Jack McCoy: An open letter to friends and fans in WA
For over 40 years I’ve been showing surfing films in Western Australia. It’s been a privilege to share my films with so many generations of surfers. I also lived in the South West for 12 years with my young family while filming what some consider my most memorable films like Bunyip Dreaming and The Green Iguana and the Billabong Challenge Series.
I don’t consider myself a writer; I’m a filmmaker and storyteller and for this reason, I have created a program that is more of an event than a screening of one of my 25 films.
As I move closer to the end of my career, I want to give back and share some intimate moments that haven't been documented in the movies. I have been doing Talk Stories and Master Classes around the world, connecting with audiences far and wide.
The Talk Story event is a journey of the people and places that have inspired me. The stories will include: the planning, the execution, the life and death adventures whilst working with the world’s best surfers from Gerry Lopez, Tom Carroll to Andy Irons and Kelly Slater. From crude Plexiglas water housings to filming with an underwater jet ski to capture images that no one had ever done before. I also share the story of filming one of the three most famous surfed waves in surfing history.
It is also a behind the scenes look at what it took to create the images and films. I consider it a back stage pass into my life’s work. Accompanied by still photos and film clips (some of which have never been publicly released) this is not a show you will find on YouTube. It is shared with the audience who are invited to ask questions about working with the world’s best surfers or the location of a particular scene.
For camera and film maker buffs I’ll talk about the tools of my trade and for music lovers I’ll share how I choose my soundtracks and the personal relationship I’ve had with some legendary artists including Jack Johnson, Dave Grohl and even a Beatle.
I have approached my art with the best quality possible in film, soundtracks, surfers and equipment and therefore in order to deliver an event like this, I have not compromised on the venue. This is why I have chosen The Octagon Theatre at UWA to deliver an intimate and interactive experience for the audience to benefit fully from the media I will share.
Some may say that the ticket price is at the high end of the range, but I have always wanted to give good value to my supporters. Each ticket purchased will receive a free DVD of one of my films (valued at $40 on my website) that I will be happy to sign at the end of the night.
Finally, I was hoping to have my dear friend Mark Occhilupo join me on stage as a special guest. Unfortunately he has some personal family matters that will prevent him from attending. I have since asked one of my other heroes, Wayne Lynch, to join us on the night. We worked together on film projects including my film Storm Riders (filmed in the NW of WA) and the opportunity to have an exchange on the night with this surfing legend is as soulful as it gets.
Although I don’t want to say this is my last Hurrah and that I’ll never be back to share my stoke in Perth, the chances maybe slim. I’m going to be putting my all into an evening that I want to remember myself as the best performance in 40 years. Hope to see you there.
- Aloha, Jack
Comments
It will be an awesome night......the mans a legend.
When are you coming to Victoria?
Footage from storm riders of Wayne ripping.
On a first gen Energy Thruster no less.
First gen personal rider of WL featured in a Jack movie...collectors would go crazy...
That's what I thought but wasn't prepared to say. What's the second board, a WL personal probably?
Well spotted, & well surfed! We have saved one of those, very very important boards. What spins me out about ours is the tucked under edge extending all the way up (thought that feature came later). Otherwise it's got everything you need, wide tail, decent vee and enough float for a mortal to surf it pretty well.
yeah hows that eh,the blue rail fade energy thruster,so iconic in the early 80s. Looking back on it i still remember trying to figure out where that was,thought it was in SA for ages......so many good films.....
Just spoke to Jack and he'll bring the show to the eastern states if the Perth show is a success. So if you have any friends in Perth encourage them to get along.
Please come to the East Jack sunshine coast is a great spot!
Byron Bay 2013 shootout (Basherz exhibition)
Jack warmly welcomed ashore our international crew of Bodybasherz
He & budding filmmaker Keith Malloy willingly posed for happy snaps swapping tall stories.
Jack( is the real) McCoy ...I'm a fan!
(Odd fact) Both these filmmakers literally stand out in a crowd.
(I stand over 6ft+ ... Larger than life they tower over me in my prized photo)
Another odd fact! The first time my eldest son stood up by himself was in Jack McCoy's open hand.
I was living on the N Beaches at the time and went up to see Jack about something or other and dragged Sam along with me. He was only young at the time, maybe 3 or 4 months, not walking, not even standing by himself without help.
Jack said, "Give him here, I'll show you something." So I passed over my firstborn.
Big old Jack grabbed him gently with one arm, then set Sam's feet down on the open palm of his other hand before outstretching that arm. Then he let go.
This is over hard concrete, and as you say, Jack is no jockey. If Sam fell onto said concrete it was from a height.
But what do you know, Sam stood there balancing on his palm, first time standing ever, while Jack the big bear of a filmmaker smiled beatifically behind him.
that is awesome, in the most heartwarming of ways.
Sounds like a bloody good story. Not to sure if I am your friend, sounds like a bloody good story.
Though, for a small fee, I could be your biographier.
That sounds so sneaky, that is the first time I have done that. It was the W.A call, sorry.
Jack hope you do come over East. At the premiere of Blue Horizon (in Subi I think) it was our little grommet who came up and won the block of wax - you got him to answer a question in front of the crowd, legendary. He still loves the waves.
As for my generation, it was Bunyip Dreaming, Green Iguana ("We need an alternative / to petrochemicals"), Sons of Fun then Sabotaj that I loved best. And yet I kept going back to Storm Riders...
Hey Jack
Here’s an open letter to you .
Mate, you’ve sold out some of Australia’s best waves in pursuit of your art. Exposed them to the hordes as you’ve revealed their magnificence. It’s not an approach that I traditionally endorse , but fuck me you nailed it. Bunyip Dreaming is without doubt the cinematic high water mark for Australian surf culture. Photography, music , editing and most importantly the concept left me enthralled then and they still do to this day.
Hats off and a very , very appreciative round of applause for encapsulating the Aussie surfing experience at its utter apex - wild waves, beautiful backgrounds , frontier rawness and engrossed and talented participants.
Cheers again , Mr McCoy.
I can guarantee that you’ve improved the lives of most Aussie surfers I know.
i can hear yothu yindi now