The Surf Film Archive: Progress and Prizes
In August, Swellnet documented the Surf Film Archive and their goal to "find, scan and restore as much footage as possible from surfing filmmakers".
To that end, Jolyon and Hamish from the SFA established a crowdfunding venture to assist with their laborious work. Not only do donors get the pleasure of seeing our history restored, but they also go into the running to win an Outer Island surfboard handshaped by Mitchell Rae.
Rather than wait for the crowdfund to finish, the fellas dived right in, first restoring Phil Sheppard's 1974 film A Winter's Tale, then working on unseen footage from Dick Hoole's dusty old library, and more recently they've taken possession of the late Alan Rich's film rolls, which include his movies such as Saltwater Wine and Wizards On The Water but also include as yet unseen footage from the '81 Bells. The film is old and sticky, and cleaning it is a slow finicky job, but there's high anticipation to view the finished work.
Jolyon taking delivery of Alan Rich's footage, stored for thirty years in a milk crate and grocery boxes but bound for 4K digital glory (Photos: Ella Burton)
Hamish and Jolyon have also restored footage that will be used in an upcoming Peter Drouyn biopic by Jamie Brisick, and two other surf films that can't yet be divulged.
Yep, they're an industrious duo, but they can only do as much as the crowdfunding allows. They've been thrilled with the response so far - proof that so many surfers care about our history - but would like it known the crowdfunding ends tomorrow.
They may do a live Facebook announcement (if so, we'll embed it here), but if not we'll announce the winner in the comments below.
Comments
Here's the link for tomorrow's Facebook announcement, and would you look at Mitchell and that glorious Outer Island gun!
Get on board people's
Swellnet were our first 'Founding Supporters' and then they all chipped in personally too. Thanks to everyone there.
Looking forward to seeing the gold you guys have restored!
Us too Maz Wax. It's all going up for free at https://www.thesurffilmarchive.com.au/
Yewww
All the best boys and congratulations on all your amazing work. Can’t wait to see it!
OK, the important bits:
- The SFA raised $24,337 via the crowdfunding appeal, via 202 donors, and they've lined up a number of projects commencing forthwith. If you're a member you'll be kept in touch via email. Everyone else can read it on Swellnet.
- The Outer Island board was won by Mark von Nagy from Aireys Inlet.
Thanks for your support Stu! The behind-the-scenes video can be watched here - https://fb.watch/9dGIrqXEJL/
Find out what it takes to to restore Australia & NZs original surf films.
Anderson
Richards
Lynch
Byrne
McCoy
Myers
Fitzgerald
Webber
McTavish
Tolhurst
Carroll
And any others that stuck your name on an Asian Made PoPout for easy Royalty $
Dig Deep and Donate
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Oi calling you legends out here ! !
You can all AFFORD TO DONATE 5K EACH !
I have been in contact with Jolyon about their project. We have about 8 hours of personal footage here from around 1973 - 1980, which includes amongst other things local surfing, cyclones, North Shore Boardriders club comps, Sunny Coast Titles, Qld Titles, Australian Titles, including MP winning the 1974 Aust titles held at Burleigh and Snapper, Stubbies '78 and '80 and '82, and Pepsi Pro Junior 1978 comps. Should be able to track down a bunch of extra footage from others.
Last week I was given 4 hours of Ma and Pa Bendalls ORIGINAL super 8 films. Ma handed them to Lynne Jones at Noosa for safekeeping before Ma passed on. Lynne at 75yo, passed them onto me. Myself and Laurie Jarman from Windansea Club in Caloundra passed them onto Karen Harper and the team at the Sunshine Coast Historical Library. The library already has hours of Ma and Pa bendalls other footage.
We also began the first discussions about working in with them in compiling and cataloguing and archiving and documenting the entire history of Sunshine Coast Surfing, and having everything scanned and digitised and thus opened up to general viewing by the public. They/we will be in contact with Jolyon and the ASFA further on this, plus we will try to rally up some financial support from councils and businesses up here to support this and the ASFA. Much more on all of that later as it unfolds. We will be chasing that all up soon, and also have access to additional footage of stuff like Bob Cooper and Bob McTavish etc, surfing Noosa and Alex Heads.
A classic story - Lynne mentioned the first time she ever Ma Bendall (who I believe didn't start surfing till she was 50). Surfing a cyclonic swell at Noosa in the '60s, Ma asked Lynne if she could hold her surfboard for her - there were no legropes in those days - so that she could dive down and try to find her false teeth.
Looking forward to scanning this footage Jody. Genuine Aus surfing history!
Fantastic Jody.
Here's Pa Bendall from 1970
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Oi i'm calling out you named legends above ! !
You can all AFFORD TO DONATE 5K EACH !
Try reaching out to Mark Zuckerberg.... the guy who started Facebook or ex owners Quicksilver, Billabong, Ripcurl... or anyone with bitcoin atm.
Maybe the foam covered shaping legends managed to pay off a mortgage & time try some new board designs.
https://www.swellnet.com/news/talking-heads/2013/10/23/garry-loveridge-a...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/design-outline/2016/12/19/jughead-and-the-...
haha. Yeah I heard Zuckerberg has taken up foiling! Maybe he wants to put something in.
We think it's really important history, not just for surfing but for Australia and NZ. We'd love to hear from any of those people.
Also we raised about a third of our target, which is awesome and will keep us going for now, but we have decided to keep the crowdfunding campaign open so there's still time to chip in. Maybe get someone one of the hand-printed posters for Christmas? Thanks everyone.
Anyone else think this is Pathetic - just under 26 K raised looking for 80K
How many Active surfers in Aust and NZ that would be aware of The Surf Film Archive what they are doing and this Fundraiser....
100,000 at least ? - F. F. S.- PissWeak Effort !
https://chuffed.org/project/the-surf-film-archive
Thanks for getting right behind our efforts Udo. Love it! but let's encourage them across. Lots of people were very generous, which is great. and we have extended the campaign. Others will come in time and as they can.
I noticed Mark von Nagy - who won the Outer Island surfboard in the raffle - donated another $125 AFTER he won the board.
Mark, if you're reading this, that was a very generous gesture and I hope your new OI gun gets many sets because of it.
Good on Mark. Might have done the same. Certainly would have been over the moon getting that board.
Yeh i spied that as well
Legend Mark..Yew !!
Udo - You can be bad cop, I'll be good cop. hahaha!
Go hard Udo. You seem to be able to put your hands on clips from everywhere. I have no idea who you are but you must be connected. Good to put some heat on. All those guys are likely to feature on those clips, worth putting their hands in their pockets.
Randy donated $ 1000
Still a long way to go...
https://chuffed.org/project/the-surf-film-archive