Surfing for life and new worldly experiences

Lolita Harper

Surfing is about more than catching the perfect wave. It is about

traveling, meeting new people, learning about different cultures and,

most importantly, experiencing the essence of life, filmmaker Ryan Thomas

said.

Thomas said he wanted to accentuate the “surfing lifestyle” in his

documentary, “Scratch Miscellaneous,” which is one of the many films

eligible for an award at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

“Going on a surfing trip isn’t just about going after waves. It’s

about going after an entirely new experience,” Thomas said. “The majority

of the time -- no matter how much you want to surf -- you are going to

spend less time in the water than on land.”

The local filmmaker, born in Newport Beach 30 years ago and raised in

Huntington Beach, said surfing is one of the most important components in

his life. For him, it is the only thing that combines a sense of

spirituality with physical activity.

Thomas went to film school in 1998, where he said he learned a lot

about conventional movie making. “Scratch Miscellaneous” is his first

film.

“I was sitting back watching a surfing flick from the late ‘60s and it

inspired me to make a film about everything that I enjoy doing,” he said.

Beyond the mere act of riding a wave, surfing has instilled in him a

love for travel and a thirst for knowledge of different cultures. Thomas

said the sport has taught him by transporting him all over the world for

various surfing trips. It was during his travels that Thomas recognized

the need to capture the waterless aspect of surfing, as did many “surf

flicks” in the 1960s, he said.

“Scratch Miscellaneous” jolts the viewer from scenes of skillful

wave-riding to the harsh realities of daily life in foreign countries and

back again. It is a journey that begins in Southern California and

ventures to France, Portugal, Baja California, Fiji and Australia.

Each transition is accompanied by a soundtrack that bolsters the mood

of the scene and ranges from smooth, quiet beats to fast-paced jams.

The choppy feel of the documentary is enhanced by Thomas’s choice to

use Super-8 film, which looks like a throwback to baby-boomer-era home

movies.

“I was not trying to mimic older films; the film was an aesthetic

choice,” Thomas said. “I like the way it looks more than digital.”

“Scratch Miscellaneous” is eligible for a handful of short film award

categories and is described by film festival authorities as “an escape

for new sights and experiences.”

“Being a surfer, an artist and a lover of travel, it is no coincidence

that his first film . . . is a visual blend of those three subjects,” a

festival publication reads.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa for the Independent’s sister paper

the Daily Pilot. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at o7

lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .