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Highwater
Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven
Opening in theatres this Friday from director/writer Dana Brown is a film about the world of surfing with Outsider Pictures release of “Highwater”.
This film tells the story of the famous Triple Crown competitions of professional surfing each year on the North Shore of Oahu. For a few months each year, the North Shore is known for its huge waves and extraordinary surfing.
The Triple Crown brings out the best world-class surfers and even a few amateurs to the competition. In those few months, the “7 Mile Miracle” is a story of lives that are dedicated to this sport.
The stories are from the participants themselves who know the stories, know the history only to live and breathe the life. It is an inside look at their humor, loves, lives and rivalries in competition each year.
FINAL WORD: This is an interesting look at the life that many may have heard of but few are privy too.
In speaking with Dana Brown, he says of his film, “ It’s a movie about the six weeks on the North Shore of Oahu where they hold the Triple Crown of surfing. The film is about the men and women who participate in the crowning! It’s such a diverse sport and in those six weeks we try to show the whole thing, the whole experience of something that has been around for 50 years. The North Shore has been the ground of the world best surfers.”
He also says what motivated him to create “Highwater” was “After I made “Step into Liquid” (2003) I didn’t think I’d make another one. I was in negotiations to make a reality series based on surfing. That kind of fell threw and I was left with this idea and I thought it would make a great movie. As much as people talk about the fiction and non-fiction of surfing so I thought it would be worth doing.”
One interesting aspect of the documentary touched on the building of expensive homes in the area of the competition. Brown says, “The competition has the competitors coming from out-of-town, it’s a huge moneymaker for the North Shore. There are a bunch of people with money putting summer homes and raised the prices around the area. It has changed the profile of what it is. When we were filming it went rapid. But with the economy it has slowed down some. Just wait for the hurricane season to start.”
When I asked the usual question of what made him want to make films he had to mention his father, Bruce Brown, who made the film “Endless Summer” (1966) and adds, “Being around it, my dad made it look like a fun thing to do. I followed his footsteps. In my early 20s I was a filmmaker in college and decided I didn’t want to be a personal assistant in Hollywood for five years waiting to get a promotion. I started waited tables and did construction and my dad called me in my mid 20’s and wanted me to restore his old surf films that had been cannibalized for stock footage. So I restored those and that led into doing “Endless Summer ” with him.”
Surfing is not only in the blood, but in Dana’s case, it is in the family as well. From father to son twice over, no one knows surfing and surfers better than the Brown family.
TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Highwater” three tubs of popcorn out of five. This will definitely appeal to the audience of surfers out there who have come to know and love the sport. There are names that are well known, bonds of friendships that are years in the making and even a shared emotion when tragedy strikes to one of their own.
In the end – no guts no glory – but for the love of the waves!
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THE INTERVIEW
Opening in theatres this Friday is a documentary film from director Dana Brown about the love and life of surfing the North Shore of Oahu with his release “Highwater”.
We took time to discuss the film, his surf experiences and family.
Thanks for taking the time to talk surf with me Dana.
Sure Jeri!
Tell me a little about “Highwater”.
It’s a movie about the six weeks on the North Shore of Oahu where they hold the Triple Crown of surfing. The film is about the men and women who participate in the crowning! It’s such a diverse sport and in those six weeks we try to show the whole thing, the whole experience of something that has been around for 50 years. The North Shore has been the ground of the world best surfers.
What was your motivation for choosing this topic for your film?
After I made “Step into Liquid” (2003) I didn’t think I’d make another one. I was in negotiations to make a reality series based on surfing. That kind of fell threw and I was left with this idea and I thought it would make a great movie. As much as people talk about the fiction and non-fiction of surfing so I thought it would be worth doing.
How did you get all the surfers involved?
I know most of them so I called and said I’m coming down and here’s my idea. When we got there the cameras were rolling as the events unfolded. I went to Pancho Sullivan and found out about the underground surfing. It’s like if you were doing a story, you have one thing in mind but as the story unfolds you find different aspects of it that you hadn’t anticipated.
Are you a surfer yourself?
I’ve surfed since I was three or four years old. I should be a lot better than I am.
Have you done any competitions?
I came in 3rd in the 8 and under division in 1969, other than that, that’s my big trophy.When I was in my teens and 20’s, there really wasn’t any professional surfing competitions around for me.
What group of people are you hoping to reach outside surfers?
I realize these kinds of movies people think they know all about surfers – wither its “Step into Liquid” or “Dust to Glory” (2005). I hope it appeals to a wide range of people.
You know it’s going to appeal to surfers’ right? <laughing>
You might be surprised!
Are you going to sit in on the film to get the audiences reactions?
I will do some Q & A this weekend in Santa Monica. I’ve seen it play in film festival crowds and your right - I do watch peoples’ reaction to the movie.
What have you seen from the audience?
People seem to like it and that’s a relief.
What do you want to do next?
I might be doing an IMAX film yes. My father (Bruce Brown) made “Endless Summer” (1966) and I’m thinking about doing a story about the Dana Point Mafia. It’s one of the few different options.
Kind of like “Lords of Dogtown” (2005)?
Yea, a historic piece, archival stuff and footage of the day. Guys who helped change surfing. They are somewhat horrified by what they’ve created in the history of surfing. They are like cowboys, these are guys knew it was something. I would kind of like to get their stories.
Anyone particular you’d like to talk to?
I think, Hoby, he’s a very quiet guy.
Easy access to them?
Yes, I’m a Mafia son with a secret handshake! <laughing>
How long did it take you to film? The six weeks?
We did a few of the interviews after the six weeks and ended up with over 200 plus hours of footage. These are smaller films so I did the editing with my son so it takes a long time. It took us close to two years and about a year since I’ve been finished.
Could you make another surfing film with the leftovers?
You could make another one with the surfing absolutely.
Are documentaries your specialty or do you want to go further?
I’ve been offered fictional films but I like non-fiction. I think the truth can be much more amazing that non-reality. I’m open to do fiction but I wouldn’t be sad if I didn’t.
What are some of your favorite films?
“Honoring Sunday” that my dad did and, goodness, this is a good question! I like “Princess Bride” and I just saw “The Big Lebowski” the other night. I really like Clint Eastwood and the Coen brothers. Oh yea, “Citizen Kane” is pretty good I heard. <laughing>
Now you need to see a newer movie, have you seen “Inception”?
No, I haven’t seen it yet, is it good?
I’m partial but yes, I loved it.
(We go slightly off subject and then an odd coincidence – Dana knows where Imperial Beach is! I’m thrilled beyond belief so we begin discussing the small beach community, surfing and the sad topic of pollution washing up from Mexico.)
That’s amazing you spent time in Imperial Beach! It caught me off guard that you knew where it was.
Yea, I spent time in Imperial Beach, it’s a dim memory. If I don’t remember much it’s probably because I had an awesome time while I was there.
Yep, then you’ve been to Imperial Beach all right <laughing> now to the sad part of this sleepy little community – the pollution that washes up on the shores and the water contamination.
It’s a huge problem. The population base has exploded and the technology to keep it clean hasn’t kept pace.
Do you believe this has a health effect on the surfers?
Yes, and what’s more it’s going to get worse. The pollution has gotten worse and the effects will be seen more down the line for the surfers. It’s something that’s going to have to be dealt with. They have “save the bay” in Santa Monica but it needs to seep into the mainstream. After a big storm it’s horrifying.
Just like in Imperial Beach, everything finds the shoreline.
I can imagine it has gotten worse since I was there.
Since you know about the problem, do you believe wetsuits offer any protection?
I’m not sure really but the effects will be seen. People are going to have to grow more aware. The beach areas are such tourist attractions and everyone has got to wise up. It’s just not out of site out of mind anymore and too many people think that way.
Is it much different up near Santa Monica and that area?
I grew up in Dana Point and when I was a kid it was a very blue-collar area and then it became guarded gate-central.
That’s right, in the film you were talking about the building up of mansions and such around the north shore.
The competition has the competitors coming from out-of-town, it’s a huge moneymaker for the North Shore. There are a bunch of people with money putting summer homes and raised the prices around the area. It has changed the profile of what it is. When we were filming it went rapid. But with the economy it has slowed down some. Just wait for the hurricane season to start.
You mentioned your son working with you, does he surf as well?
He’s surfed since he was a kid as well. He’s 29 now.
At the question & answer sessions to attend, what are the questions you get asked the most?
You know the usual, what got you into making films and how many cameras do you use stuff like that.
So how did you get those incredible wave and water shots?
You get good guys! They are the best – and that’s what they do, get the water shots.
How is your dad?
He’s good. I just saw him. Thanks for asking.
What made you want to make films? I’m sure some of it was your dad.
Being around it, my dad made it look like a fun thing to do. I followed his footsteps. In my early 20s I was a filmmaker in college and decided I didn’t want to be a personal assistant in Hollywood for five years waiting to get a promotion. I started waited tables and did construction and my dad called me in my mid 20’s and wanted me to restore his old surf films that had been cannibalized for stock footage. So I restored those and that led into doing “Endless Summer ” (1994) with him.
How is working with your dad?
It was great fun. I still show him cuts and get his opinion. He’s a lot of fun to be around and a hard worker. You go with him and a lot of times making a film you deal with wrong people and it’s not best for the film. He’s a pretty ego-less guy. You couldn’t ask for a better mentor.
So surfing runs in the family then?
He was a surfer before he started making films, in 1949. He kind of came up making surf film so he could keep on surfing.
Do you think your son follow you?
He’s done a few direct to DVD’s himself and I think he will be following me. On his tax return it says filmmaker. People ask me what I do and I say “film maker”. They are stunned and when they ask what I’ve done and I tell them they are surprised when they’ve heard of it.
Yea try telling them you’re a writer?
Yea, it’s the same thing! I almost feel like saying I’m in construction!
Thanks for your time Dana and I wish you all the best for “Highwater”!
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