age 14. Tony's talents have brought skateboarding unprecedented mainstream attention and respect, which has helped legitimize all action sports. In July '08 Tony rolled out his 24-city-summer Boom Boom HuckJam tour. In fall of '07 Tony launched his latest video game, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground as well as his SECRET SKATEPARK TOUR 3 video. In November of '06, Tony launched his Tony Hawk's Project 8 and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. In 2005 Tony launched Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (or T.H.A.W.) in the US as well as internationally. In 2004 Tony Hawk signed with Sirius Satellite Radio for a weekly radio show, Tony Hawk's Demolition Radio. Commercial free and completely un-censored, Tony plays his fave music and speaks with his skater and celebrity friends. In the summer of 2006 Tony Hawk's Boom Boom HuckJam visited Six Flags locations across the US. Back in 2002, Boom Boom HuckJam took premier skaters, BMX bikers, motocross athletes and rock bands on a sensational 24-city tour that packed arenas across the U.S. Since 2003 the tour has rolled into 31 cities each year across North America. Tabbed once again as the Favorite Male Athlete at the 2008 Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards (he won the same award in 2003, 2004 and in 2001, beating Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Tiger Woods), Tony has become a role model for fans of all ages. He was named Choice Male Athlete at the Teen Choice Awards 2004 and had won the same in 2001 and 2000. He is an active participant in the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which honored him as its Favorite Male Athlete in 2002. His own non-profit charity, the Tony Hawk Foundation, has awarded nearly $1,000,000 to help finance public skateparks in low-income areas nationwide. In 2001, his best-selling Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game, made by Activision, won three Blockbuster Awards for Favorite PlayStation, Dreamcast and GameBoy games. And, the Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards named it Best Video Game, at the same ceremony in which he was named Favorite Athlete. The Pro Skater series is now one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, with more than 20 million units sold worldwide. The game’s fifth release, in '03, was Tony Hawk's Underground (or T.H.U.G.) and took virtual gaming to a new level, allowing players to scan in their own photos and skate as themselves. Now 40, Tony is best known for his "900" (two and a half spins above a 12-foot-high halfpipe), which existed only in theory until he landed it at the 1999 X-Games. In 2000, Tony wrote a best-selling autobiography, HAWK: Occupation Skateboarder, his first of three books. The same year, he won ESPN's ESPY award for Best Alternative Athlete. The televised Tony Hawk’s Gigantic Skatepark Tour, took skaters/BMX bikers to skateparks across the U.S., became the highest rated on ESPN2. Ever since older brother Steve gave him his first Bahne fiberglass skateboard at age 9, Tony wanted to skate. Two years later, to the surprise of his father Frank, the local Little League president, Tony quit baseball to pursue his true love. The decision proved to be fortuitous. He turned pro at 14, placing 1st or 2nd at nearly every event in his career, and invented more than 80 tricks, earning fiercely loyal fans in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. Concurrent with Tony's rise in popularity, skateboarding has evolved from an underground pursuit to a respected sport -- one requiring talent, discipline and training. Today, many top skaters earn six-figure incomes. Tony has appeared in commercials and campaigns for mainstream brands such as Frito Lay's Go Snacks, Hershey’s Milk, McDonald's, Powerade and Apple computers. Despite the mainstream attention, Tony maintains his popularity among the core audience in skateboarding. He is co-owner of Birdhouse skateboards, one of skateboarding's most respected brands. He also has a strong relationship with Quiksilver, the top global brand in apparel for the boardriding culture and a force in the action-sports retail market. Quiksilver now owns and operates Hawk Clothing, a line of skatewear for kids that Tony and his siblings started back in 1998.

Jon Favreau

DIRECTOR

Ten years after establishing himself with the acclaimed hipster comedy, SWINGERS, Jon Favreau continues to challenge himself with a variety of eclectic projects highlighting his strengths as an actor, writer and director. As a director, Favreau most recently completed IRON MAN, starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Samuel L. Jackson. Based on the Stan Lee Marvel comic, the story follows a man, who, after a near-fatal accident, creates a life support suit to keep him alive; he utilizes the same technology in his suit to fight crime. The film was released May 2, 2008 by Paramount Pictures. As an actor, Favreau is currently filming I LOVE YOU, MAN, opposite Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jaime Pressly and Andy Samberg. Favreau next appears in FOUR CHRISTMASES, with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, which will be released in late 2008 Favreau was last seen as 'Johnny O' in the Universal Pictures comedy, THE BREAK-UP starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Anniston as a couple whose break-up gets nasty after they each attempt to prevent their significant other from getting their luxurious condo. Favreau directed the Columbia Pictures intergalactic adventure, ZATHURA, starring Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson, Kristen Stewart and Tim Robbins. Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, ZATHURA tells the magical tale of two young brothers whose house is suddenly hurtled through space. In 2003, Favreau directed the holiday classic ELF starring Will Ferrell as a man raised by elves after he accidentally fell into Santa's sack. The New Line film grossed more $170 million in the U.S. and remains a beloved holiday favorite. In 2001, Favreau made his feature film directorial debut with MADE, a script he also wrote. Favreau starred in the movie opposite Vince Vaughn and Sean "Puffy" Combs. The indie comedy centers on two aspiring boxers and lifelong friends (Favreau and Vaughn) who get involved in a money-laundering scheme through a low-level organized crime group. Combs played the leader of a New York-based syndicate who is awaiting the money. The fourth season of IFC's Emmy-nominated show, Dinner For Five made its way on DVD in December 2007. The show, conceived by Favreau, premiered to critical acclaim on the network in 2001. Each episode features Favreau and four guests from the entertainment industry sharing an evening of dining and unscripted dialogue. Some of Dinner for Five's acclaimed guests included Brian Grazer, Peter Bogdanovich, Maggie Gyllenhaal, J.J. Abrams, Daryl Hannah and Martin Scorsese. Favreau made a career-defining turn portraying legendary heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano in the acclaimed Showtime biopic, MARCIANO. Written and directed by Charles Winkler, and produced by Irwin Winkler and Rob Cowan, the film chronicles the boxer's rise to fame as the only undefeated heavyweight champion in history. Favreau's film credits include the romantic comedy WIMBLEDON, with Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst; the Marvel adaptation, DAREDEVIL, starring Ben Affleck; LOVE AND SEX opposite Famke Janssen; THE REPLACEMENTS with Keanu Reeves; VERY BAD THINGS, opposite Christian Slater and Cameron Diaz; and DEEP IMPACT with Robert Duvall, Morgan Freeman, and Vanessa Redgrave. His television credits include a recurring role on the popular situation comedy, Friends and a special appearance HBO's critically acclaimed The Sopranos, playing himself. Based upon his personal Hollywood experience, Favreau wrote, developed and co-produced SWINGERS, a project for his friends and himself to star in. Shot on a shoestring budget, the film ultimately resulted in a record-breaking distribution deal with Miramax. Swingers opened to critical and audience acclaim, prompting The Chicago Film Critics Association to give Faverau a nomination for "Most Promising Actor" in 1997. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Favreau did everything from cleaning garage vents in Hell's kitchen to working for an investment banking firm on Wall Street before deciding to become an actor. He moved to Chicago to pursue a career in improvisational comedy and live theater, supporting himself as a cartoonist. It was during this time David Anspaugh cast Favreau in a starring role in Tristar's RUDY, which marked his film debut.

Photos from this episode:

Image from Tony Hawk + John Favreau pairing from ICONOCLASTS Season 4.

Image from Tony Hawk + John Favreau pairing from ICONOCLASTS Season 4.

Image from Tony Hawk + John Favreau pairing from ICONOCLASTS Season 4.

Image from Tony Hawk + John Favreau pairing from ICONOCLASTS Season 4.