NYSFF 2008

The film festival, as far as I can tell, has been a massive success. I have met filmmakers from around the world and seen some pretty interesting films. Last night our film played right after a short day-in-the-life mash up about Bruce Irons, and this super interesting found-footage compilation of a Palos Verdes doctor's mid century Orange County water and surgical exploits.
The New Wave stylings of Lapsed Catholics seemed to go over well enough and I was really excited to be on the same bill as Bustin Down The Door, a film that ought to be seen.

I had a some really great conversations, including some with a fellow named Ricardo, a Venezuelan American soon-to-be Canadian living in Nova Scotia. He and his buddy David produce a cool blog about green surfing products and Antonio and I are hoping to make the flight up to visit him and surf the frigid waters. Camera in tow of course.
Also a shout to Josh from the Chilean arm of Save The Waves. He got to put up with Antonio and I (and my bad fusbol playing and general pranking) for a night.
And then there are the Driggs brothers, whom probably got lost somewhere up in Rhode Island on Saturday searching for that perfect reef I was preaching.

Anyhow, Big Wednesday plays today and then the thing shuts down. But Tyler and Mike and Morgan and Blain and the rest of the crew have done a pretty astounding job and I look forward to next year's. Hopefully we will have another film in there.

The Last Day Of Summer Surfing

Nussie forwarded this to me from the Rockaways. I was out there at Gilgo at roughly the same time. I reckon I won't be wearing my 15 year old long sleeve spring again until next year when I restart my annual Rip Van Winkle lookalike contest. This day woke bright and clear and ushered with its passing the dark and grey.

NYSFF starts tonight. Link to the official Endless Bummer NY film entry to the right there....

Facebook Surfing

Da Line McOwen & Son

Tim G.

Snake Carter

Jackie Moonbags

Brandi & Mo

Jon Esh

Petey Sods

I have been finding some funny surf photos of friends on Facebook. It probably says something about me that I belong to Facebook. It probably says something about something that people paste sometimes goofy (but stoking) surf photos of themselves up on Facebook. It definitely says something that I edit a cruddy surf blog about not surfing.

Anyhow, thoughts of the day include the newly minted socialist capitalism that is all of a sudden absolutely necessary while medicine and education, long in a state of crisis, continues to be ignored. The moral writing is on the wall again after a decade or two of being continually whitewashed. It's money that makes the world go round, not people.

Oprah, and through Oprah, women, are going to change the world for the better. It is the only hope. Check the New York Times article on the front page today.

On another moral note, the Godfather pointed out someone's opining that one should never abide by any moral code that limits the ability to tell a joke.

Another foray into actual web logging, most likely a bad idea. But today's impatience with not being in the water must be recorded.

o9/13/2oo8

Left, Center, Right

I am not a surf blog aficionado but I'll check a few here and there just to see what other people are doing and thinking. Mostly I just hover around Shipworm & Gribble and wait for them to announce something.
Lately, though, I have taken to hitting three blogs in particular for their quality content and different approaches to the process:

Left Coast: "Beer Can Beach" put out by some guy named Christian in L.A. Very mellow character, writes about being a normal joe surfer type in that craziest of counties.
Central (Quad) Coast: "The Fresh Aspect" put out by a fellow named Eric and delves into the finer points of midAmerican enjoyment, which includes, among other things I like to read about, surfing the Great Lakes. A pretty good bit of breath.
Right Coast: "Mastastico" penned and posted by Mr. Lentini out on the longer island and in a town I have enjoyed immensely in the last few years (although, he might point out, I know nothin about.) His blog is full of good links, nice vids and plenty of Ron Stoner love.

Anyhow, this has been a test of the emergency surf blog system. It was only a test. Had this been a real surf blog, it might have been a bad video featuring cruddy waves (see previous posts).

No one is going to value your time as much as you should. September hooky session and Long Beach run soundscape.

o9/o8/2008

Tony Jr. in Montauk

Antonio has been working up in Montauk this weekend. While normally I'd be biting my lip, apparently it has been pretty messy so far. Here are a couple frames of mess. Hopefully it will clean up for him today.

Everard says something small is better than nothing at all. I agree. Fun mid day times out at a long beach.

o9/o3/2oo8
Music: National Anthem of Libya

The Surf Magazines Don't Talk About Lapsed Catholics

A year ago, Antonio and I decided we'd make a film about surfing in New York. All shot on beautiful 16mm with long, thoughtful compositions concerning some of the more interesting and magical aspects of the process.
We contacted some subject matter, talked to some guys and then got real busy at work.
We haven't made that film yet.
We will.

A few months ago a friend of mine got real sick and I tried to imagine what it must feel like to be so sick. It got me thinking about surfing. And not surfing.
While making a film about it, Antonio looked over my shoulder and saw what I was up to and said, "hey, that looks pretty nice, do you want to use some stuff I shot?"
I looked at his footage and was blown away by how well it linked up with the original idea.

Anyhow, the end result of the collaboration has been accepted to the First Annual New York Surf Film Festival.
It's showing at the end of September at the Tribeca Theatre, immediately preceding Shaun Thompson's new film "Bustin' Down The Door," about the 'Roo/'Bok mid-70's assault on the North Shore.

Here is the link to buy tickets, if you want to see our work on the big screen.

The Great Rocky North, One Day Before The Swell Actually Hits

09/o1/2oo8
Music by M.Ward