DOCUMENTARIES TAKE CENTER STAGE AT SURFER POLL AND VIDEO AWARDS

Odds-on Favorite: This movie has it all. Even a long ending.

The first mainstream surf flick, Bruce Brown's iconic The Endless Summer, was a documentary. Brown did, after all, document the globe trotting journey of Robert August and Michael Hynson. Sure there were some editorial liberties taken, as I believe the Cape St. Francis footage was shot prior to much of the other footage. As much as the two stars where all smiles, we now know that August and Hynson didn't exactly get along, rarely speaking to each other through the second half of the journey. Some of Brown's B-roll might make for excellent reality TV in today's entertainment marketplace. Despite the Father Knows Best suit and tie aesthetic, stashed inside Hynson's jacket pocket was his constant companion, a marijuana pipe and plenty of stash.

Every movie has it's back story drama--such is life. The Endless Summer is a classic, and still as entertaining today as ever (perhaps more so now). A great documentary surf movie doesn't require great waves, just a great story.

For the last 40-years or so, we've been spoon fed surf porn and that was all we were offered, save the occasional mainstream feature flick such as Big Wednesday. The tried and true surf porn formula goes like this: take the brightest and best young surfers put them in the world's best waves, add cutting edge music, mix in some great editing, and viola… surf porn that would have Bob Guiccione waxing his stick. Surf porn is alright, but in the end, it's just porn. Good for a fix, but lacking depth. After looking at it you feel empty rather than fulfilled.

But now we've come full circle, back to The Endless Summer; back to documenting the stories behind the wave riders, back to real life drama and it is a delight to all movie fans, not just surfers.

This year's DOCUMENTARY nominees are:

BUSTIN' DOWN THE DOOR: The odds-on favorite to win (why else would it be in the "Movie of the Year" category as well) Bustin' Down The Door has it all. The film is an against-all-odds tale of a dream fulfilled by a group of renegade surfers on Oahu's North Shore of Hawaii. Close to the hearts of many in the surf world, especially the surf industry, this story features legends, great waves, a momentous conflict and a resolution orchestrated by none other than Eddie Aikau. If you are a surfer, you must see this film. Drawback: It's a wee bit long.

SURFWISE: Wow! If I were allowed a vote, I would've voted for this one. This doc is filled with interesting themes: father/son(s) conflict, redefining societal norms, paternal love, family values and more. Layered with thought provoking dialogue, this movie is the real deal. If you are a person, you must see this film. Note: This movie is also a nominee in the "Movie of the Year" category, thereby effectively eliminating the rest of the "Documentary" nominees below from contention. Drawbacks: None.

UNDER THE SUN: Cyrus Sutton contrasts the huge gap between two surf cities only an hours drive from each other along the Australia's NSW, Queensland border. A cinematic gem, Sutton delivers because what is uncovered is not how far apart the two cultures are, but rather, how close they've become. Surfing sells, no matter how you package it.

BETWEEN THE LINES: I wrote this film and co-directed it. It's pretty good.

ARCHY: If you are fan of Matt Archbold this movie is for you. Bill Ballard takes you through the ups and downs of a 1990s surf decade filled with issues, not the least of which is young surfing professional given too much too soon.

Watch the SURFER POLL and VIDEO AWARDS presented by Suzuki America LIVE webcast tonight, Tuesday September 9th at 6pm PST.

http://www.surferpoll.net/