Lost In The Ether - a film by Andrew Kidman
I wouldn't normally discuss metaphysics in a surf review but Al Merrick started it...
In 1996 Merrick was being interviewed by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times about the use of computer shaping machines. Shaping machines were just becoming popular and a philosophical rift was opening between the shapers that used them and those that didn't. Merrick was an eager early adopter and in defence of his position he defiantly proclaimed that, "there's no soul in foam". He emphasised the point by crushing a foam coffee cup in his hand.
After watching Lost In The Ether I think it's safe to say that Andrew Kidman would heartily disagree with Al Merrick.
Lost in the Ether is Kidman's fifth film and follows on from the exploration of the surfboard design process that he began in Glass Love. The main point of difference being that in his new film he focusses on particular designs, the shapers who create them, and the process they undertake.
The film opens with an inspired move, Kidman tracks down the board Michael Peterson rode in Morning of the Earth, the one he did that cutback on, and recreates his own version of it. Footage of MP surfing is overdubbed with a remarkably lucid Peterson discussing the design merits of the board. Remarkable because he hasn't surfed in 30 years yet is still aware of its characteristics.
In the films next passage, Kidman spends time with shapers Michael Mackie and Sage Joske and Lost In The Ether moves into territory rarely trodden in surf films. Kidman delves into the design process; how the mental undertaking affects the shaper and how the final outcome is a tangible manifestation of the shapers themselves. Considered this way it is easy to understand the grounds that Kidman, and others of his ilk, may disagree with Merrick about foam lacking soul.
Upon that point: the word 'soul' can cause much hand-wringing in surfers. It's an often overused but rarely understood term. Disregarding the ridiculous 'soul surfer' notion and broadening the scope to include other design endeavours, such as architecture for instance, the concept seems less silly. Architects often talk of the affect buildings have on the wellbeing of their inhabitants. There is no empirical evidence of this but it's a concept discussed without derision. A building constructed of inanimate bricks and mortar, aesthetically arranged, possessing immaterial properties. In surfers parlance: it has soul.
Back to the film, most of the narration is by Kidman himself and his earnest and dry delivery takes some getting used to. But used to it I got. In content, his naturally romantic musings are grounded by discussions of the technical aspects of surfboard design: dimensions, design features, performance.
Since its release Kidman has said in the press that Lost In The Ether is a film for the 'surfing purist', made for surfers with a keen sense of surfing history. That may be true, yet I watched it with my partner who has absolutely no interest in surfing but an abiding passion for handmade bowls. It's the sculptural qualities of bowls, the flaws and imperfections that mark human toil, and the idea that construction is as important as conception that fascinates her. She thoroughly enjoyed Lost in the Ether. Of course, when it comes to Al Merrick's premise of soul being absent in inanimate objects she also heartily disagrees.
Lost In The Ether is limited to 1000 copies. It costs $80 and comes with a 100 page hard-bound book. It can only be bought from Andrew Kidman's website.
Comments
That could be the best opening line ever.
Quick question...: DId Kidman make this 'film' with film, cut it by hand on a flatbed and deliver it to theatres on spools? I think not.
Pot, meet kettle......
I think you may be confusing my thoughts as the reviewer with Kidman's sentiments as the filmmaker. At no time does he mention Al Merrick or make any disparaging comments about how other boards are made (as you say: calling the kettle black). They were my words, and while it may have been presumptuous of me to use them, I think it helped to understand the film.
Lost In The Ether is a celebration of board design not an opportunity to take potshots at people who don't share his beliefs.
Really enjoyed this movie. I dont know how anyone can ride a board and not want to understand the design aspects and where they came from. I'd love to be able to have the foresight and craftsmanship to shape a great board. I do the next best thing and ride handshaped boards not designed on computers. I have couple of HPS machine made standard boards, they have their place.....in my garage under my home brew kit.
One of the ASP events should be on boards the pros had to shape. Double points for standing up.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kidman's Glass Love and Litmus but there is nothing less 'Soul' about demanding 80$ to view his surf flick. Maybe I'm just mad that I cant afford it but Purist/elitist/aristocratic surfing ideologies make me feel ill, and they seem to be seeping into Kidmans approach.
And for what its worth, no I dont solely ride thrusters/watch 80's-90's punk rock soundtracked surf films/punt airs/or lack a deep feeling of connection to the historical values of surfing. I just think this attitude has become ironically exclusive in its own way. Give surfing back to the people and leave your hoity toity views for the smithsonian.
P.S. anyone can shape a board. Do it! I just shaped my first, and its so rewarding/so do-able. Not only does it float, but it surfs really well Don't let yourself think shaping is done by gods or by architects with some unattainable expertise that cant flow through your own hands.
Aware of my winy/negative tone-this review was well written, and I would LOVE to see this movie. Kidman's stuff is always fun to watch.
Sauce: Kidman is an independent artist with no industry sponnoes (or very minor ones)......with small print runs he needs to charge that to break even and make the next one.
Printing books is an expensive business.
12 Sauce: I think you may be right about the growing exclusivity around this genre generally, I dont think any of Kidmans films preach though (I know you werent saying this). If I'm going to generalise (and you weren't)I'd say the HPS shortboard crew of all ages will snub their nose at anything that isnt hardcore progressive and people are over it, hence I'd say its more reactionary due to the agressive nature of HPS surfing being pushed down peoples throats in and out of the water.
Re: the shaping - yeah I'm going to give it whirl.
Dear 12Sauce- Your comment has been made without any consideration to the process involved in the making of this book/film. Yes, it is easy to throw around pigeon holes like: elitist/purist/exclusivist. But you haven't considered the bigger picture... Andrew's films take an average of 5 years to compile, that is 5 years of continuous work to produce an end product from someone with an original p.o.v. (and without a financial backer.)
Trouble is, the surf market is so flooded with quantities of disposable goods that we become spoiled (made rotten) in our expectations of the cost of things. If giving surfing back to the people means offering them more of the SAME for a bottom basement price than no, Andrew is not doing that. He IS putting a beautifully made thought-provoking documentary film & 100 page book online for sale. It is a matter of where you chose to spend your hard-earned dollars, and this is something worth saving for. I guarantee you will value it more knowing how much it took from you and him to get it in your hands.
And PS- Yes, Anyone can shape a board that is the exactly the point he has made, no pedestals involved.
Just got my copy last week and I'm stoked with it. Admittedly I paused before spending 80 skins and tried justifying it (how many cups of coffee/schooners of beer/cakes of wax) it costs before just saying 'fuck it'. Glad I did, its great. I dont think he'll expand his fanbase but those that like Kidman and his exploratory work (questions!) should think it a worthwhile investment. Who else in surfing is going where he's going? Doing the things he does.
As someone said above it costs a hell of a lot to self-produce and if Andrew Kidman hasn't proven that he isn't a sellout by now, I don't know when he ever will.
12 Sauce, I'm sure Kidman would support us all shaping our own boards. Probably when we do that we will appreciate the effort that goes into handmade shaping and have less enthusiasm for the throwaway culture we live in, which pros exemplify, with their petulant punching and/or breaking of their boards post-heat loss; they remind me of spoilt tennis pros. But it's through no fault of their own: The entire surf industry, like all other apparel industries, is built on planned obsolescence, not re-using, re-cycling, or DIY. The large-scale manufacturing of boards is just an extension of this, although less offensive because board fashions aren't yet as superficial as apparel fashion (watch this space). I think Kidman's approach to surfing "culture" is simply this: stop and appreciate the things in your life -history, craftmanship, a wave - instead of racing off the the next 'thing' which is what our culture encourages - hence the historically high levels of ADD, ADHD, Alzheimer's, nervous anxiety et cetera. Stop and appreciate the passion that's gone into the pursuit of riding waves for pleasure, instead of getting caught up in the rampant raciness of modern culture, which the surf industry, inevitably to support its own growth, encourages. What's the news? What's the buzz? Whose the new kid on the block? Whose the best? Who do we want you to be like? Surfing has always walked a line between showing off and keeping quiet. Keeping quiet is where the money is. PS $80 x 1000 copies = $80,000. That's actually precious little dough to support the creation and production of a surf movie AND print book, let alone actually giving Kidman what's probably a well-deserved pay day. Compare that to the latest pair of flip flops from Quiksilver. How much will they set you back? How much did they cost to make? How long will you 'treasure' them for? How much was the cost of those shoes driven by the cost of the marketing campaign designed to sell them?
Wouldn't pay $80 or $1 for a surf movie.
Made my own.
"Fishing Dogs" - gave copies away for Christmas presents.
Shaped my own surfboard as early as 1962 but learned early that Phil Becker could do it quicker, better, and more economical.
Still riding his personalized crafts made specifically for me.
Zeno Malan Jr. aka- zuum
did Mr Kidman hand write all 80 copies, then use a hand laser beam to copy the movie onto his hand made dvd's ? i think not.
In life and surfing much is hype so its sort of special when you find something or someone that resonates with you. Andrew Kidman's work is not for everyone but his music and film gives joy to many, me included. I happily purchased Lost in the Ether and like his other films was blown away by the story line and the refreshingly clear way he looks at surfing and surf craft.