First Wave

As fall creeps into the air here on the Eastern End of Long Island, one of my favorite weekends arrives; The Hamptons International Film Festival.  It’s a one of a kind festival- competing with the much larger New York Film Festival, with most crowds containing many folks over 60yrs old, due to the year-round inhabitants that includes many retired and extremely wealthy people who reside out here after long careers working in NYC industries such as Financial Services, Law and Real Estate. There’s a great mix of films and film lovers.  The festival provides many world premiers- and I was honored to buy tickets to a film called Drift and be part of the second audience to ever see this fictional account of how in the 70’s such huge international surf apparel and equipment brands such as Billabong and Quicksilver got super viral after being started by just a pair of brothers or some friends who lived for surfing, but had the vision for commercial enterprise.  

Seeing surfing as a grass-roots budding industry and culturally maligned hobby allows the audience to dream themselves about how amazing it feels to be a part of something new and brave and bold- with the benefit of knowing that it all worked out and we can fantasize about how “pure” something as unromantic as huge industry once was- because we are a culture in love with $, and we love to see the little guy win.  All the ups and downs, bumps and bruises, and general feeling of uncertainty that pervades every aspect of one’s life.  In the movies, people don’t give much consideration to a plan B, it usually involves going back to work in the factory, or the old man’s grocery.  Also, our protagonists in films typically have much more dire circumstances like women who demand that they chose the business or them, bad guys out to get them, etc.  

When Eric Ries describes the “lean startup” movement of entrepreneurialism he provides the example of how in “a typical movie narrative, the cool factor of startups usually centers on Act 1 and Act 3 — the initial creative inspiration and the triumphant frolicking in piles of money.  But it’s the taxing, daily work of Act 2 that will, or won’t, ultimately bring a new company to successful, sustainable maturity.” The movie I saw today “Drift” did most of its focusing on Act 1- and in fact the directors said during the Q&A that they considered starting the movie by showing the characters later in their lives after succeeding as a foreshadowing- but I’m glad they didn’t.  Because I’m still in love with moments where the main character can actually say “You all know I have no idea how to run a business” and still be a huge success.  Well I can tell you that this movie was downright inspirational, enjoyable and will be a very big success.  Why do I know this?  Because this diverse crowd (aka moviegoers, not just surfers, Australians) gave the directors three rounds of applause.  Because the entire theater erupted in cheering and/or applauded during the movie at least twice.  Because everyone in the theater left with the feeling that they were doing their friends a disservice NOT telling them to see this movie.  How’sthat for customer verification?  I wanted to tweet about it. I wanted to tell all my surfing friends on facebook to look out for it (it comes out early 2013).  Then I settled down- because that would be a bit too eager and surfers tend to see eagerness as a gaffe

Will Drift be as successful commercially as the currently showing surfing movie “Chasing Mavericks”, which incidentally had a commercial on television as soon as I came home during the two minute warning of the Giants game- and looks like a pretty typical “big budget” hollywood film built to entertain/distract just about anyone?  I doubt I’ll see many television spots for Drift in February- and most likely it will play in just a handful of theaters in NYC (that means maybe one in most other states)- there is only one A-List actor in it (he was in Avatar), and he’s not one of the leads.  I saw and met these filmmakers.  I got to look into their eyes after having two highly successful screenings.  I’m sure they want to make money of course, but they really wanted more than anything to try to be true to real meaning behind their movie.  That “nobodies” can succeed.  It’s personal to them.  It’s about their culture, and their homeland.  One of the co-directors shot many of the surfing scenes himself in the water.   That hollywood movie is so uninteresting to me when there’s stuff like Drift out there. …

If you’ll be in or around the Hamptons on October 6th or 7th, you can buy tickets to either two screenings of Drift at the 2012 Hamptons International Film Festival.

Drift

Xavier’s Drift co-star Lesley-Ann Brandt will be representing the film at this year’s Hampton’s Film Festival:

Lesley-Ann will be attending the Hampton’s Film Festival from Oct 4th-8th along with her Drift directors and producer Morgan O’Neil, Ben Nott and Tim Duffy. Drift has recently acquired it’s American distributor Wrekin Hill Entertainment and is slated for release in the US and Australia in Feb/March 2013. The film will have a worldwide theatrical release in Europe, Asia and South Africa, details of these dates are yet to be released. Drift stars Sam Worthington, Xavier Samuel, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Myles Pollard, Robyn Malcolm and Aaron Glenane.

Wrekin Hill plans an early 2013 theatrical release in North America for Drift, which stars Sam Worthington, Myles Pollard, and Xavier Samuel. Inspired by the true story of the formation of such Australian surf lines as Quiksilver and Billabong, the Aussie-set story centers on two brothers who launch a backyard surf gear business but get caught up with a local drug dealer, threatening their family and their future. Morgan O’Neill and Ben Nott directed O’Neill’s screenplay. Tim Duffy, Michele Bennett and Pollard produced the film for World Wide Mind Films. The deal was negotiated by Wrekin Hill president and CEO Chris Ball and Rene Cogan with Gregory Chambet at TF1 and executive producer Peter Lawson on behalf of the producers.

In the middle of editing, film maker Tim Duffy was happy with his first feature film, Drift.

Starring Miles Pollard and Sam Worthington, Drift was shot in the South West last year and is a story of the birth of the Australian surfing industry.

A film where the surfing action doesn’t overpower the drama was the goal in editing, says writer and producer Tim.

The shoot last August exceeded expectations; good weather and the performances and action fantastic, he says.

Producers plan for contingent inside shooting when the weather’s bad, he says. As a former South West local, Tim was banking on no more than two or three days of bad weather in August.

“That’s what we got.

“When it’s sunny and winter, it’s beautiful; soft light and the surf’s big.”

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A little Drift news, courtesy of Xavier’s co-star Lesley-Ann Brandt:

“”Drift” - the film I did with Sam Worthington and the delightful Xavier Samuel, Robyn Malcolm and Myles Pollard - will be released next year around Feb or March. It was presented at the Cannes Film Festival this year and has received great feedback. For those who don’t know, “Drift” is loosely based on the Quicksilver story and is set in the 70’s, right on the cusp of when this recreational activity turned into a professional sport. “

AUGUSTA-Margaret River Shire chief executive officer Gary Evershed got to see the premiere of Drift, filmed mainly in Margaret River, while in Cannes recently on annual leave.

“Drift, although not part of the official competition, has been seen by influential prospective distributors from around the world,” he said.

“The surfing footage and local scenery are amazing but it quickly evolves into a serious drama featuring the two Kelly brothers played by Miles Pollard and Xavier Samuel, with Sam Worthington playing a roaming surfing nomad.

“It’s a story about fighting for what you believe in against the odds and the many setbacks which are encountered along the way.

“It contains some drug references but certainly does not glamourise drug use and, in fact the opposite - portrays the dangers of becoming heavily involved in drugs.

“From talking to co-writer and producer Tim Duffy he has been really pleased with the contacts made and with potential sales following the proposed launch later in the year or 2013.

“I think the shire’s decision to invest $25,000 has been vindicated by the quality of the product and many local surfers and contributors are acknowledged in the credits.

“Talking to Screenwest CEO Ian Booth there is a lot of interest in further filming in the Margaret River region,” Mr Evershed said.

His holidays and trip to Cannes was self-funded.

samworthingtonforum:

Cannes Poster For Sam Worthington Movie ‘Drift’

Huge thanks to @FredMyscreens on Twitter for giving us permission to show you the picture he took of the ‘Drift’ poster he spotted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thanks babes!!! xxx

Drift also had it’s first market screening at Cannes.

Screen Australia tweeted:

“Surf movie #Drift screens to an enthusiastic & packed market audience day one in #Cannes. #Australian Film”

Another source tweeted praise:

“Just saw the prmier of the new surf movie Drift… Unreal! A must see for sure. Great work Ben Nott! #Drift”

Bigger versions of pics already posted.