Photo James Katsipis
Taylor Steele
For this 1st Focus, it's an honor to have one of the best surf movie director answering a few questions.
When we started our surf movie screenings, our first wish was to schedule all the films that made our youth.
Our surf culture was made by watching a very long series of VHS from the 90's, the 80's ...
And among those films, there were Taylor Steele movies.
Hope you know who Taylor is, otherwise you have missed out one of (or the) best surf film maker.
To make it simple, he was born in
He has been awarded several times as a director and producer and has helped launch the careers of the most influential personalities in surfing:
Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Dave Rastovich… and the Momentum Generation.
We had the chance to screen few of his movies:
THIS TIME TOMORROW, MISSING, PROXIMITY, MOMENTUM GENERATION…
An when in 2017 for PROXIMITY, what a stoke and pleasure to receive a call from Taylor Steele, to organize screenings in France and an exhibition around the film!
Today, he still works on video projects, and has just launched an organic Tequila brand:
SOLENTO.
For this 1st Focus and the release of AROUND THE WAVES, Taylor is pleased to answer a few questions.
Short questions and answers, a longer article comes with a new film.
- Hi Taylor,
what are your top 3 surf movies?
"MOMENTUM
Released in 1991 with the first parts of New School surfers:
Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Benji Weatherly, Kalani Robb and others...
The film changed the way surfing movies were made for the next decade and launched the MOMENTUM GENERATION.
LOOSE CHANGE
Released in 1999 with Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, Kalani Robb, Bruce Irons, Tim Curran, The Malloys, Taj Burrow, Conan Hayes, Benji Weatherly...
With Surfer actors?
CASTLE IN THE SKY
Craig Anderson, Rob Machado, Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds in India, Peru, Vietnam, Africa and Iceland.
Released in 2010"
- What are your all-time surfing icons?
"Tom Curren and Occy"
- What is your best waves memory?
"Barbados with Kelly."
- What's your best trip?
"India with Rasta for Castle in the Sky."
- What's your best song to go surfing?
"Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps"
- What's your best after surfing song?
"The Shins - New Slang"
- What is your best band at the moment?
"Portugal the Man"
Taylor has also directed bands music videos in the 90s. (Pennywise, Jack Johnson ..)
- What is your latest project?
"A shark documentary for National Geographic with Mick Fanning."
The three-time surfing world champion embarks on a mission of exploration on shark protection with a team of experts.
SAVE THIS SHARK is available on Outside Tv
Photo Solento Tequila
- One action for the planet?
"Slow down."
- So you like Tequila?
"Yes, I do!"
Solento means "slow sun."
This premium organic Tequila is designed to be enjoyed slowly.
"It tastes more like wine than vodka."
Photo Solento Tequila
You can find most of his old films and videos on ► The MOMENTUM FILES
Filmography :
1991: One Step Beyond
1992: Momentum
1993: Momentum 2
1994: Focus
1994: Factory Seconds
1995: Good Times
1996: Drifting
1997: The Show
1998: All For One
1999: Loose Change
2000: Hit and Run
2001: Momentum and Hallowed Ground (Producer)
2002: Arc
2002: Drive Thru Series (Producer)
2003: Campaign
2005: Campaign 2
2006: Sipping Jetstreams
2007: Stranger Than Fiction
2007: Shelter (Co-directed with Chris Malloy)
2008: Days of Strange (Producer)
2009: The Drifter
2010: Modern Collective (Producer)
2010: Castles In The Sky
2011: Innersection (Producer)
2012: Here & Now (Producer)
2012: This Time Tomorrow
2013: Missing
2017: Proximity
2018: Momentum Generation
2020 : Save This Shark
Photo Carl Lindgren
Published on Monday, January 4, 2021