An interview with its co-creator, What Youth's Travis Ferré…
…well, yeah, I get it. Kolohe ain’t the hotter-than-everything Filipe Toledo. Yeah, I get he’s a child prodigy destined for great-ish things his entire life and so he isn’t an entirely sympathetic character in the surf culture narrative. An Instagram account that would seem ironic if it wasn’t, doesn’t help either.
But then there’s plenty that makes me like Brother. The cuckolding, attempted or otherwise, of a chubby little TV hotshot with a mouth invented for devouring hot fudge sundaes, for example. Didn’t you roar your approval when the pudgy Cinderella barked at Brother during a live-cross interview?
This June, Brother is going to be available as a free download on What Youth. Should you evaporate your bandwidth on the movie Kai Neville describes as a “short, fast ampy shred flick”?
Let’s ask Travis Ferré , the co-founder of What Youth, whose mid-surf conversations resulted in the collaboration tween his mag and the current world number 26…
BeachGrit: Can you describe the film to moviegoers?
Travis: It’s quite simple. Kolohe surfing with his friends, spliced together with some really good music, all over the world. It’s not a bio pic by any means. More of a snapshot of his year. But I’d say the unique thing is watching Kolohe surfing in long form, which is really impressive. There are some really wild banger clips, but it’s Kolohe’s style and form that shines to me.
BeachGrit: How long is this film, how many sections, and where was it filmed?
Travis: It’s about 25 minutes long, there are six full sections and a few other little interludes, and it was filmed in California, Europe, Western Australia, Hawaii and Indo. Pretty classic choices.
BeachGrit: What was the purpose of Brother?
Travis Kolohe has had a filmer (Noah Alani) traveling with him for most of his life, and he’s had a few projects not come to fruition, so we simplified the concept: Kolohe shredding with his friends. And we really wanted to make sure the friend aspect came across as he spends so much time surfing with them, but it rarely gets shown to the world. Kolohe wanted to put something out that was more impactful than a greatest hits web clip too, so we worked closely with him and I think he hit the nail on the head with what he was after.
BeachGrit: Where does it fit on the cultural ladder?
Travis: Well, it’s more of a snapshot than a profile film or anything, but I think in the grand scheme of things at the moment, with very little in between the mega blockbuster helicopter freak show films, and the over saturated web clip and the few instances to see Kolohe surf loose and full of smiles with his friends. This is what I’d say is the perfectly balanced film for the modern condition. And Kolohe’s surfing is really pleasing to the eye.
BeachGrit: How can we buy, see?
Travis: Brother will stream for 24 hours at What Youth on May 26th, and then it will be available on Red Bull TV on Demand May 27th for a week, and then June 2nd it will available for free download.
BeachGrit: What do you love about Brother?
Travis: Well, if we’re talking about the man, I love his hair. And if it’s the movie, I love that I can rematch it and rematch it. I haven’t rewatched a surf film more than this one since the old Taylor Steele vids.
Brother – Official Trailer from What Youth on Vimeo.
I prefer Rielly’s edgier film recs, or non-recs.
Have you seen Xavier Dolan’s new film Mommy? Oh, it strikes you in the guts!
To summarize, forget that there’s not much to Kolohe to like and focus on his failed attempt to squeeze another dude’s chick as you justify paying for a forgettable 25 minute film filled with shots you’ve already seen.
Do you not care for watching good surfing, because some shitty TV presenter got jealous?
First, I don’t know said TV presenter from a hole in the ground, so the whole transaction is somewhat moot. Second, I don’t know Kolohe’s friends, but if he has to “introduce” us to them, they’re somewhat moot. Third, most of the best waves in that video have been shown before, so the movie is largely, well, you know.
Taj, Ian Crane, Luke Davis moot? Is moot a word you have just learnt? Is that why you use it?