TR Surf Documentary in S'Cruz

[surfhorn]

NOTES: Two surf-themed movies have been selected for this year's Santa Cruz Film Festival, May 9-17, and will show together at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th at the Riverfront Twin. The feature presentation comes from the lens of Maine filmmaker Ben Keller who takes a close look at what draws so many of us to the ocean in his documentary "BlueGreen." Narrated by Santa Cruz's resident Hollywood surf star Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, BlueGreen "explores many different facets of our bonds with the ocean and delivers a powerful warning about the threat we face by abusing and exploiting this powerful presence on our planet," according to the film's press release. Keller interviews scientists, religious leaders, evolutionary theorists, fishermen and, of course, surfers, including seven-time women's world champion Layne Beachley, Keith Malloy, Robert August, Liz Clark, Sean Collins.

Showing alongside the feature is "Gusto: Tony Roberts," a documentary profiling Santa Cruz native and current Central American expat Tony Roberts. TR, as he is known throughout the surf industry, was one of the first surf photographers to utilize the fisheye lens to capture innovative skate-style surf shots and radical new angles from the water.

His photos and movies captured the new school of aerial and big-maneuver surfing in a way no one had seen before during the late '80s and early '90s and helped forge the careers of many professional surfers around Santa Cruz. The film won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Independent Television Festival in August, 2007. Check out next Sunday's Green Room for a full article on the TR documentary.

For more surf coverage from Leo Maxam, check out his blog at www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/surf

Got a surf story? Contact Leo Maxam at leomaxam@yahoo.com.