APPROACHING LINES

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LOCKDOWN SURF FILM FESTIVAL

LOCKDOWN SURF FILM FESTIVAL

People all over the world are coming up with increasingly-creative ways to keep us feeling connected and stimulated, even if many of us are isolated in our homes. The latest case in point: The Lockdown Surf Film Festival.

SURFER MAGAZINE
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The multi award-winning movie The Seawolf Dir. Ben Gulliver opened Lockdown Surf Film Festival

THE IDEA

As a response to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns and self isolation, we wanted to quickly create an online event to unite the global surf community, to support surfers and creatives and to keep the stoke fires going.

Founded by Chris Nelson & Demi Taylor.

THE RESULT

Launched Friday 27th March 2020, Edition 1 Lockdown Surf x Film Festival was a free, rolling, remote festival & celebration of surf culture. Devised, developed and delivered, from concept to launch in 5 days including branding, website, media campaign and original content. A community activation bringing together the global surf family and resulting in a viewership of sixty thousand unique users, global media impact and global brand engagement across a ten week period. We curated a handpicked line up of 14 of the very best movies. Each film was available for free, online for 24hrs. Each screening was accompanied by filmmaker talks in conversation with some of the most celebrated cultural commentators.

THE APPROACH

We wanted to quickly create a space to help our community through what might be a long period of life on hold. From idea to design, build and launch in one week, the result was a truly international online festival celebrating the very best of contemporary surf culture.

A remote surf culture happening, Lockdown Surf Film Festival delivered a rolling, evolving festival and a community event for surfers and creatives. Drawing on our network we were delighted to work with the most exciting and relevant creatives from across the globe to host a series of free film screenings. Alongside, we produced a series of intimate interviews featuring directors and talent in conversation with surf culture luminaries and leading raconteurs including Smash Surf’s Tyler Breuer, Surf Splendor’s David Scales, Looking Sideways’ Matt Barr as well as Approaching Lines’ own Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor. LSFF captured the zeitgeist of the moment, engaging a world wide audience with a third from the UK, a third from the USA and the remainder from across the globe including Aus, Ger, Can, SA, NZ and South America.

FOUND FOOTAGE FILES

Keeping the creativity rolling we established The Found Footage Files short film competition. Celebrating the art of breathing new life into archive footage, filmmakers were invited to enter a short film up to 5 minutes in length using old, footage from their files. The twelve best films are showcased HERE.

WiFi WAVES

In association with award winning filmmaker Chris McClean and Backwash we also co-produced WiFi Waves. This crowdsourced movie project celebrated the power of community. Featuring some of the very best clips, rushes and sessions from a host of surfers and filmmakers across the globe, the project was edited by @chrismcclean and scored by @cj_mirra & @lacurren. WiFi Waves premiered as part of the gala closing of Edition 1 Lockdown Surf Film Festival.

Lockdown Surf Film Festival was produced with the kind help and support of our international network of surf creatives.

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SORRIA DIR. GABRIEL NOVIS – LOCKDOWN SURF FILM FESTIVAL

These are unprecedented times. Self-isolation. Surf bans. Lockdowns. So, the fine folk at London Surf / Film Festival have assembled a motley crew from all corners of the surfing world, to bring you the Lockdown Surf Film Festival.

Jason Lock, Editor Magicseaweed
DIR. BEN GULLIVER IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS NELSON FOR LOCKDOWN SURF FILM FESTIVAL
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LOCKDOWN SURF FILM FESTIVAL

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ADVENTURE BRITAIN

ADVENTURE BRITAIN – BOOK – DEMI TAYLOR

Adventure Britain the definitive guide to the best active escapes

The ethos is about getting out there and experiencing Britain’s natural heritage without leaving a lasting impression on it.

THE IDEA

Demi Taylor conceived the idea to write the essential guide to the best outdoors adventures in the UK. The book would draw together insightful editorial, with indispensable advice from leading experts, illustrated with evocative photography.

THE RESULT

Adventure Britain was conceived and written by Demi Taylor. This groundbreaking 320pg guide to the best in action sports and outdoors adventuring was published by Footprint Handbooks.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring phots by the author plus images from the cream of UK photographers.

THE APPROACH

From ideation, research and flat planning through to commissioning editorial and photography and writing, Demi oversaw the project from beginning to end. Broken down by region, she selected the best outdoors adventures including surfing, wild swimming, climbing, mountain biking, foraging and walking. Demi took to the seas and slopes, talking to experts in each field in order to recommend the best challenges in each location. Drawing in the experience, knowledge and passion of those who spend their time reconnecting with the wild landscapes around the UK the book combines inspiration and information with the ultimate ethos of enjoying all that British landscape has to offer in a low impact way.

Adventure Britain - the best active escapes by Demi Taylor. Mountain Biking South Downs Way

Our island is an alluring array of tarn-decked peaks and depressions. It is riven with rivers and interlaced by a spiders web of trails and paths exploring hidden. There are wooded pockets and deep valleys connecting vast open tracts, where village inns are reassuring beacons of hope and refreshment. The coastline is a confusion of hard edges, soft sands, sheer cliffs and shapely dunes. Vast bays neighbour coves whose secrets are only revealed to those willing to wait for the ebbing tide…

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LONDON SURF / FILM FESTIVAL

The coolest film festival in London… actually the coolest film festival anywhere. 

Vince Medeiros, Founder TCO London, Huck, Little White Lies
London Surf / Film Festival an annual celebration of the cream of international surf, film, art, culture.

THE IDEA

To produce a celebration of the cream of international surf, film, art, culture, bringing to the UK the very best surf films from around the globe accompanied by talks from surfing’s leading lights.

Founded by Chris Nelson & Demi Taylor

THE RESULT

Founded in 2011 by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor, 2020 is the 10th Anniversary of the London Surf / Film Festival.

Attended by 2,000 surfers and creatives, it is the largest celebration of surf culture in the UK, a must attend event.

Hosted at iconic and underground venues across the capital, LS/FF curates 4 nights of sell out premieres – a hand picked programme of the hottest films from around the globe to inspire, enlighten and entertain.

Accompanied by talks with waveriding’s most inspiring heroes and icons plus gallery shows, live music and more, LS/FF elevates and navigates the intersection of surfing and culture.

LS/FF generates some 5 million press impressions annually.

THE APPROACH

We wanted to produce an international festival that celebrated the very best of contemporary surf / film / art / culture / while rooted in the heart of the UK scene. Celebrating and elevating the intersection of surfing and culture, London Surf / Film Festival is a community, a destination event for surfers and surf creatives from the UK and beyond.

Founded in 2011, this annual 4 day event has grown to be the largest celebration of surf culture in the UK. Bringing to the UK the very best movies and projects, we work with the most exciting and relevant filmmakers and creatives from across the globe. Hosting packed out premieres, gallery shows, live music events and audiences we work with some of the most inspiring names in surfing – from world champions like Stephanie Gilmore, icons like Rob Machado, big wave chargers like Albee Layer and Paige Alms and creatives like Alex Knost and Lee Ann Curren.

Alongside the international programme, we established The Shorties. The short film competition is at the very heart of the festival and exclusively showcases emerging and established homegrown talent.

WE DO

We produce the event from inception to delivery, from programme curation and talent management to sponsorship, PR, marketing and activations as well as hosting live talks and Q+A’s with filmmakers, surfers and creatives at the event. LS/FF is an Approaching Lines Production.

London Surf / Film Festival an annual celebration of the cream of international surf, film, art, culture.

LS/FF is an essential cultural happening, a meeting of minds from all sides of the surfing sphere… it is the must attend for anyone serious about surfing in the UK.

Roger Sharp, Editor Carve Magazine

More than just a film festival, LS/FF fully embodies the spirit of surfing – the comradery, the tales of scoring or not; it is the pinnacle of the surfing calendar.

Jason Lock, Editor Magicseaweed
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LONDON SURF / FILM FESTIVAL

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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