series

GO PRO

GO PRO – FILM – SCREENWRITING

GO PRO

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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

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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

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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ATARI

ATARI – DOCUMENTARY – FILM

ATARI

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If you can’t fix it, call it a feature.
Alcorn’s Law

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor were commissioned to tell the story of entrepreneur and electrical engineer Nolan Bushnell who co-founded video game empire Atari in a 25 minute, edgy documentary blending a high momentum VO and insightful talking heads.

Directed by: Peter Hamblin

Produced by: Hamblin Imagery x Red Bull Media House

THE RESULT

Atari documentary premiered as S02 E06 of the award winning The Ripple Effect Series to a global audience on Red Bull TV.

THE APPROACH

Bringing together carnival barker charm and electronics know how, Nolan Bushnell co-founded video games giant Atari. In doing so he revolutionised the way people play games forever and inadvertently became the father of Silicon Valley, establishing a new way of working.

We spoke with Nolan Bushnell to hear first hand the story of his journey from computer science student to founder of a multi million dollar games industry. We unearthed the tales from those involved in the journey, posing the questions for key players 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.

Atari documentary script by Demi Taylor Nolan Bushnell The Ripple Effect

Nolan Bushnell and Pong for Atari documentary The Ripple Effect Series written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor

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ATARI

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ROBERT WILLIAMS

ROBERT WILLIAMS – DOCUMENTARY – FILM

ROBERT WILLIAMS & JUXTAPOZ

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He’s just a hot rodding Daddy-o.
Lydia Lunch on Robert Williams

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor were commissioned to tell the story of iconic artist Robert Williams. The film would explore his impact on the art world and the launch of Juxtapoz Magazine in a 25 minute edgy documentary blending high momentum VO and talking heads.

Directed by Peter Hamblin

Produced by Hamblin Imagery x Red Bull Media House

THE RESULT

Juxtapoz Magazine documentary premiered as S02 E04 of the award winning The Ripple Effect Series to a global audience on Red Bull TV.

THE APPROACH

Blending the essences of punk rock, psychedelics, hot rod culture and pulp comics, fine artist Robert Williams founded the “Low Brow” art movement, kick starting a creative revolution. Shunned by traditional art media, he created Juxtapoz – a magazine to champion the misfits that would go on to be the world’s most influential contemporary art publication.

We spoke with counter culturalist and leading contemporary artist Robert Williams to hear first hand his journey from art world reject to magazine founder. In addition, we did a deep dive into the lives of key players involved in the journey. We posed questions for the likes of no wave artist Lydia Lunch, cultural commentator Craig Stecyk and hot rod legend Pete Chapouris 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.

The film explores the impact of Robert Williams and the launch of Juxtapoz Magazine in a fast paced, edgy documentary.

Robert Williams Juxtapoz Documentary - Episode 04 Series 02 The Ripple Effect written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor

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JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE

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