Signatures of the Soul - Tattooing Today

Tattooing — "The world's oldest skin game" — is the subject of this documentary made by Geoff Steven who scored a major coup when he obtained the services of Peter Fonda as his presenter. Shot in NZ, Samoa, Japan and the United States, it traces the history of tattooing from Ancient Egypt through its tribal importance in the Pacific, to a counter culture renaissance that began in the 1960s. Leading practitioners (including superstar Ed Hardy) are interviewed and observed at work, while their clients wince their way towards becoming living canvasses.

Most everyone that comes in here treats us real good. I guess they better since they’re going to be on the other end of the needle.

– East Los Angeles tattooist Mike Brown

Key Cast & Crew

Geoff Steven

Director, Writer, Producer

Peter Fonda

Presenter

Graham Smith

Camera

Julienne Stretton

Research

Alf West

Editor

Mike Fitzgerald

Sound