Wee-Man: Just Living
Feb 28 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
No larger-than-life shopping carts. No Johnny Knoxville or Bam Margera and definitely no oompa loompa costume. Just Wee-Man, or as friends call him, Jason. What’s behind professional skateboarder and actor Jason 'Wee-Man' Acuna’s crazy persona? Like the entire cast of the hit movies and television series, he seems to have the word “Jackass” emblazoned on his forehead. But, unlike the other guys, he has to deal with another distinction – being a little person. Perceptions can sometimes prevent people from seeing the truth. So, what is it that keeps such a big grin on his face? Well, having the hookups doesn’t hurt. But, there’s more to Wee-Man’s happiness than material stuff.
“Jackass! Jackass!” he heard people yell at him on the streets of Tokyo, Japan in 2000. He then began to realize the popularity the “Jackass” series was swiftly gaining. It wasn’t long before Wee-Man and the rest of the crew were being treated like rock stars. But, what was it about “Jackass” that captured the world’s attention? Sure, who can't resist watching, as he puts it, “a whole bunch of hot dudes doing frat boy and prankster stuff”? But, there was a deeper psychology behind its success. The series connected people in a strange and unexpected way. Jason attributes the success of the series and movies to the emotional affect it has on people. “They feel like they’re one of the boys or that they’re hanging out with you,” he explains. “And it makes them feel comfortable.”
Making people feel comfortable is what Wee-Man does best. In fact, it’s his entire life philosophy. “No matter what I do, I just want to entertain people and make them happy.” he says. His laid-back, happy-go-lucky attitude is infectious, on and off screen. As a child, he found skateboarding suited his carefree personality. By the time Jason got his first skateboard at 10 years old, something instantly clicked. “When I’m skating, I just feel like nothing else matters,” he says. “It’s just me and the skateboard.”
It’s not that nothing in life matters to him, it’s just that he doesn’t take everything so seriously. It’s this attitude that has kept that notorious prankster smile on his face, even throughout the challenges. Jason is almost oblivious to his height and says, “It never crossed my mind as being a challenge.”
Fame has presented little problems for the skater as well, who is often stopped by fans to take a picture or sign an autograph. He never minds, although he does have fun with fans, sometimes sternly shouting “No!” when asked for an autograph, then after a second adding, “Eh, just kidding!” He’s also been known to tell fans who ask where Preston Lacey is (who, clad only in underwear, Wee-Man chases down the street in the infamous “Jackass” skit), “I’ve got him locked up in my closet today so he won’t be out.”
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A self-described “anarchist”, he always knew a 9-5 job just wouldn’t work for him. “I just never wanted to grow up.” Acuna says. After working jobs at skate shops, wondering how he could make his dream life become a reality, Acuna started to gain some success in professional skating. But in this case, fame and fortune were not a package deal and it wasn’t until he was subscription manager at Big Brother magazine that things started to pay off. Big Brother was making skate videos that also had “Jackass”-style stunts in them on the West Coast. At the same time on the East Coast, Bam Margera and his crew were doing similar stunts for “CKY” videos. When director Jeff Tremaine brought the two forces together, it created a brainless yet brilliant and unstoppable force.
The popularity of “Jackass” hasn’t altered Wee-Man's down-to-earth nature. He still has the same attitude he’s always had. He embraces life and doesn’t worry about the future. “I kind of live day by day.” he says. While he’ll never work a 9-5 job, Acuna keeps himself busy doing what he calls, “just livin’.” This explains the life advice he sends to all the kids out there: “Just live.”
A Brief Q & A with Jason ‘Wee-Man’ Acuna
How did you get the nickname Wee Man?
I got the nickname from Sal Rocco.
Who was Sal?
He was Steve Rocco’s brother. He used to work in the shipping area at World Industries when it first started. When I worked at ET skate shop I would go pick up boards and Sal would be like ‘Wee Man’s here.’ Big Brother magazine had an office there and they would see me come in and they would here Sal and it just stuck. Big Brother was the first magazine to print it.
I thought Jackass was done and then you guys come out with part 2?
When we were ending Wildboyz that’s when Knoxville said he wanted to get the band back together and we all got excited about doing a sequel.
Knoxville pretty much initiated it?
Yeah, It was him and Jeff Tremaine (director). He told the Wildbozy guys first and we were amped on the idea.
Didn'g you hurt yourself a while back?
Oh man, we just found out that we were going to film the movie and on the last day for me to get hurt with the contract and all that I broke my right femur in a spiral break and I had to get a titanium rod put into it. When Tremaine came to the hospital he told me ‘Ok, dude. You’ll be fine, but just ease into the movie.’ I said ‘F’that’ and I went full force and got some gnarly footage for the movie.
So you broke your femur skating though right?
Yeah, I broke it skating. What happened was I was doing an interview at this Mexican spot and had a few beers, then my friend HMC called and wanted to know if I wanted to go skate this ramp. I was like ‘F it I had a couple of beers, I’ll go skate.’ Third run on the ramp. Just warming up I messed up on an axle stall and dove back into the ramp and slammed my knee and broke my femur.
What do you like about skateboarding?
I like that I can take a lot of aggression out and that it’s against the system. Normal people hate it because they think we are destroying everything.
It seems to be more accepted now though?
Yeah, it’s getting more accepted, but mainly for the soccer mom skate park. Where one day a week a soccer mom will pick up the kids in the neighborhood and drop them off. It’s still not accepted though when you find a secret spot and want to skate it people are going to get pissed. In the soccer form of recreational skateboarding it’s totally accepted in
raw streetdog form it’s not.Where have you been shredding?
Right now it’s been a lot of skateparks. One of my favorites is the Long Beach Park. It’s huge has bowls and banks. Everything is big there. I’m also starting to like ES High again.
What skateboarders influenced you growing up?
There are 3 skaters that influenced me growing up and these are in no particular order. Eric Dressen, Natas Kaupus and Jason Jesse. I’ll explain why. Eric D has a really good street style. He has really good frontside grinds and smiths. He also does everything so fast. Natas has such a smooth style and had the big ollie. I would pop in a video and saw him it would really inspire me. Jason Jessee brought the coreness of vert skating to people. The way his frontside ollies are, he just boosts them out of the ramp, but he also brings crazy antics into the mix. You never know what you’re going to get when the camera comes out and Jason Jessee is around.
How important do you think it is to interact with fans?
I think it’s one of the most important things. You can either make or break a fan. It’s just a cool bro thing to do. They’ll tell all there friends. I think it’s really important. It is just good karma.
Did Jackass pretty much change your life?
It started slowly when I got into Big Brother magazine and we started doing the videos. People noticed me more, but once Jackass hit the air, that’s when I really noticed it. More mainstream people began noticing, not just skateboarders. Now I can’t really go anywhere without someone noticing me.
Well I’ve seen your disguise and it didn’t seem to work.
Well I wanted to pick you up at the airport and wanted to be there when you got off so I put on some sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt.
Well you stood out even more.
I figured it out. If I want to fool people, I would have to put on some stilts, trench coat and sunglasses.
Who’s been hooking you up?
Who’s got my back?
Yeah..
Two Felons Skateboards, DVS Shoes, Independent Trucks, Von Zipper Eyewear and Monster Energy Drink
What’s your secret to living life?
Well, my secret to life is to try and stay healthy. I mean party a little bit once in a while, but don’t let the little things bring you down. Ever since I’ve been a little kid I’ve been stoked on life. When I was younger my Mom took me to a little person convention. I went for the weekend and met other little people and hung out. When I came home I told her I didn’t want to go back. All they did was bitch and complain about being small. I’m not like that. You can’t have that attitude. I’m so stoked to be able to push my skateboard around and just live life. Life is a big chance. I just roll the dice and hopefully get snake eyes.
