The Shaper - Best Film at Show

This awesome film, The Shaper, has been awarded the prize for Best Film at Show at the inaugural Old Farts Surf Co. film festival.  Old Farts Surf Co. Head Honcho, The Mexican (OFSC No. 4) said "congratulations to the judges for choosing a film that encapsulates the pure essence of oldfartsurfing."  Click on the link below and enjoy:
The link below

Morning of the Earth - Live - Reviewed

Morning of the Earth could be the greatest surf movie ever made.  In fact it could just be the greatest movie ever made.  In fact the Oldfartsurfer thinks everything made in 1972 was the greatest thing ever made other than his custom Oceans 6'6" twin fin that was made in 1978. Morning of the Earth is also blessed with the greatest sound track ever recorded.  What a year to be 15 - Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, CSNY Deja Vu, Neil Young's After the Goldrush, Who's Next, Jethro Tull, - how good was it back then!.    But this movie set the standard, it is,to quote the title song, "the measure of our lives".
For those who don't remember (brains fried) or who weren't there, this movie just showed surfers surfing and hanging out, no narration, just set to a sensational original sound track.  If you asked what the story was or "what was it all about" you'd missed the point.  The theme was "keep it simple", and, there were no leg ropes!  It moves from Australia, to Bali to Oahu with sensational surfing by some of the greatest ever oldfartsurfers including Terry Fitzgerald, Michael Peterson, Gerry Lopez, Rusty Miller and Nat Young.  The surfing is interspersed with local lifestyle scenes of rustic living in northern NSW, cockfights and even smoking weed in Bali.  Bazaar you might think, however, what makes all this work is the original soundtrack that complements the surfing and the feel of the film.
The Oldfartsurfer has two vinyl records and a CD of the soundtrack and it is also installed on his Ipod and IPhone.  When it came out on CD he put it straight in the car stereo and played it all the way home.  It was like meeting an old friend and reminiscing about the good old days.  Every note and sound was still perfectly in place. 
In this production, the movie is screened with live music and was first performed about a year ago but unfortunately the Oldfartsurfer missed it.  So when a second tour of performances was advertised a few months ago he was determined not to miss it again. It was put on the bucket list and the best tickets immediately purchased for the performance at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.  Could this production live up to the standards set in 1972?
Arriving at the theatre the Oldfartsurfer noticed two distinct groups.  Firstly the oldfartsurfers, their wives and some of their offspring. Their average age would have put them older than 15 in 1972. Included in this group he would include some younger oldfartsurfers, perhaps they were 15 in 2002, however, he would still classify them as oldfartsurfers for just turning up.  The second group were four models, two male, two female, posing in cool Rip Curl and Billabong gear over some spotlessly painted and polished Sandman panel vans doing some media stunt.  Neither the models, the cars or the clothing companies were around around in 1972.
Given his predisposition to liking all things about the original Morning of the Earth, there was the potential for the Oldfartsurfer to be bitterly disappointed if things didn't quite measure up.  You will pleased to know that the show put a stupid grin on the Oldfartsurfers's face from beginning to end.  In fact he was almost tempted to break into song in a public place.  Thank Huey he didn't as the band and the singers managed to deliver on their end of the bargain.
Brian Cadd's voice may have been a little scratchy trying to reach a couple of the high notes on the first song and the descending orchestral riff was missing from the theme song, but overall, it was a great show.  They had edited the film a little and added some new footage of Dave Rastovich and Hannah, his mermaid missus, but listening to the music live while watching the big screen certainly gave a great experience.  Brian Cadd, Tim Gaze and Mike Rudd all performed their original songs and contemporary artists Lior and Gyan were wonderfully matched to deliver songs by G Wayne Thomas and others.
The highlight of the performance was when all the artists came on stage just before intermission to share verses of the two chord classic Simple Ben.  This was repeated in the encore for a good old singalong.
Attending Morning of the Earth, the Oldfartsurfer missed, what was reported to be the highlight of the Mona Foma Festival, when Brian Richie, the Dresden Dolls, Mike Harvey (of PJ) performed Violent Femmes songs.  Any regrets - no!
Click here to book your tickets.
Make a comment or click here to tell the oldfartsurfer what you really think.

Gratuitous Big Wave Video

The Oldfartsurfer has got tired of waiting for waves so has resorted to blatent ripoff of bigwave video from a corporate giant.  This is insane stuff, particularly the opening wave of Marti Paradisis at Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania.  How he jumps off that ledge and sneaks under megatonne lips I don't know.  Just crazy.
Tell the Oldfartsurfer what you really think.

The Craft, How Much Fun Can You Have on a Plank.

The Oldfartsurfer suggests this video of some radical plank riding will get ya stoked. Heaps of hang ten action combined with sideways el rollo takes offs, an air!!, radical turns and finishes with a reverse rail grab. Enjoy. http://www.fastclips.com/videos/KUL29P12Ls1O

100 Reasons - A Tasmanian Surf Film

The Oldfartsurfer had the pleasure of attending the launch of 100 Reasons a short surf film by brothers Liam and James Correy. The film was shown along with a photogaphic display "The Craft of Adventure, Tasmania and Beyond" at the Long Gallery, Salamanca Place on 4 - 5 July. With photos taken by Liam Correy and Jack Robert-Tissot. According to the blurb for the launch 100 Reasons is a:

"Short surf film ‘One Hundred Reasons’ by Liam (23) and James (20) Correy follows their incredible twenty-day, unassisted bush walking and surfing journey from Strahan to Melaleuca in South West Tasmania. Photographer Jack Robert-Tissot (23) will exhibit his finest pictures, local musicians Sam J Nicholson and Billy Whims will warm the stage and guest speaker Marion Abraham (22) will tie the talents together."

The film is a gem, and is unlike any other surf film as it is more of a documentary story about a surf adventure. As a surf adventure there are certain similarities with films like Endless Summer or the more recent Aussie surf road film Lost & Running, but this is much more of a personal journey to the wilderness that is crafted with warmth and humour. According to the trailer "there are two types of people - those who carry surfboards and those who don't" . That says a lot about the spirit of the film.

You would be excused for thinking the Correy brothers are a bit crazy. Why would you carry a 50kg pack and a surfboard into the wilderness for 20 days of hardship and pain on the faint hope of getting a wave? A bit like why climb a mountain I guess - because its there. However, you have to admire the initiative and the adventure in a couple of young dudes and this comes across in the way the film is edited. There are some nice little waves but the fact that they didn't find too many gives a focus to the story and the adventure of it.

There are DVDs of the film available, not sure where at this stage but will try and find out. Hopefully this film will be seen more widely as it is refreshing after all those surf videos full of wave after wave of sponsored surfers doing arials get pretty tedius after 5 minutes. Or maybe that's just the oldfartsurfer's perspective.

All the proceeds from the The Craft of Advetnure exibition will go to the Thamarai Learning and Community Centre in India (www.thamarai.org). For more photos check out http://thecraftofadventure.wordpress.com/