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Surfrider NYC "Step(s) Into Liquid" with Dana Brown
By Laird Loughlin and Cathay Che
On July 22, 2003, Surfrider NYC joined director Dana Brown for his
painfully
early (5:30am!) interview with Larry Hoff on the WB 11's Morning News
program. Dana Brown, son of director Bruce Brown ("Endless Summer"),
continues
the legacy with his much-buzzed about surf documentary "Step Into
Liquid",
which opens in NYC, Los Angeles and Hawaii on August 8th. On his
whirlwind
promotion tour, Dana was recruited to give reporter Hoff a surf lesson
at
Gilgo Beach in an attempt to share the "stoke" - the reason why people
from
all walks of life are stepping into liquid and surfing in greater
numbers
than ever before.
A small contingent of Surfrider NYC met with Brown, reps from the
films'
distribution company, Artisan Entertainment, and the WB 11 team, and
despite
the blustery, overcast morning, spirits were high. After brief
introductions, Hoff started the interview by maneuvering into the
Atlantic
on a long board, and with some guidance from Brown, gracefully
negotiated
the choppy surf.
While waiting for waves, Brown relayed to Hoff that "Step Into
Liquid" slips off the beaten track. Crossing the globe, Brown taps into
secret surfing spots (like Texas where hearty cowboys ride waves
created
behind gigantic oil tankers) and profiles not just famous surfers like
Kelly
Slater, Laird Hamilton, Keala Kennelly and the Mavericks crew, but
average
Joe surfers like Dale, a middle-aged fry-cook who has made it his
purpose in
life to surf three waves, regardless of conditions, every day for
twenty-five years.
Brown's message: Surfing is a passion for people across generations and
physical limitations, regardless of conditions and locations. Surfing
was
developed by ancient Polynesians for pure recreation, and the sport
still
reflects that purity. To quote the bumper sticker on the back of
Dale's car, "Surfing is not a matter of life or death. It's a matter of
much
more importance than that."
There is little more that can be said in words that could do justice to
the
awesome images that Brown captures on film - you will literally hide
your
head and duck when you see Dave Kalama coming at you on a 40-foot wave
at
Jaws. Like his father before him, Dana is a true diplomat for surfing
and
surfers everywhere.
The WB interview went smoothly, and afterwards Surfrider NYC members
got to
hang out with Brown. Regarding the film Dana said, "We set out to make
a
film for many generations of surfers that would capture the same spirit
and
energy of the 'Endless Summer', while also simplifying the reason why
it
means so much to so many." Funnily enough, Dana noted that the surfers
in
Michigan were surprised that he knew Bruce Brown. Dana was unassuming
and
pleased with his film's success so far, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed
the
experience and his company. Surfrider NYC would formally like to thank
Dana
Brown, Artisan Entertainment, and Larry Hoff (WB 11) for having us
along for
the ride.
Now go see the movie! And take your non-surfer friends, your family,
etc. -
they might finally get what you've been going on and on about all these
years. If they don't take your word for it, take Forrest Whitaker's
(Actor)
who said that "Although I had never surfed before, this film transcends
both
surf and world cultures, because it exposes what lies at the most
primitive
inner core of surfing, spirituality." Visit the official Step Into
Liquid
website - www.stepintoliquid.com, for more information about the film.
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