Come on a narrative voyage that shows a man in rapier form.
Surfing, I believe, better fits a straight documentary style than the idolatrous worship of Super 8 cameras and nouvelle vague-style jump cuts and fragmented editing.
Don’t shroud a compelling story in the superficial gimmickry of what, right now, is believed to be hip. It amazes me how many web clips steal from the oeuvre of Kai Neville, whose own well-spring of inspiration was the aforementioned nouvelle vague.
If there’s a story to tell, why not tell it?
I like this, the first in John John Florence’s seven-part series of twelve-minute clips (hence the name Twelve) where the filmmaker, Bill Ballard, takes the viewer on an actual narrative voyage. Oh, how easy it would be to assemble thirty of A-clips, wrap it up in static scenics, and spit it live.
In this series, however, we study John John’s WSL season, examining each event, his successes, his losses, with rare quotes from the famously taciturn John John.
Part one reveals The Eddie, Snapper, Bells, Margaret River.
Remember when John John won the Eddie? Craziest event, maybe ever. But unless you watched it live, you probably didn’t get to feel the electricity of the event. Here, John John looses his thoughts and motivations. The event is beautifully shot and masterfully edited.
The first three events of the 2016 season are equally sharp and abbreviated. Did you, like me, forget John John was drowned by Ciao Ibelli in two consecutive events?
I always had John John figured as someone who was bored with the tour, emerging from his Hawaiian cave long enough only to deliver a few fierce bites or a surly dab of his paw.
Twelve, part one, shows there’s more.
maybe this explains the title
The Eddie scenes were the best. Him walking down Kam highway at dawn with all of those people already there was pretty damn cool.
12, because twelve minutes is the limit of internet attention span.
12?
Because he never evolved past that mentally?
Because that’s the number of titles Slater would have won if he didn’t die three years ago?
Because Medina will have won that many more contests in Fiji, Teahupoo, and Pipe before JJF?
Or because he’s just the greatest surfer we’ve seen for the last five years and noons had the balls to say pro surfing means shit?
I was twelve the last time I read a surf magazine. So suck it Surfing. You’re time draws nigh.
You know this is a surf based website right? The difference between Kelly John John and others is that they would probably be covering the same aspects of surfing even if they weren’t getting paid. As good as some of the Brazilians are you never really get the impression that it’s in their blood it’s more about getting paid. I’m not saying its a bad thing but you don’t get them chasing swells, surfing all over the globe for the love of it etc it’s more about plotting up at a contest break and getting it dialed so they can win. It’s just a different mind set.
You obviously have never met, read or learned anything about Kelly Slater.
You’re just a mind-fucked little child.
You seem a little angry… Maybe go for a surf and get it out of your system little fella.
i think the pirate is right.
you got it arse about.
I was pretty drunk so it’s understandable.
“Surfing all over the globe for the love…” is something Brazilians are pretty good at.
Again John John proves he’s better at every aspect of surfing. I do like how’s he’s taken the Kai Neville cut away and made it way more palatable. To be fair to most other surf clips they don’t really get the monetary or production backing that Hurley give John John.
Arguably one of the better and more compelling pieces of modern surf cinema that’s equal parts exhilarating, and validating of competitive surfing … and, does its job of all surf filmmaking by making you want to surf. Not too long to be taxing and not too short to be forgettable. Bravo and look forward to the rest of the series.
We’re talking about surfing here so it should’ve been written, “what was perceived to be hip five years ago”.
Also that first episode was great.
john is the guy ive chosen to keep on my FS team all year..good to see my decision has paid off hopefully he can win rd5 and get some momentum for the back half with good waves that suits his surfing
You should email him I’m sure he will be stocked. You might even get a mention in a later episode.