Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:20 pm
an interesting thread. I was going to throw a comment into the other thread, but I'll get to why I haven't later.
I've been very fortunate to get hold of all of Simon's movies - The Sparrow Has Landed; The Sparrow Has Landed & Friends; Now & Then; NSG 05; and Inside & Out. [although my little bro (RIP) 'lost' the first one on me, prick!]. Given the lack of kneelo action on the screen these have each been a welcome relief from the clones of the stand up world. I can appreciate the sacrifices Simon has made to produce them, and from his post it seems at quite a cost (to be honest I wasn't surprised to hear that). I doubt I'd make those sacrifices.
all of my mates (stand up, lids and non-surfers) have come over for beers and a viewing over the years - all generally have positive things to say (the usual comment from The Sparrow Has Landed & Friends is 'that dude on the black board rips, he's got some f#$king balls on him too').
and ballsy it is to open up those questions. Here are my thoughts (anyones free to shoot me down):
Are the films I make now, not what people want? I think they are what people want and over time they have evolved to be more so.
Have the numbers of kneeboarders declined? Probably not.
Has there been an overdose of films, causing lack of interest? Even if you include the stuff on youtube I'd so no.
Cost? I can't speak for anyone else, but the cost isn't a factor for me.
Maybe, no reason & it is just what it is? Could also be piracy.
(now the sticky question) The who, where & what would you like to see in the film?
In terms of who - I'd like to see Simon, Steen, Albert, Chayne, et al. It would also be interesting to see guys like Parksey, Damien Gaynor, Ross, Nov and a bunch of others on their home turf. Maybe interviews with the surfers (ie. a short conversation with say Albert after footage of him getting pitted at shitties, etc). There are some guys I'm not interested in seeing, but I'll keep that to myself and footage of contests is bit of a turn off.
In terms of where - easy, where ever there is waves. I'm not all that fussed if its perfect indo or some solid action at the local.
In terms of what - interviews with shapers, legends, etc would interesting.
These are only my opinions and some of you know of my thoughts on opinions.
There has been talk of a Co-op or a some sort of fund. Good in theory, but I think in practice it is fraut with problems. There is a reason why hippy communes never really lasted too long - there is rarely equity is such arrangements and not everyone gets what they think they should - something to do with human nature. Eg. people will donate cash, you'll make a movie, some who coughed up will be unhappy and the whinging that follows will do nothing but harm the community. The legal issues related to a fund are a non-event - just get them sorted before you start, although its going to cost which will suck $$ from where they should be going. I'm not a fan of the co-op arrangement and probably wouldn't contribute to one.
I imagine the idea of hitting the Gov for a grant has been investigated? If not it should be. While the Feds are currently being tight arses, in 2009-10 the purse strings will be loosened big time. Simon, I'll PM/email you regarding some options - although might require some arty take on kneeboarding (i think Steeno would look good in drag;)) or a documentary style thing. I'd be more than happy to write a grant application for you.
JB
I've been very fortunate to get hold of all of Simon's movies - The Sparrow Has Landed; The Sparrow Has Landed & Friends; Now & Then; NSG 05; and Inside & Out. [although my little bro (RIP) 'lost' the first one on me, prick!]. Given the lack of kneelo action on the screen these have each been a welcome relief from the clones of the stand up world. I can appreciate the sacrifices Simon has made to produce them, and from his post it seems at quite a cost (to be honest I wasn't surprised to hear that). I doubt I'd make those sacrifices.
all of my mates (stand up, lids and non-surfers) have come over for beers and a viewing over the years - all generally have positive things to say (the usual comment from The Sparrow Has Landed & Friends is 'that dude on the black board rips, he's got some f#$king balls on him too').
and ballsy it is to open up those questions. Here are my thoughts (anyones free to shoot me down):
Are the films I make now, not what people want? I think they are what people want and over time they have evolved to be more so.
Have the numbers of kneeboarders declined? Probably not.
Has there been an overdose of films, causing lack of interest? Even if you include the stuff on youtube I'd so no.
Cost? I can't speak for anyone else, but the cost isn't a factor for me.
Maybe, no reason & it is just what it is? Could also be piracy.
(now the sticky question) The who, where & what would you like to see in the film?
In terms of who - I'd like to see Simon, Steen, Albert, Chayne, et al. It would also be interesting to see guys like Parksey, Damien Gaynor, Ross, Nov and a bunch of others on their home turf. Maybe interviews with the surfers (ie. a short conversation with say Albert after footage of him getting pitted at shitties, etc). There are some guys I'm not interested in seeing, but I'll keep that to myself and footage of contests is bit of a turn off.
In terms of where - easy, where ever there is waves. I'm not all that fussed if its perfect indo or some solid action at the local.
In terms of what - interviews with shapers, legends, etc would interesting.
These are only my opinions and some of you know of my thoughts on opinions.
There has been talk of a Co-op or a some sort of fund. Good in theory, but I think in practice it is fraut with problems. There is a reason why hippy communes never really lasted too long - there is rarely equity is such arrangements and not everyone gets what they think they should - something to do with human nature. Eg. people will donate cash, you'll make a movie, some who coughed up will be unhappy and the whinging that follows will do nothing but harm the community. The legal issues related to a fund are a non-event - just get them sorted before you start, although its going to cost which will suck $$ from where they should be going. I'm not a fan of the co-op arrangement and probably wouldn't contribute to one.
I imagine the idea of hitting the Gov for a grant has been investigated? If not it should be. While the Feds are currently being tight arses, in 2009-10 the purse strings will be loosened big time. Simon, I'll PM/email you regarding some options - although might require some arty take on kneeboarding (i think Steeno would look good in drag;)) or a documentary style thing. I'd be more than happy to write a grant application for you.
JB
