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 .
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