Every Board Has A Story

Synopsis

Every Board Has a Story is a feature-length documentary about the Quest for the Perfect Surf Board.

The quest for the perfect wave often begins with a quest for the perfect board. Once bitten by the surf bug, the novice quickly learns about the relationship between the wave, the board and the rider. Like a biker on a chopper, a runner in a pair of shoes, or a musician and a guitar, a surfboard needs to fit the surfer. And it seems every surfer has a story, not just about a sweet spot, a perfect wave, or a righteous ride, but about his board of choice.

Despite their bond with nature, surfers, like the rest of us, have been complicit in the use of petroleum-based materials for their beloved boards. With nearly a million surf boards sold each year, this has created quite a quandary for shapers and surfers - how to provide light-weight boards with the qualities and performance that surfers demand with out relying on toxic materials.

EVERY BOARD HAS A STORY follows organizers of the first annual Green Surf Board Competition in Hawaii whose purpose is to encourage alternatives to petroleum-based boards while raising public awareness about available options.

With access to several key designers' workshops, we'll go behind the scenes as surf board makers from around the world race to complete prototypes of their environmentally friendly designs for the looming competition where legends of the surf world put the new designs and materials to the test.

Along the way we include interviews with famous and unknown surfers who, through humorous and sometimes poignant stories, reveal the intimate relationship that surfers have with the ocean and their surf boards. We've set out to make a movie about surfing that is more than just surf porn. Although linked through personal stories about favorite boards and glorious rides, this project will ultimately be exploring the current efforts to re-develop surf boards using environmentally friendly materials.

We are seeking $12,950.00 for the First Phase of our production which will result in four critical elements needed to acquire full funding:

1) Developed treatment
2) 5 minute teaser
3) Complete production business plan for the Documentary
4) Research & Development for the Green Surf Board competition

Surf Culture Overview

In the last two decade surfing and surf culture has exploded. According to the Surf Industry Manufacturing Association (SIMA), the surfing population in the United States doubled in size to 2.4 million during the years 1992 to 2001. Recent estimates have it doubling again since then. Worldwide, the International Surf Association estimates there to be 17-20 million surfers. In 2008, U.S. retails sales for the industry reached $7.2 billion.

This growth has been fueled and matched by an explosion of companies selling surf gear, apparel and lifestyle products. From Quicksilver to Nixon, from Rip Curl to Reef, these companies sponsor surf competitions, parties, music performances and media.

Timeline

Phase 1: Research & Development

R&D funding completion:  April 15, 2012

R&D Budget: $12950 (An itemized budget is available upon request)

Budget Goals:

1) Develop treatment
2) 5 min teaser
3) Write a production business plan for the Documentary
4) Research & Development of the Green Surf Board competition

Complete Phase 1: September 30 2012

Phase 2: Pre-Production

Secure Sponsorship and additional funding

Estimated Project Budget: TBD

Phase 3:

Begin Production and Principal Photography Winter 2012

Projected Contest Date January 2013

Creative Team

Andrew Rice | Producer, DP and Post Production

Andrew is a seasoned cameraman, post-production supervisor, colorist and producer of documentaries and commercials for television and corporate businesses. He has recently been working in the independent film industry as Post-Production Supervisor and Colorist on films such as MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU (2011), the Maui-set comedy GET A JOB (2010), and TROUT FISHING AFGHANISTAN(2010).  

He has worked on numerous documentaries with The Sedona Now Network and has ben involved in the industry for over 10 years. Recently, his work with the Sedona Now Network has been nominated for a 2008 Rocky Mountain Emmy in the "New Media Documentary/Historical/Cultural" category.

Andrew is an avid surfer living on the North Shore of Maui and is passionate about both glassy waves and the environment.

David Whitney | Producer, Director and Writer

David Whitney is a Visual Artist, Published Writer, Production Coordinator and has been a freelance creative consultant and designer since 2000. From 2000-2010 his primary focus was been in production and management of multi-media events and business marketing collaterals. Currently, he is focused on writing a commissioned screenplay and a short film.

Previous film experience: 100 film, television and theatrical productions in New York, including for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, AFTER SCHOOL SPECIALS, A&E CHANNEL, JUILLIARD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, and ENSEMBLE STUDIO.  David teamed up with Andrew Rice in 2008 becoming a Kenai partner in 2009. They have produced several short-subject web-videos together and are currently developing an original series and feature-length production.

David’s most recent video production work include promotional videos for several local businesses as well as the Maui-based feature, GET A JOB (Camera Assistant - 2010), and the short documentary, TROUT FISHING AFGHANISTAN (Story Consultant – 2010).

Stefan Schaefer | Associate Producer

A founder of the production company Cicala Filmworks, Stefan has worked in independent film for almost 15 years. His films have premiered and won awards at festivals such as Berlin, Rotterdam, AFI and South by Southwest, among many others, and have been successfully released theatrically, via cable outfits such as HBO and the Sundance Channel, and on DVD.

In the past five years he has written, directed and/or produced eight feature films, among them MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU (2011), the Maui-set comedy GET A JOB (2010), Michael Imperioli's debut THE HUNGRY GHOSTS (2009), Olaf Johannesson's THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA (2008) and THE HIGHER FORCE (2008), ARRANGED (2007) and CONFESS (2005). On these and other projects, he has worked with Academy Award winner Shirley MacLaine, Golden Globe Winner and two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo, Ali Larter, Zoe Lister-Jones, William Sadler, Ken Duken, Nicole Beharie and many more.

In addition to his work at Cicala Filmworks, in 2009 Stefan founded Silver Shepherd Films with writing and producing partner Christoph Silber (NORTH FACE, GOODBYE, LENIN, etc.). Silver Shepherd focuses on international co-productions, with their first project being MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU, as well as the screenplay for German producer Nico Hoffman's FIRST LADY.
Recent awards include: Grand Prize for Best Film at the Skip City Int'l Film Festival in Japan (2008), the TEDDY Award for Best Feature Film at the Berlin Int'l Film Festival (2008), Best Film at the Brooklyn Int'l Film Festival (2007), Best Film/Audience Awards at the Berkshire Int'l Film Festival and the Washington Jewish Film Festival (2007), Best Screenwriter at the Hamptons Film Festival (2005), and the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Screenwriting.

Stefan is an honors graduate of Wesleyan University, and studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Kiel, Germany. He and his family split their time between Haiku, Hawaii and Brooklyn, New York.

Woozer | Competition Organizer

Bio to come...

Contact

For additional information about this project, please contact:

Andrew Rice | Producer 
1135 Makawao Ave. #189
Makawao, HI 96768

Tel. 808.214.8141

or Email Us