Oakland, California, in the 1980s had a bad rap. Despite the rising crime rates and drug use, there existed a vibrant community rich in cultural heritage and strong social bonds. “Freaky Tales” showcases stories from the era, shifting the spotlight away from the town’s stereotypes and toward its true spirit and mythos focusing on the funky, diverse, and resilient communities and arts scene.
Written by Bay Area native Ryan Fleck and co-writer Anna Boden, and based on Fleck’s real and imagined memories of the town, the film gives us not one — but four — intertwining stories that showcase the subcultures building momentum in Oakland: punk, hip-hop, and athletics.
I talked to Korean American actor Ji-young Yoo about punk culture, 1987 Oakland, and the film’s relevance today.
What is Punk Culture?
In the first vignette, “The Gilman Strikes Back,” young punks Tina (played by Yoo) and Lucid (played by Jack Champion) are part of the raw and chaotic Gilman Street community. It’s a real Oakland gem that spawned the likes of Green Day, Rancid, and Operation Ivy.
“Punk is really like an ethos and a culture and mindset … because punk is just kind of anti-institution, and is against capitalism and against trends,” Yoo informs me. “Punk in the ’80s would be different from what’s punk right now, which is a really interesting debate to have. For this film, we did a lot of work with the actual Gilman [music club] in Oakland and some of the original founding members of it, such [as] Tim Armstrong, who was a member of Rancid and also Operation Ivy, consulted a lot in the movie, and got us connected with a lot of the people, including the bands that perform in the film.”
Although punk music is associated with both mosh pits and aggression, the sign at the door of Gilman — both historically and fictionally — reads “No Racism, No Sexism, No Homophobia, No Drugs, No Alcohol, No Violence.” This counterculture is most importantly nonviolent….
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