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'''Surf movies''' fall into three distinct genres:
'''Surf movies''' fall into three distinct genres:
* The surfing [[documentary]] — targeting the [[surfing]] enthusiast.
* The surfing [[documentary]] — targeting the [[surfing]] enthusiast.
* The 1960's [[beach party film]]s — targeting the broader community.
* The 1960s [[beach party film]]s — targeting the broader community.
* Fictional feature films with a focus on the reality of surfing.
* Fictional feature films with a focus on the reality of surfing.


== Surfing documentaries ==
== Surfing documentaries ==
[[File:Hawaiian Islands A Film by Thomas A Edison Shot in 1906 v240P.webm|thumb|left|''Hawaiian Islands'' (1906)]]
[[File:Hawaiian Islands A Film by Thomas A Edison Shot in 1906 v240P.webm|thumb|left|''Hawaiian Islands'' (1906)]]
The earliest-known footage of people surfing, an ''[[actuality film]]'', was lensed by [[Robert Kates Bonine]]<!--http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n87914052 --> (Born:14 September 1861, Altoona, PA; Died: 11 September 1923, Honolulu, HI;), beginning 31&nbsp;May&nbsp;1906<!-- after the SF 1906 EQ work -->, and at least until 12&nbsp;August&nbsp;1906, for [[Thomas A. Edison]], distributed in 1907, called ''Hawaiian Islands'', composed of over thirty segments, of which three segments, ''Panoramic View - Waikiki Beach Honolulu'', ''Surf Board Riders - Waikiki Honolulu'', and ''Surf Scenes - Waikiki Honolulu'', depict people surfing.<ref name="Edison-1906-Bonine-Hawaiian-Islands">* {{cite web |title=Everything you need to know about Thomas Edison's 1906 surf film |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thomas-edison-1906-surf-film |website=Surfer Today |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en-us |quote=Hawaiian Islands (Thomas A. Edison, 1906): Chapters & Starting Times |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511212301/https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thomas-edison-1906-surf-film |url-status=live }}
The earliest-known footage of people surfing, an ''[[actuality film]]'', was lensed by [[Robert Kates Bonine]]<!--http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n87914052 --> (Born: September 14, 1861, Altoona, PA; Died: September 11, 1923, Honolulu, HI;), beginning May 31, 1906.<!-- after the SF 1906 EQ work -->, and at least until August 12, 1906, for [[Thomas A. Edison]], distributed in 1907, called ''Hawaiian Islands'', composed of over thirty segments, of which three segments, ''Panoramic View - Waikiki Beach Honolulu'', ''Surf Board Riders - Waikiki Honolulu'', and ''Surf Scenes - Waikiki Honolulu'', depict people surfing.<ref name="Edison-1906-Bonine-Hawaiian-Islands">* {{cite web |title=Everything you need to know about Thomas Edison's 1906 surf film |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thomas-edison-1906-surf-film |website=Surfer Today |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en-us |quote=Hawaiian Islands (Thomas A. Edison, 1906): Chapters & Starting Times |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511212301/https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thomas-edison-1906-surf-film |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |last1=Bonine |first1=Robert Kates |title=Hawaiian Islands |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKNZZZHQpo |publisher=Thomas A. Edison |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en |date=1906 |via=Surfer Today |quote=via youtube; duration: 43:04 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511212301/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKNZZZHQpo |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |last1=Bonine |first1=Robert Kates |title=Hawaiian Islands |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKNZZZHQpo |publisher=Thomas A. Edison |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en |date=1906 |via=Surfer Today |quote=via youtube; duration: 43:04 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511212301/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKNZZZHQpo |url-status=live }}
* [[:File:Hawaiian Islands A Film by Thomas A Edison Shot in 1906 v240P.webm]]
* [[:File:Hawaiian Islands A Film by Thomas A Edison Shot in 1906 v240P.webm]]
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* [[:it:Boys Diving, Honolulu]]<!-- https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft3q2nb2gw&chunk.id=d0e4984&toc.depth=100&toc.id=d0e3517&brand=ucpress --></ref>
* [[:it:Boys Diving, Honolulu]]<!-- https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft3q2nb2gw&chunk.id=d0e4984&toc.depth=100&toc.id=d0e3517&brand=ucpress --></ref>


The surfing documentary film was pioneered by [[Bud Browne]] (e.g. ''Hawaiian Holiday'') in the early [[1950s in film|1950's]] and later popularized by [[Bruce Brown (director)|Bruce Brown]] (e.g. ''[[The Endless Summer]]'') in the late 1950's and early 1960's. They were later advanced by [[MacGillivray Freeman Films|Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman]] (e.g. ''[[Five Summer Stories]]'') in the 1970's and beyond (MacGillivray and Freeman later went on to film [[IMAX]] movies such as ''[[To Fly!]]'' and [[Speed (IMAX)|''Speed'']]). The genre itself has been defined by surfers traveling with their friends and documenting the experience on film. In the era of Bruce Brown, Greg Noll, Bud Browne, [[John Severson]] and others, these films were projected for fans in music halls, civic centers, high school gyms, coffee houses, and high school auditoriums.
The surfing documentary film was pioneered by [[Bud Browne]] (e.g. ''Hawaiian Holiday'') in the early [[1950s in film|1950s]] and later popularized by [[Bruce Brown (director)|Bruce Brown]] (e.g. ''[[The Endless Summer]]'') in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were later advanced by [[MacGillivray Freeman Films|Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman]] (e.g. ''[[Five Summer Stories]]'') in the 1970s and beyond (MacGillivray and Freeman later went on to film [[IMAX]] movies such as ''[[To Fly!]]'' and [[Speed (IMAX)|''Speed'']]). The genre itself has been defined by surfers traveling with their friends and documenting the experience on film. In the era of Bruce Brown, Greg Noll, Bud Browne, [[John Severson]] and others, these films were projected for fans in music halls, civic centers, high school gyms, coffee houses, and high school auditoriums.


During the 1980's, the market for surf films surged with the release of more affordable video cameras. By the 1990's, the [[surfing]] market became saturated with low and medium budget surf films, many with sound tracks that reflected [[surf music]]. VHS and DVDs made the surf film viewing experience an "at home" affair, and the era of joining friends or taking a girl to "surf movie night" at the local high school soon waned. Furthermore, large surf brands began sponsoring surf films to promote clothing and product sales. Titles like [[Sonny Miller]]'s ''The Search'' for [[Rip Curl]] redefined the genre with exotic locales, big budgets and big name surfers such as [[Tom Curren]].
During the 1980s, the market for surf films surged with the release of more affordable video cameras. By the 1990s, the [[surfing]] market became saturated with low and medium budget surf films, many with soundtracks that reflected [[surf music]]. [[VHS]] and [[DVD|DVDs]] made the surf film viewing experience a primarily "at home" affair, leading to a decrease in popularity of public showings. Furthermore, large surf brands began sponsoring surf films to promote clothing and product sales. Titles like [[Sonny Miller]]'s ''The Search'' for [[Rip Curl]] redefined the genre with exotic locales, big budgets, and big name surfers such as [[Tom Curren]].


From the late 1990s into the present, there has been a revival of the "independent surf film." Artists such as [[The Malloys]], [[Jack Johnson (musician)]] and Jason Baffa have reinvented the genre by shooting self-financed 16mm motion picture film and utilizing indie music bands like G. Love, Alexi Murdoch, Mojave 3, White Buffalo and Donavon Frankenreiter, creating what the surf media has called, "modern classics."{{cn|date=May 2022}} Some venues still screen surfing films on the big screen.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
From the late 1990s into the present, there has been a revival of the "independent surf film." Artists such as [[The Malloys]], [[Jack Johnson (musician)|Jack Johnson]], and Jason Baffa have reinvented the genre by shooting self-financed 16mm motion picture film and utilizing indie music bands like [[G. Love]], [[Alexi Murdoch]], [[Mojave 3]], [[The White Buffalo (musician)|White Buffalo]], and [[Donavon Frankenreiter]], creating what the surf media has called, "modern classics."{{cn|date=May 2022}} Some venues still screen surfing films on the big screen.{{cn|date=May 2022}}


Examples of surfing documentaries include:
Examples of surfing documentaries include:
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== Beach Party films ==
== Beach Party films ==
The second type of surf movie would be the campy entertainment feature, also termed "[[Beach Party film|beach party films]]" or "surfploitation flicks" by true surfers, having little to do with the authentic sport and culture of [[surfing]] and representing movies that attempted to cash in on the growing popularity of surfing among youth in the early 1960s. Examples of Beach Party films include:
An alternative type of surf movie is the "[[Beach Party film|beach party film]]" or "surf-ploitation flick" by true surfers. These films had little to do with the authentic sport and culture of [[surfing]], and instead represented movies that attempted to cash in on the growing popularity of surfing among youth in the early 1960s. Examples of Beach Party films include:


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* ''[[Big Wednesday]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Big Wednesday]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Puberty Blues]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Puberty Blues (film)|Puberty Blues]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Surf II]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Surf II]]'' (1984)
* ''[[North Shore (1987 film)|North Shore]]'' (1987)
* ''[[North Shore (1987 film)|North Shore]]'' (1987)
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* [https://montjuichboards.com/en/surf-film-filmography Surf Film Filmography] at montjuichboards.com
* [https://montjuichboards.com/en/surf-film-filmography Surf Film Filmography] at montjuichboards.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201109001212/https://surfmovies.org/ Surf Movies .org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201109001212/https://surfmovies.org/ Surf Movies .org]
* [http://uluulu.hawaii.edu/titles/23732 1920’s film clip] at University of Hawaii
* [http://uluulu.hawaii.edu/titles/23732 1920s film clip] at University of Hawaii


{{Surfing}}
{{Surfing}}

Latest revision as of 13:50, 13 August 2024

Not to be confused with Beach party film.
Gidget (1959)

Surf movies fall into three distinct genres:

  • The surfing documentary — targeting the surfing enthusiast.
  • The 1960s beach party films — targeting the broader community.
  • Fictional feature films with a focus on the reality of surfing.

Surfing documentaries

[edit]
Hawaiian Islands (1906)

The earliest-known footage of people surfing, an actuality film, was lensed by Robert Kates Bonine (Born: September 14, 1861, Altoona, PA; Died: September 11, 1923, Honolulu, HI;), beginning May 31, 1906., and at least until August 12, 1906, for Thomas A. Edison, distributed in 1907, called Hawaiian Islands, composed of over thirty segments, of which three segments, Panoramic View - Waikiki Beach Honolulu, Surf Board Riders - Waikiki Honolulu, and Surf Scenes - Waikiki Honolulu, depict people surfing.[1]

The surfing documentary film was pioneered by Bud Browne (e.g. Hawaiian Holiday) in the early 1950s and later popularized by Bruce Brown (e.g. The Endless Summer) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were later advanced by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman (e.g. Five Summer Stories) in the 1970s and beyond (MacGillivray and Freeman later went on to film IMAX movies such as To Fly! and Speed). The genre itself has been defined by surfers traveling with their friends and documenting the experience on film. In the era of Bruce Brown, Greg Noll, Bud Browne, John Severson and others, these films were projected for fans in music halls, civic centers, high school gyms, coffee houses, and high school auditoriums.

During the 1980s, the market for surf films surged with the release of more affordable video cameras. By the 1990s, the surfing market became saturated with low and medium budget surf films, many with soundtracks that reflected surf music. VHS and DVDs made the surf film viewing experience a primarily "at home" affair, leading to a decrease in popularity of public showings. Furthermore, large surf brands began sponsoring surf films to promote clothing and product sales. Titles like Sonny Miller's The Search for Rip Curl redefined the genre with exotic locales, big budgets, and big name surfers such as Tom Curren.

From the late 1990s into the present, there has been a revival of the "independent surf film." Artists such as The Malloys, Jack Johnson, and Jason Baffa have reinvented the genre by shooting self-financed 16mm motion picture film and utilizing indie music bands like G. Love, Alexi Murdoch, Mojave 3, White Buffalo, and Donavon Frankenreiter, creating what the surf media has called, "modern classics."[citation needed] Some venues still screen surfing films on the big screen.[citation needed]

Examples of surfing documentaries include:

Beach Party films

[edit]

An alternative type of surf movie is the "beach party film" or "surf-ploitation flick" by true surfers. These films had little to do with the authentic sport and culture of surfing, and instead represented movies that attempted to cash in on the growing popularity of surfing among youth in the early 1960s. Examples of Beach Party films include:

Narrative Surf Films

[edit]

In narrative surf films, surfing is occasionally portrayed more realistically within fictional storylines, or used as a backdrop or side theme.

See also

[edit]

Sources

[edit]
  • Booth, Douglas (1996) "Surfing Films and Videos: Adolescent Fun, Alternative Lifestyle, Adventure Industry" Journal of Sport History
  • Thoms, Albie (2000) Surfmovies: The History of the Surf Film in Australia ISBN 0958742030
  • Lisanti, Tom (2005) Hollywood Surf And Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969 ISBN 0786421045
  • Warshaw, Matt (2005) Surf Movie Tonite!: Surf Movie Poster Art, 1957-2004 San Francisco: Chronicle Books ISBN 9780811848732
  • Williams, Randy (2006) Sports Cinema 100 Movies: The Best of Hollywood's Athletic Heroes, Losers, Myths, and Misfits Limelight Editions ISBN 9780879103316 pg 134-136
  • Chidester, Brian; Priore, Domenic; Zuckerman, Kathy (2008) Pop Surf Culture: Music, Design, Film, and Fashion from the Bohemian surf boom Santa Monica Press ISBN 9781595800350 Chapter 7
  • Ormrod & Wheaton (2009) On the edge: leisure, consumption and the representation of adventure sports Leisure Studies Association Issue 104: 17-25
  • Engle, John (2015) Surfing in the Movies: A Critical History McFarland ISBN 9780786495214
  • JONES, DAVIS (2017) “History Of Surfing: Bud Browne Goes To The Movies” Surfer
  • MacGillivray, Greg (2019) “The evolution of the surf film” Surfer Today

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b * "Everything you need to know about Thomas Edison's 1906 surf film". Surfer Today. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022. Hawaiian Islands (Thomas A. Edison, 1906): Chapters & Starting Times
  2. ^ Riding the Crest at Internet Archive
[edit]
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