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Taylor Steele is normally super tight lipped about upcoming movie projects. Here is his take on Trilogy so far.How has it been working with TB, Andy and Parko on the Trilogy project?I have found that most top surfers are really busy these days. With all the CT's and other commitments it's tough. Yet these guys have been great. They power when we are on a trip. If the waves are good they won't come in.
If the waves suck then its tough to motivate them to go out. Same for any surfer really. I knew what I was getting into because I have known all three for a little while now.
Who’s section is looking solid and who is struggling?Andy is killing it. He came to hang out with me in Bali after Jbay and the waves were all time for two weeks. That put him ahead. Taj is getting some great stuff. Needs a little more to be set.
While Parko has been unlucky with swells but that is going to change. We will get it.
What can the viewer expect from Trilogy, is this shaping up as one of the all time surf films?I don't want to claim anything. That is not my style. My goal going into any movie is to make a better movie than my previous movies. This one is shaping up to do that. I want this movie to show who these surfers are and show how crazy they surf. The movie will be more rock n roll than mellow.
Three totally different personalities to deal with, run us through the characters your working with here? Will this come through in the film?I know Andy the best. He is a super chill nice guy. I think he gets a bad rap in the media. A lot of surfers stay with my family and he is one of the family favourites. He's just one of the boys not some bad guy.
Parko is super mellow and goes with the flow. His personalty is like his style.
Taj is a director at heart, so on shoots he understands the process the best. He knows where he is and where he needs to be. That is super easy for me to work with because he already knows what we need to do. It will be fun to have him in the editing room at the end.
Who is looking the goods for the final section? Do you think there is some rivalry there between the three of them?Right now Andy is leading but Taj and Parko can turn things around quick. We have a lot of big trips coming up. I am excited to see what happens.
TAYLOR STEELE The man with a vision. the one who is always pushing the envelope of creativity and style. When his mobile phone is not ringing off the rocker, Taylor is probably plotting the next phase of creative destruction in the world of surf cinematography or on a plane for his next loop around the world.
The man who revolutionised surfing by showcasing the “Momentum” generation to the world via surf film cult classics, Momentum, Momentum II, Focus, Good Times, The Show and Loose Change. Steele’s more recent surf films include Momentum: Under The Influence, The Drive Thru Series, Campaign and Campaign II still showcase the best surfers on earth.
Trilogy will see Steele team up with Irons, Burrow and Parkinson not for the first time, but the for the first time as a dedicated three surfer feature film project. Steele is widely regarded by the surf industry, by professional surfers and by his peers as the best in the business.
Steele Stats Birthdate: 6-7-72
Hometown: solana beach, ca
Best beach: Byron bay
Best airline: virgin airlines
Favorite band: zztop
On the flight: Ipod and laptop
Movie as a grom: blazing boards and planb movies
Best surf movie: yeah right
5 movies: fight club, big lebowski, royal tennenbaums, adaptaton, amelie, run lola run, momento
5 artists: guns&roses, bob marley, beck, the cult and any band from the original momentum soundtrack
Your ride: Toyota tundra
Best restaurant: pipes, pizza port, station sushi
Good books: Idhartha
Your drink: gin n tonic
Travel necessity: a video camera
Nickname: lortay
Your computer: apple g4
Current project: top secret
Favourite item: my surfboards
ANDY IRONSBirthdate: Monday, July 24, 1978
Hometown: Hanalei, Kauai, HI
Residence: Hanalei, Kauai, HI
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 84kg / 185lb
Sponsors: Billabong, Von Zipper, Da Kine, Red Bull, Nixon
Years On Tour: 10
Stance: Regular
Favourite Spot: Backdoor Pipe; Teahupo’o, Tahiti; Pine Trees, Kauai
Andy epitomizes the all or nothing attitude. He also takes it wave-by-wave and heat-by-heat, instead of panicking about the bigger picture. Underneath is also a competitive aggression that still sometimes bubbles over but constantly makes him so dominant in the water.
This attitude and strength of mind throughout his career has propelled him to earn his three coveted ASP World Champion titles. Along with these Irons was named Surfer Magazine’s ‘02 and ’03 Surfer of the Year at the Surfer Poll Awards, breaking Kelly Slater’s nine-year hold on the honor. Amongst the awards, trophies, titles and reputation is a man who holds the key to competitive surfing in the palm of his hand, where will he take everyone else?
Trilogy will be Irons first fully feature surf movie since Billabong’s Blue Horizon.
TAJ BURROWBirthdate: Friday, June 02, 1978
Hometown: Yallingup, Western Australia
Residence: Yallingup, Western Australia
Height: 5’8”
Sponsors: Billabong, Webber, Globe, Boost, Creatures of Leisure, Von Zipper
Years On Tour: 2007 makes number ten
Stance: regular
Favourite Spot: Home sweet home and Mentawais (Indonesia)
Vehicle: Audi A4, Ford f150, Holden Commodore wagon, piece of shit Toyota
While some surfers battle the hard ‘QS slog for years or even a lifetime, Taj qualified for the WCT ranks on his debut attempt and, at 18, became the youngest surfer to ever qualify for the 'CT at the time and then shunned it. Turning down his first opportunity at a top 45 position was a rare moment in the history of world surfing, stating reasons as more time to "mature" as a surfer so he could be "a genuine world title contender".
Taj knew he would be back, and the following year he was. On his first full time 'CT year, TB took out the 1998 WCT Rookie of the Year award. In 1999 he finished second behind Occy and used his runners-up glass trophy as a fruit bowl - second best simply wouldn't do.
Burrow’s first stab at profile surf films came in 1998 with the flick, 'Sabotaj', and began a string of profile movies to hit our shelves, followed shortly after by ‘Montaj’, which won “Video of the Year” at the prestigious 2002 Surfer Magazine Readers Poll Awards. In 2005 he released his third movie, 'Fair Bits' which once again took surf videos and surfing in general in fresh and unexplored directions, from skits with Ben Stiller to Malaysian wave pool jet ski antics. Not content with film, he also co-wrote a book titled 'Taj Burrow’s Book of Hot Surfing.'
With solid clips already in the can, Trilogy is just another feather in the cap of Burrow’s long list of surf movie achievements and promises to be the best yet.
JOEL PARKINSONBirthdate: Friday, April 10, 1981
Hometown: Nambour, Queensland
Residence: Coolangatta, Gold Coast
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 75kg / 165lb
Sponsors: Billabong, Von Zipper, Kustom, Creatures of Leisure
Years On Tour: 7
Stance: Regular
Favourite Spot: Kirra, Snapper Rocks (Aus)
Parko is an original 'Coolie kid'. Along with close mates ‘Fanning’ and ‘Deano’, he has saturated world surfing with a talent simply groomed on the long points of his home breaks. He exudes the disposition of your typically gifted individual. His casual yet rapidly explosive style displays a degree of laziness unique to any other surfer on the world scene.
A duel world junior champion, born out of the fierce Australian Junior Series of the mid to late 90’s, Parko's talent was evident early on. His first major claim to fame came as a spindly 17-year-old wildcard, handing the ‘CT 45 a hiding they didn’t expect at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay.
Recently completing his first dedicated feature surf film Free As A Dog with legendary surf film maestro Jack McCoy, Trilogy will be Parkinson’s second film in less than a year.
The Trilogy GrillingWe lock down Andy, TB and Parko on the Gold Coast. Here is what went down when we pinned them at Billabong HQ.
Alright boys, Trilogy? Any thoughts? how’s you part looking?AI: Trilogy has been awesome, we got killer waves in Mexico and then really good waves in Bali. All in all it has been a really good time, just hanging out with Parko and getting some good footage and then cruising with Taj a bit.
Those two guys pretty much have the most amazing sections in any surf movie and they are my favourite guys to watch, to be in a movie with those guys is going to be really cool.
All Parko needs is one good swell and he’ll put a whole section together and Taj has probably got more footage than anyone.
JP: My parts looking terrible, I need more time. I’ll always tell the truth. Taylor and the crew keep rubbing it in to me on how good Andy and Taj’s parts are looking. They are suppose to be amazing, both of them. They have hours of footage and could probably do Trilogy three times over. Taylor just keeps rubbing that into me to get me fired up.
AI: Yeah right, Parko always says stuff like that (Laughs)
TB: I don’t really know. I mean, I know the waves that I have caught, and I know Taylor has got a few clips.
I have also been shooting a lot at home, so it is slowly building up.
We are going to do a couple of trips to Bali and that is always pretty productive for nailing clips so I’m sure it’s going to come together at the end.
What’s it like working with the Taylor Steele posse?TB: Taylor and his crew are insane, they are so on top of everything. They have got a guy ready to go for whenever we want to surf.
Whatever country we are surfing in, Taylor has got a guy right there with us. That’s cool, that’s what I love. You have to be on every session just to get those extra crazy clips because anything could happen at any time.
I love his movies and love the entire production. It’s cool to be involved and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
AI: Taylor is the man, he is definitely the guru. I have been watching his surf films like Momentum ever since I was a grommet and they always amped me up to go surfing.
To now be in his surf vids and on his crew is huge. When you think you’ve got the best surfers and the best guy making it, it should be awesome.
JP: It’s a pretty amazing crew to be involved with. Taylor and his boys have got it covered everywhere, they are the best in the business for sure.
Best trip so far in the making of Trilogy?AI: For me, so far, the best trip probably was Bali. I mean between Desert Point and Keramas, surfing in Bali was so much fun. You’ve got killer night life and killer day life. Everything was good, we had good food, a good crew.
That was probably the most fun I have had so far with Mexico right next to it. Mexico was just amazing point break rides with no one around, it was pretty dreamy.
JP: I’ve seen the other guys have some good trips, but I’ve had nothing, so I can’t really comment on that. I had one day at Mundaka but they were all there for that anyway. I’m in a bit of a sticky spot at the moment so I really need to pull my finger out.
I’ve got a few trips coming up. Doing a trip down the Australian coast tot eh Bells contest and then I’ve got a week in Fiji after that. I’ve been trying, I just haven’t had the waves cooperate, every trip I have been on so far I’ve been skunked. All I need is some really nice waves and I’ll be back in the hunt.
TB: Morocco was pretty fun. That was a pretty wild cultural experience. We had amazing waves, there were all these crazy right hand point breaks which were right up my alley. We didn’t get any huge swells but we had this one slabby little right that produced some moments.
A highlight for me though would have to be Mexico. We got some pretty fun waves in Mexico, again just these little right points that were spitting along the sand like snapper.
OK, Parko, this is for you, Free As A Dog and now Trilogy... how has this one been different?JP: It’s been a lot different. I mean, after every contest I haven’t had someone there with me, I’ve just been doing my own thing and getting my surfs filmed.
It’s been totally mellow, I didn’t have to do any acting for trilogy yet so, so far so good. (Laughs)
Taj, same kind of question, you have nailed three incredible profile vids in Sabotaj, Montaj and Fair Bits. What is it that drives you to keep setting the boundaries as to what other surf movies try and copy?
TB: I’ve always been a huge fan of surf video’s and I love having a good section. I want to get as many as I can and especially the big ones like this.
Obviously me, Andy and Parko are going to be competing against each other to see who has the best section. I just can’t wait to nail some more clips. I hear Andy has got enough vision for about three movies, so me and Parko are playing catch up.
That’s fine though, it just drives me to get more clips in the can.
So what’s next? Will we see more films from you after Trilogy?JP: I like doing movies. It’s been like three years straight so I might have a bit of a break after this and concentrate on doing a full year on tour.
TB: You will definitely see more films from me after Trilogy. I always want to be involved in making films and just trying to get as many clips as I can.
I want to involve some of my friends and my favourite surfers. I’m always into getting clips, just nailing something wild on film that hasn’t been done before.
AI: Yeah for sure. Trips are rad, I’m into them. As long as the clips keep coming then there will be more vids for sure.
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Submitted By
The Magicseaweed.com Team on the 4th February 2008.
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