What would you want a SUP movie to have in it?

[JeffBach]

I'm interested in making a movie about SUPing.  My company (me and a partner) has done six long form direct to DVD titles already in the canoe and kayak world. Our experience, demo reel, etc. is at the bottom. Before people stop reading this though, the important stuff has to be asked.

#1 Does the SUP world want a movie?  Is this fledgling pastime big enough?  How many people would pay how much at retail for a DVD?  Would retailers stock this movie in their shops? How many SUP stocking retailers are there? Yes it would be on Amazon too.

#2 Are there enough manufacturers, retailers, and passionates that are interested enough to pony up enough hard dollars to cover our production costs in exchange for them and/or their products appearing in the movie? Would competing manufacturers be willing to share one DVD? See bottom NOTE for more info on this touchy issue.  To me, SUP looks very entrepreneurial, with no big companies, which does not bode well for this answer.  But there are options.  Instead of one company doing it all (our usual mo), maybe 25 companies could each do a fraction?

#3 What would people want to see? SUPs in action of course.  Water footage and tripod-based land footage. Some handheld. Interviews with big names in the SUP world?  Shaping room and shop tours/visits? Races? Festivals? Instructional footage?  The hard part would be good audio.

#4 Where? Easy answer is east coast, west coast, Hawaii, and flatwater inland.   

#5 Most movies also have a meaningful audio track. Your ears are far more sensitive to input than your eyes.  Interviews.  Getting wireless waterproof audio gear on a SUP'er out riding a wave could be interesting. And of course the music.  I wonder if Dick Dale would be interested?  Or any of numerous surf-centric musicians as well?

#6 Would anyone buy a Blu-ray version, at somewhat of a premium price, in order to cover the higher production costs of Blu-ray?

#7 If you think Youtube clips are fine or that prime time is not here yet (never??) I would like to read about that. I'm not looking to live large off the proceeds,  but I can't really lose my shirt doing this either! If the status quo is good enough, I don't want to rock the boat.

If you are up for it write me with thoughts and musings jbach at quietwaterfilms dot com.

http://www.quietwaterfilms.com
http://www.quietwaterfilms.com/demoreel.htm
http://www.youtube.com/quietwaterfilms
NOTE: http://www.quietwaterfilms.com/SUPproductplacement.htm

[paddlesurf.net]

Here's a response for you: http://www.paddlesurf.net/2008/11/video-vacuum-theres-nothing-worthwhile.html

I wrote that one back in November of last year- just now we're starting to see a trickle of the stuff I'm dying to see- good solid surfing! There is still a video vacuum for good, original content.... I understand you make no money putting something like that together but it'd be fun trying!

I'd love to see vignettes of people living the life- paddle surf "names" and joe average- folks who're making it happen from the hardcore sponsored big wave chargers to some crazy French guy living out of a van or something. How about a crazed plumber that only rides weird pickle fork boards snakes the grease traps at Costcos and SUPs Malibu (he exists, codename: Spork). 

Travel pieces: land shots of guys threading Indo tube sections, carving fat cutbacks at some endless Peruvian left hander and dodging Orcas at some Alaskan reef.

Endless ideas churning around in the noodle... paddle world is ready for it!

[bigdom]

big waves
hot moves
cool music
sweet babes
wipeouts!

[tautologies]

having seen my fair share of surfing and kiteboarding videos, I know which films that I'll watch again...lot of riding. Diffrent conditions, styles, etc, but lots of riding. I doubt I would watch a downwinder, and anklesnappers are only fun to watch if the technique is highlighted.

Although I doubt that these movies would focus too much on being cool, usually I don't like the "life-style" movies. In kiteboaridng these are more or less about partying, I've been to parties. I don't need to watch kids party and act up in front of the camera...

If we colud see SUP in differen conditions..waves, rivers, lakes, innovaing with the boards..that would be great...and I'd probably pay for it.

One thought...put the movie out for download, against a fee if you wish....less work with designing, printing, and distributing..no middle men, so price can be lower, and thus you can reach more people...it is not too hard to set up with payment systems and all...

a.   

[SUPer Dave]

BIG WAVES>>>>More Big WAves.... and Bigger Waves.....Also 99.99.9 per cent of surf movies show the surfer in the wave just after they stand up...I want to see them Paddlin in...Most the movies they magically standing on an amazing wave ..We want to see the Paddle out...The  Shitty paddle outs..And the hold downs ...And the tomb stoneing like at Tres Palmes after a clean up set..
So make sure there are lots of Monster Drops... that will sell your vidio...Something that the bar tender at my favorite surf bar puts in the Vidio mix every night..  TNKS  D

[motopilot]

BIG WAVES>>>>More Big WAves.... and Bigger Waves.....Also 99.99.9 per cent of surf movies show the surfer in the wave just after they stand up...I want to see them Paddlin in...Most the movies they magically standing on an amazing wave ..We want to see the Paddle out...The  Shitty paddle outs..And the hold downs ...And the tomb stoneing like at Tres Palmes after a clean up set..
So make sure there are lots of Monster Drops... that will sell your vidio...Something that the bar tender at my favorite surf bar puts in the Vidio mix every night..  TNKS  D

Agree with the big waves.  Cannot have enough of them.

[JeffBach]

It is a fun thought.

I'm enjoying the idea of all the places that SUP happens.  Bend, OR., North Carolina, Maine, all the Santa beaches in SoCal, the coldwater spots in NorCal, Florida, Australia.

High def would be nice.  Doing something straight to AppleTV and bypassing the whole disc thing is tempting. But still having a disc as well.

[Jon E.B.]

Me...

[sylvano]

Big waves, ok, but also human good conditions that can make any average surfer identificate to.
Nice to know better some SUPers.
And also please don't stay in the USA. Stand Up Paddle surfing is worldwide, so take advantage of the movie to travel (Come here in Lanzarote for some good footages... ).

[Paddle-Plappe]

big waves
hot moves
cool music
sweet babes
wipeouts!

and a good story. 

[surfcal]

I like documentery style and historical footage with bio-personality segments.
NO gad-alwful crap music or "flavor-of -the day" surfers.  I find that the SUPer is always a bit more muture and and require quality over  quanity.  They are indeed looking for SUP DVDs but not you-tube bits and bites. 
Put together a fully rounded magazine stlye or event a travelougue with a purpose and I think it will sell.

[diesel]

Some big waves and some head high to double overhead waves that are super clean and hollow.  Probably need to film in Indo or maybe hawaii on the right day.  Lots of progressive surfing with interviews of the guys featured where they talk about thier style of surfing and where they are trying to take thier sup surfing.  Good music.  Maybe some modern and some 80's good music.  A lot of supers are from the 80's generation.  Especially the ones interested in buying a surf movie.  I also agree with the former post about showing the whole wave from beginning to end.  Don't make the clips too choppy where they highlight only the big hits.  If you show the whole wave, it is easier to learn from the DVD.  Possible guys for the film could be Jaime Mitchell, Luke Egan, Bonga, Duane Desoto, Noah Shimabukuro, Dave Kalama, Robby Naish, Kainoa Beupre, and probably a buch of others.  These guys rip with style and are pushing the sport.

[surfcal]

You start with guys(or women) and travel all around the world meeting and interacting with the locals both famous and not.  You visit thier breacks and taste the local flavor of the county. You move on to another part of the globe and find the perfect sup wave, somethng not too big with a really good right.  You add very cool original music sound track and some wittie bantor.  Don't forget the wipeout section and the big wave North shore.  Make sure you get a very eye catching poster made...... wait a minuted It's the Endless Sup'er.
Of course they might need a map.

[stoneaxe]

Of course they might need a map.

What a great idea....

Something that would touch on the history and origins of the sport with great archival footage and then show the current explosive growth. Big waves are a given but I think a big part of the current story is the places that it never would have been expected. Include some of the movers and shakers but maybe more important are the folks that do it without any recognition. Search out some of the characters that make for an interesting story. John A.'s comment on the plumber sounds spot on... . Some of the folks that are pushing the envelope, sometimes in an unusual direction and making a difference would be cool to see too. Corran comes to mind. Seems like a video there all by himself....interesting character, hot babes, eco friendly, big waves (while dodging icebergs no less)...

and Jon E.B. too...he be stylin..

[FB1]

Dave Kalama, Robby Naish, Laird, tearing up Ho'okipa at 8-12', good music and adventure are always cool....
How bout a segment from a good downwind race, with footage shot from a chopper and escort boat.