AMBIVALENT
Brett Barley
01/05/2025 - 18:05
"AMBIVALENT" is a Surf Movie that follows Brett Barley chasing swells mainly around his home of Cape Hatteras, NC but also aboard to locations like Namibia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and "Undisclosed".
Amongst the action packed surf sections, Brett shares a very personal internal battle he faced through a mental spiral of self doubt & anxiety. Torn between knowing he "should" be happy because of the life he lives, but feeling like a failure as a father, husband, and athlete. We learn how the Lord revealed to Brett the lies he'd been believing about himself, and what it looked like to get back to who he's meant to be. While not necessarily free of those self defeating thoughts, we gain understanding in how to battle them going forward.
The film is meant to bring something to the table for everyone... Whether looking for hyped action surf sections, stunning visuals, or a deeper story. With a soundtrack that has everything from '90s Punk Rock, to Hip Hop, to Electronic music, there should be a surf section that hits home for anyone looking to get psyched. Much more than that, the hope is that the story can encourage or inspire those going through dark mental struggles themselves. Knowing that we aren't alone is huge, and a great comfort. It's also a reminder to check in on each other, and make sure our friends are good regardless of how their life looks on the outside.
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VIDEOGRAPHY:
@REALWatersports / Jeffrey O'Neil / Cody Hammer / Griffin Soderberg
@TeamONeill / Nick Green / Dave Malcom / Jacob Vanderwork
@Surfline / Travis Kuhlman / Layne Stratton / Billy Watts
Casey Barley / Patrick Duggan / Jordan Williams / Dave Fox / Calvin Thompson / Timmy Ridenour / Seb Ilderton / Jon Carter / Mikey Maustereller / Sam Musselman / Brett Barley
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STORY: Brett Barley
STORY EDITOR: Ross Byrd
SOUND DESIGN: Ryan Robinson
COVER ART: Griffin Soderberg
COVER IMAGE: O'Neill Clothing / Grant Ellis