MEGANE MURGIA

The place and image of women in the surfing world is still complicated in 2021.

Despite changes in the competitive area, more women in the water and a rethought surf marketing, the balance is not really there.

Why create differences between male and female surfing?

It's just surfing and it's cool.

Mégane Murgia is in this state of mind.

The young French director has the desire to build a fairer image of women in the surfing world.

With authenticity, she highlights ocean lovers and nature lovers.

From her native Brittany, she makes documentaries and films as independent.

In 2017, her 1st film "LETTRE A MA MER" is released.

It follows, through the seasons, three women for whom the ocean is a daily element.

Her short film "INSPIRE" is released one year later.

It has a great diffusion, being selected at the surf film festivals of Honolulu, New York, Anglet and many others in Europe.

He also opened several of our SURF NIGHTS through France.

We are very happy to present you this new Focus on Megane and to contribute, in our own way, to the evolution of surfing mentalities.

- Where are you from and what has been your background as a filmmaker ?
"I grew up in South Finistère in French Brittany.
In high school, I chose a movie option, then I did a degree in Rennes.
During my studies far from the coast, I felt my creativity was paralyzed and each time I return to the shore gave birth to new ideas.

I quickly understood that my happiness and my imagination depended on iodized air.
I felt a strong need to return to live near the sea and film the personalities it shapes.
And I made my first film "LETTRE A MA MERE"

I started filming surfing because I wanted to give voice to women and men who don't represent the idea of surfing as we usually do.

- Which surfers do you admire ?

"Annabel Talouarn, as much for her poetry when she puts her feet on a longboard, as for her explosiveness when she passes on a small board.

I will never tire of filming her.

In fact, the surfers I admire are those around me.

My friends whom I love to watch surfing when I get back on the peak.

For whom, the simple fact of sliding makes them radiate happiness.

And when I'm in need of surfing for example, I prefer videos with Leah Dawson, Dave Rastovich, Lola Mignot, Steph Guilmore.

And my favorite right now is Jaleesa Vincent!

She's good, with her offbeat and colorful universe and she has a flow, a style, an originality in her surfing.

And there are also many other surfers who inspire me.

But for me the desire to make a film comes from a meeting."

Photo Mégane Murgia

- Who did you start filming surf with ?

"The first surfing project I did was on a shaper...

And I filmed my boyfriend and a girlfriend surfing his boards.

That's probably my very first video project.

Surfing was the perfect subject to experiment and develop my technique."

- What do you like about filming surfing ?
"I started filming surfing because I wanted to give voice to women and men who don't represent the idea of surfing as we usually do.
People who are not high-level or professional athletes, but who place surfing at the heart of their lives.
Orienting their choices towards the sea.
There are as many ways of looking at surfing as there are surfers and therefore as many stories to tell."

I am lucky to have a job that helps me in my questioning.

It can share a strong message and bring to light people who take action.

- What are your three favorite surf movies ?
"My big favorite is
FISHPEOPLE by Keith Malloy.

As much for the substance as for the form.

I loved its aesthetics and the authenticity of the characters.
Next, I would say
LET'S BE FRANK, by Peter Hamblin.
For his completely crazy universe.
It's the proof that surfing can serve a story, build an atmosphere, while moving away from banalities.
And THE ACCORD, by RC Cone and Elli Thor Magnusson,

for its unique and ingenious universe."

- What are your best songs to go to the water and your after session ones ?
"I will answer the question differently,
because I make more the difference between the atmosphere of the moment and the period, than before/after.
So for a winter session it would be:
"Waterbound" by DIRK POWELL,

"Dirty Old Town" by THE POGUES,

"Le Terre Tremblante" by MARCO BELTRAMI,

"Feel" by TY SEGALL and

"Somedays" by TESS PARKS.
And summer would be more like it:
"Honey Bones" by DOPE LEMON,

THE GROWLERS, "Someday" for example,

"What Did I do" by ROSA MARIA,

"Tell Me" by the ALLAH-LAS.

And of course CAPTAIN EXCELSIOR & THE COSMIC CRABS!
In all objectivity of course and not because they are my friends and I like the Captain very much!
Hahaha...

No seriously, they have a lot of talent, an overflowing creativity and their new album in preparation will ignite the sunny sessions to come!"

There are as many ways of looking at surfing as there are surfers and therefore as many stories to tell.

Photo Mégane Murgia

- What is your equipment ?
"I work with a GH4.
It's a small, high-performance and above all space-saving case.

It's the most important thing for me, because the goal is to forget about the camera.

To detach myself from the equipment, to let reality speak for itself."

- What are your actions for the planet ?

"I inform myself, I question myself, I act on my consumption, I promote local and zero waste, I reduce my meat consumption...

But it's so little and sometimes I feel so helpless.

I am lucky to have a job that helps me in my questioning.

It can share a strong message and bring to light people who take action.

So my current projects are strongly influenced by these issues related to climate change and our role in the environment".

- What are your plans ?

"I am in the process of completing a project I have been working on since 2017: LA MER EN HERITAGE.

The film is currently in post-production and will be broadcast in the spring on France 3 TV.

I am also developing a web series with Ian Fontaine.

We already knew each other a little bit, but I really met him this year when I worked with himon a project that was a breath of fresh air.

And that gave me the idea of a next adventure! "

Photo Annabel Talouarn

www.meganemurgia.com

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