True music zealots always chase the antecedents. The inspirations. The bands that inspired the bands they like. And so they work backwards uncovering little known and less recognised artists. The ones who really broke new ground and blazed a path for those who followed.

The same occurs in surfing too. Our history is littered with talented folk who strayed from the constraints of the day and did things their way - Frank Sinatra cliche notwithstanding. They provide the inspiration for those who follow; the ones who turn the act into something more palatable to the masses.

Dale Egan is a surfing antecedent. A child prodigy, artist, surfing punk, urban archaeologist, and also the guy who started friction free surfing. Yeah, finless, although Dale used cut down versions. This makes Derek Hynd a descendent of Dale Egan, something he's never shirked from, in fact Hynd, along with Andrew Kidman, has long championed the pioneering talents of Dale Egan.

And the list of acolytes is growing. Derek Hynd and Andrew Kidman have been joined by Ben Cregan, a 38-year-old filmmaker from Sydney's northern beaches who recently completed a film on the life of Dale Egan.

A Day Late And A Dollar Short is showing on the Tweed Coast this weekend (see details at base) and Swellnet spoke to Ben while he was motoring north to unveil his ode to a surfing inspiration.

Swellnet: How long have you known Dale?
Ben Cregan: I got to know Dale when I was 22- or 23-years-old and studying photography. He lived nearby in an apartment at Mona Vale beach full of interesting art and surf pieces so I approached him to shoot some portraits for my course and we struck up a friendship.

What about 'A Day Late And A Dollar Short', how long have you been working on this film?
About the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 I was recovering from breaking my neck in a surfing accident and we discussed making a short film about Dale and his friction free surfing. This project grew into a bigger story which includes his youth surfing with the legends of the 1970s, the turbulent and artistic lifestyle of his adult years, and also his current situation of survival while maintaining the craft of his friction free surfing.

There's a lot of historical footage, was that Dale's or did it come from elsewhere?
We filmed for a number of years while also dealing with other life challenges. Dale kept digging up classic archival material such as the Super 8 film he and his brother Shane shot during the 1970s of people such as M.P, Neil Purchase senior, Rabbit, PT at Snapper, and Simon Anderson at huge Bells Beach. There is much more too.

I also pulled a third person in with more moving film experience, Marcus, to help me edit and conduct some interviews so we could finish the film five years later.

The name conjures a hard luck story, are you driven by righting historical wrongs?
Dale came up with the title of the film as he feels it reflects his path through life, and perhaps his position could have worked out differently. The audience can take what they like from the film though.

I have put a lot of time and energy into this film as I appreciate the contribution Dale has made through his art and friction free surfing, along with his practice of reclaiming treasure from turning into trash. He was ahead of the pack in a number of ways but maybe didn't capitalise on some opportunities and so they passed.

If in the 1970s/early 80s we had freesurfers - paid professionals who lived outside the contest confines - do you think Dale's fate may have differed?
Dale is a very talented surfer and has always had a progressive approach to surfing so he could have been a professional freesurfer if such a thing existed back in that era.   

Dale Egan's story is, in a way, akin to that of musician Daniel Johnston: an immensely talented outsider who flew beneath the mainstream radar. Think that's a fair comparison?
I like the comparison to Daniel Johnston. While most people haven't heard of him a number of well noted individuals from the surf culture have spent time hanging out with Dale and digging his vibe. 

And where is Dale now and what's he doing?
Dale is still living on the northern beaches of Sydney in an old surfboard factory in a swamp behind the sewage works, but only just, and maybe not for much longer. The city is growing and it's become harder to live there and maintain a lifestyle focused on surfing and art. He still has a massive collection of surf culture memorabillia, art pieces, and other props he sells and hires out. But he got flooded in the recent storms which may be the last straw for Sydney.

Through the film the audience gets an insight into surf, punk, and art culture over a number of decades, and it also touches on enviromental issues such as the disposable society we have created and the effects of urban development. 

Where and when are the screenings of 'A Day Late And A Dollar Short'?
We are putting some film screening on at Lennox Head on Friday the 15th and Brunswick Picture House the 16th with a bonus film Flashback Road cut with Super 8 film of 1970s surf culture. An awesome blues and rock band 'The Desert Sea' are playing live for the soundtrack and then playing on afterwards so it should be a great night.

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