APPROACHING LINES

we tell good stories well

Chris Nelson

GO PRO

GO PRO – FILM – SCREENWRITING

GO PRO

> WATCH HERE <

We’ve all had it, that “cosmic moment” – paddling up the face of a wave, looking at friend thinking, ‘If only I had a camera!’

Nick Woodman, GoPro Founder

THE IDEA

Screenwriters Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor were commissioned to tell the story of the emergence and subsequent impact of GoPro in a 25 minute documentary that blended a fast, irreverent VO with insightful talking heads.

Directed by Peter Hamblin

Produced by Hamblin Imagery x Red Bull Media House

THE RESULT

Go Pro documentary premiered as S01 E01of the award winning The Ripple Effect Series to a global audience on Red Bull TV written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor.

THE APPROACH

In 2002, Nick Woodman launched GoPro, an action camera that he hoped would prove enough of a success that he and his friends could earn enough of a living to support a life  surfing on the California coast.

We were brought on board to write the Episode following the initial research and interviews had been undertaken. We brought to life the story of Go Pro founder Nick Woodman’s and how an old leash, an elastic band, a disposable camera and surf trip around the world would spark a revolution in both the technology and media industries, launching a brand that would go on to employ over 1500 people and sell over 16 million units.

Bringing together an energetic and sharp voice-over with multiple talking heads, we created a script and guided the narrative from paper edit to completion.

Go Pro documentary - The Ripple Effect Series written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor

This is Bhutan. Lying between Tibet and India, this tiny Himalayan kingdom is home to big mountains and even bigger ideas. Eschewing mainstream economic philosophy, Bhutan measures prosperity not in GDP but by gauging ‘Gross National Happiness’, defining progress not in dollars and cents but in passion and fulfilment. Something that Nick Woodman has invested heavily in.

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GO PRO

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TWITCH

TWITCH – FILM – SCREENWRITING

TWITCH

> WATCH HERE <

It was like day 4 when the SWAT team kicked the door in. That’s when the pranks started – they wanted to see it live on JustinTV. They came in guns drawn, we were going, ‘Don’t shoot us please.’

Justin Kan

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor were commissioned to tell the story of the emergence and subsequent impact of Twitch in a 25 minute documentary that blends a high octane VO with astute and perceptive talking heads.

Directed by Peter Hamblin

Produced by Hamblin Imagery x Red Bull Media House

THE RESULT

Twitch documentary premiered as S02 E01of the award winning The Ripple Effect Series to a global audience on Red Bull TV written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor.

THE APPROACH

In June 2011, Justin Kan and Emmett Shear launched Twitch, a website that would become the platform for eSports and live streaming, driving a revolution in how consumers use the Internet. 

We spoke with Twitch founders Justin and Emmett to learn how a series of pivots and an attempt at 24 life streaming sparked the idea for Twitch – the platform that turned computer games into eSports, driving an industry that now out performs both music and movies. We also integrated the tales of key players involved in the journey, posing the questions that would bring the story to life.

Bringing together a fast paced and insightful voice-over with multiple talking heads, we created a script and guided the narrative from paper edit to completion.

Justin Kan Twitch Documentary - The Ripple Effect Series premiered on Red Bull TV written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor Directed by Peter Hamblin

Gideon Yu came and said, ‘Your business is fucked. It had grown and grown and grown and then it was flat and anything that’s flat on the Internet is fucked, because the Internet is growing… so you’re shrinking in terms of market share.’ That gave us the kick in the pants we needed.

Justin Kan
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TWITCH

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MORPHEUS MALIBU

MIKI DORA – EDITORIAL – CHRIS NELSON

MORPHEUS MALIBU

MIKI DORA – DA CAT THAT WALKED BY HIMSELF

Dora was Da Cat, a name awarded for his grace and style on the water. But the moniker was more apt than anyone new at the time. Dora was a loner, sometimes friendly, often charming and always unpredictable.

Chris Nelson on Miki Dora

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson was commissioned to write a series of insightful features on surfing’s greatest cultural icons.

THE RESULT

Written by Chris Nelson, the four page features ran as a series across seven issues of Adrenalin Magazine accompanied by original artwork by Paul Willoughby.

Featured surfers included Miki Dora, Tom Blake, Mark Richards, Michael Peterson, Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and George Greenough.

THE APPROACH

Chris was commissioned by Adrenalin to write a series of features exploring the lives and impact of iconic surfers and their influence on the wider surf culture. Drawing on his wide surf knowledge, Chris brought to life these surfers tales through a series of deep dive, four page essays exploring the social, historical and cultural contexts with a distinctive, stylised narrative.

HAWAIIAN AT HEART

TOM BLAKE

Tom Blake paddles, feels the momentum shift then pops to his feet, trimming his ten-foot redwood board out on the face. The significance of this moment isn’t immediately clear, but the envelope has been pushed, the boundaries have changed and a new era is coming. Surfing has a new outpost, and its name is Malibu.

Chris Nelson on Tom Blake
George Greenough's Quantum Theory Wave Mechanics exploration of a surfing icon by Chris Nelson

THE INNERMOST – GEORGE GREENOUGH’S QUANTUM THEORY WAVE MECHANICS
The Wounded Seagull // Mark Richards: Progression in the Form of an Extra Skeg exploration of a surfing icon by Chris Nelson

THE WOUNDED SEAGULL – MARK RICHARDS AND PROGRESSION IN THE FORM OF AN EXTRA SKEG
Morpheus Malibu - The Story of surf Icon Micki Dora for Huck Magazine by Chris Nelson

Miki Dora – Da Cat that walked by himself (an excerpt)

The first thing I notice is the wave of nausea. Peripheral vision bleaches from total blackness through a spectrum of pain until a piercing harsh white fills my field of view. As my brain is slowly becoming accustomed to the blinding light, a beaver-skin hat enters stage left and blocks out the sun, allowing me to focus on the face peering down at me. The huge fur hat is balanced by the grey beard. Tanned, aged skin is wrinkled in the glare, his young eyes are edged with concern. “You OK?” he says kneeling. “Missed my fucking landing,” I reply, propping myself up on my elbows. Dora unclips. “Take your time,” he says. In the three days we’d been in the Alps, there had been a lot of silences, comfortable and uncomfortable, interspersed by a collage of stories and thoughts. He sits down in the snow. “You know I like golf? They got me a round with Kelly Slater. Afterwards he gave me a brand new set of Callaways. When they’d gone, I threw them in the lake.” Another enigmatic story tossed into the staggeringly beautiful Alpine valley below. A challenge – interpret it as you will. If you get it, good. If you don’t, I don’t give a damn.

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QUIET REVOLUTION

QUIET REVOLUTION – EDITORIAL FEATURE – CHRIS NELSON

QUIET REVOLUTION
ON THE NORTHERN ISLE

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The officer snaps his pad closed and turns on his heel, kicking sand off his immaculate leather shoes as he heads back towards his car. “I’m coming back again tomorrow,” shouts the neoprene clad figure as the officer starts the engine of the Nissan Cedric patrol car.

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson took a deep dive into the previously unheralded and unknown surf culture of Hokkaido, Japan.

THE RESULT

Written by Chris Nelson, the article was a 9 page feature Huck Magazine’s Counter Culture Issue. hotography by Richie Hopson.

THE APPROACH

Chris was commissioned by leading lifestyle publication Huck to write a feature for their Counter Culture Issue. Travelling to Hokkaido in Japan, Chris drew on contacts and friends to find and spend time with the very first local surfers, hearing tales of how these pioneers first took to the icy waters. Facing hostility from the police and, in order to increase numbers, they recruited new surfers from the local motorcycle gangs. Chris took time to establish contact and build trust, tapping into local knowledge and sourcing incredible archive imagery. The resulting 9 page feature in Huck Magazine weaves together interviews and anecdotes as well as personal insights bringing to life the previously untold story of this unique scene.

Chris Nelson explores the surf culture of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture for Huck Magazine

“Winter sees the whole island transformed into an almost featureless amalgam of monochrome hues as deathly winds slice in from the Siberian plains with the clinical sharpness of a Samurai’s cold Katana blade.”

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QUIET REVOLUTION

Every time Noboru and his crew would come across a motorbike gang they would corner the boss and sell the stoke of surfing to them with an evangelical zeal that would shame a New York ad agency. “It was a bit scary, having to talk to these gang bosses,” says Noboru. “Not all the bikers could swim, but one of them tried surfing and said to all the others, ‘Surfing’s cool!’ so then others tried it, you know. Until that time there was nothing to do around the costal towns like Muroran or Tomakomai, and people didn’t like bikers, but bikers started surfing, surfing is better really, so you could say we were a movement for good.”    

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FREEZE FRAME

SURFING NOVA SCOTIA – TRAVEL FEATURE – CHRIS NELSON

FREEZE FRAME:
SURFING NOVA SCOTIA

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Lance Moore has represented Canada three times at the World Surfing Games. ‘First time in 1992, we were like the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team. I learnt a lot,’ he says. ‘Now I can hold my own with anyone if the waves are good.’

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson was commissioned to write a a main travel feature exploring the surf potential of Nova Scotia, Canada.

THE RESULT

Chris Nelson wove together interviews and anecdotes to produce a cover feature for the Independent Travel supplement. Photography Richie Hopson.

Supported by Destination Canada

THE APPROACH

Chris was commissioned by The Independent to write an article exploring an ‘off the beaten track’ surf destination. Chris travelled to Nova Scotia accompanied by photographer Richie Hopson, to spend time with the local surf community, hearing tales of pioneers and adventurers, stories of exploration and adversity. Chris’s contacts and reputation allowed an unrivalled access the scene. Combining personal insights and interviews, the resulting piece ‘Freeze Frame’ was the cover feature for the weekend travel supplement. The trip was kindly supported by Destination Canada.

Surfing Nova Scotia, travel feature by Chris Nelson exploring the surf potential of Nova Scotia, Canada for The Independent

It is still dark as I struggle into my damp wetsuit. My toes are beginning to numb as I stamp my feet and breathe a warm, ghostly mist onto my pink fingers. The new block of malleable cold-water wax I’ve brought from Cornwall has protested at the drop in temperature by turning into something that resembles a lump of diamond-hard, coconut-scented flint.

Surfing Nova Scotia, travel feature by Chris Nelson exploring the surf potential of Nova Scotia, Canada for The Independent. Photography Richie Hopson
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FREEZE FRAME

As surfers, our quest is always for the perfect wave, but the fine print has always included a warm-water clause. Over the decades we’ve scoured the Equator looking for the ultimate ride; risked leaky ferries off Bali, malaria-riddled jungles in Java, shark-infested waters off Mozambique and civil wars from Nicaragua to Sri Lanka.

They have been surfing in this Canadian province since Saturday 7 July 1962. “The amazing thing about our surf history is that we can trace it back to the very first day a Nova Scotian paddled out on a surfboard,” says first-generation surfer Jim Leadbetter. “Rod Landymore and his brother had a father who was in charge of the Eastern Fleet. An American admiral came to visit and brought them two surfboards. They caught their first waves that very day.”

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