Bodysurfers Rule In Keith Malloy’s Film
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to the following copyrighted material. For permission to reprint or excerpt it and/or link it to another website, contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
Bodysurfing film Come Hell or High Water gets two thumbs up from SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel.
Director Keith Malloy and his cast and crew are riding an avalanche wave these days with the success of his debut feature film exploring the world of bodysurfing and the pureness of riding a wave. Filmed locally at The Wedge and in Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand, the film won Best Picture and Best Cinematography prizes at both the 2011 New York Surf Film Festival and 2011London Film Festival.
Photos above of Malloy and crew during filming
The Woodshed Films production was co-sponsored by Patagonia, the international sports and surf apparel designer, and Nixon, a premium watch and accessories brand. Part of the proceeds from the film’s ticket sales are being donated to The Plastic Pollution Coalition, a global alliance aimed at working toward a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts – a cause shared by the Surfrider Foundation.
The film, which has been praised as much for its Zen-like approach to bodysurfing as its stunning visuals, looks at the bodysurfing culture, the beauty and simplicity of the sport, and the spirit of the people who do it. Unlike its high-profile cousin board surfing, which has drawn huge media attention and marketing dollars, bodysurfing has always been pretty much under the radar.
Malloy, who was already well known as a board surfer, decided to explore the world of bodysurfing as a way to better connect with the ocean. He certainly achieves this, drawing viewers into another world beneath the waves. “The pictures you get underwater create a dreamy state,” Malloy says on his website. His feelings about bodysurfing are summed up in Come Hell or High Water’s tagline: “It’s about taking a breath and kicking your feet in the big blue sea.”
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti talked to Newport Beach bodysurfer Thomas Melum, a Wedge regular who is featured in the film, about his experience with the movie and why he likes bodysurfing so much. “I just love the ocean, “Melum said. “Bodysurfing is my passion.” His dad got him started bodysurfing and his best friend Christian took up the sport with him. Since then Melum has surfed competitively at The Wedge and Pipeline, spending as much time in the water as he can.
Film screening in Ventura
Melum, who helped Malloy find bodysurfers for the film, told us “I enjoy seeing people’s reactions to the movie when they see the things bodysurfers can do.” He added that the surfers make it all look easy, but people who haven’t bodysurfed “don’t know what it’s like to look down a 20-foot wave…or looking down and seeing the ocean bottom below.”
Thomas and Starky acting goofy
“Bodysurfing is kind of a goofy sport,” Melum laughed. “It’s never gonna be cool. I never got any chicks bodysurfing, that’s for sure!” With all the attention and awards that Come Hell or High Water is receiving now SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti think that might all be about to change.
Come Hell or High Water has been on a world-wide tour of film festivals and screenings this past year and has more coming up in Australia and Portugal. Locally you can see it on January 28th in Seal Beach at Canvas Shop (702 Marina Drive). The shop is hosting a 6:00 p.m. screening and party. Admission is free. For more information call (562) 760-7079 or check their website: canvasshopsb.com/blog/
Surfing and location photos provided by Thomas Melum
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