Surf movies are an integral part of surf culture, they are what helps to give surfing a presence outside of the sport’s own followers (for example Endless Summer and Big Wednesday) whilst stoking the fire to get in the water for even the most seasoned surfer (The Modern Collective, The Momentum Series etc). So the question is what makes a good surfing film? There are five key elements that go into the mix when creating good surf films – the footage, the surfers, the story, the waves and the music.

THE FOOTAGE

Possibly the most crucial factor as to whether a surf movie will be good or bad. Different surfers will have different views on what kind of style filming they prefer, for some it’s all about hard fast action shots from the beach that capture just how crazy the stuff that the pro on camera is pulling, others may get their kick out off slow motion action or really atmospherically shot surf movies. No matter what style of filming you prefer you definitely are not going to create an epic surf movie from some pixelated mobile phone footage….

THE SURFERS

There’s no doubt a surfer needs to rip to make a great surfing video, but if you get a surfer that can double as a comedian (Brad Gerlach or Rye Craike for example) it can give a surf flick that little bit more. Brad Gerlach messing with an Irish guy in Thicker Than Water is a classic moment that comes to mind. Despite that for the majority of the time you just want to see the cream of the surfing crop pushing the boundaries of the sport further than you thought they could go.

LOCATION

Sipping Jetstreams, Endless Summer and The Drifter are examples of surf movies that are all about the locations. When a surfing video can take you to and make you feel like you are at that spot it makes you want to book your next surf trip asap.

THE WAVE

10 years ago people would argue that the waves are a crucial part of a surf movie, in terms of big wave surfing or heavy throaty barrels there is no doubting that, however, more progressive surf movies such as the Modern Collective have shown what can be done with less than perfect waves, often at shore break. Jet skis have also made it possible for people to whip themselves in to less than perfect waves and turn the sea in to a surfing fun park. At the end of the day it’s one of those things that depends on what you, the viewer, want.

THE STORY

This is not the make or break of a surfing video. But while some have a cheesy corporate theme throughout the movie. Endless Summer, however (with what now days would be considered crap footage) has one of the best concepts and stories of not just surf movies, but sport movies from the past century, 3 surfers following the summer around the world, that’s what most people would love to do with their lives.

THE MUSIC

The surf soundtrack, the most controversial of all elements that go into the mix when creating a good surfing video. The reason for this is that just as surfers come from hundreds of different nationalities, we all have our own flavors of music we like to listen to. Campaign 2 had a good extra on it’s dvd that allowed you to pick which soundtrack you wanted to watch the movie with, it would be cool if more surf films had extras like this…

[by Nick Braithwaite via www.thesurfboardman.com]