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Créme – French word for cream. Also denotes something of top quality in modern-day English.
From here on out I’ll be delivering the Créme a la Grit, in the form of curated surf videos and their principally biased descriptions. Who do I think I am, Rory Parker? Hardly. In basic terms, I am a Surfing Mag reject, hell-bent on stoking the ashes of a five-day career in the surf biz.
For the sake of this extended series (I’ve signed on for a month!), consider me your Cousteau of the cinematic seascape. I’ll be scouring the web in search of deep-sea treasures, sometimes Titanic, others pure Gold. Either way, you can trust not to find any Larry, Curly, or Moes on your beloved Grit. As our manifesto states: “We believe in recycling plastic and paper and St Laurent jeans but not clips from B-ish surfers.”
Without further ado, your first installment of Créme — a retrospective glance at the best short of 2016: Luke Hynd and Darcy Ward’s The Set Menu
First, Darcy Ward.
The 21-year-old Gold Coast filmmaker is talented beyond his years. If The Set Menu didn’t moisten your muffin, then 1. you have poor taste (Staff Picks don’t lie) and 2. take a gander at Darcy’s Vimeo page — there’s something here to please even the most grizzled weblord.
Next, Lukey Hynd.
Genetic traits follow one of two presets: dominant or recessive. Derek Hynd is the fortuitous by-product of a recessive gene orgy, one that created an icon of eccentricity and flair. He is the physical manifestation of good luck. A fin-forsaking anomaly. A generous uncle.
Yes, Luke Hynd’s personal brand of cool can be directly linked to Uncy D. The laissez-faire approach, long flowing locks, and greed for solitude are built into the Hynd DNA. Being too young to have experienced Derek during his explosive twenties, I relish in the good fortune of sharing an era with his second-coming.
Lastly, The Set Menu, in whole.
A surf film succeeds when it transports the viewer from his physical living space to an inescapable vortex of sight and sound. From the point when Luke makes searing eye contact with a much-too-close water camera at 1:27, I was hooked. At 2:53, Darcy captures one of the most cinematically flawless surf shots of all time. If those don’t cut it, Luke’s solo sessions at not one but two terrifying slabs are enough to make the blood run arctic.
The Set Menu was the best short of 2016. If you haven’t already, go give ’em a click.
finally watched this because i’m hella slow at the things. that was gorgeous, really.
yessss this is a very good feature thank you
That southern Australian right hand slab / reef is certainly in vogue – pretty impressive backhand surfing on what looks like a very technical wave.
Agree with the general vibe visually, but found the soundtrack a bit to a) retro with Paul Kelly and b) dirge like with that last song. Can’t even remember the first song.
Is it too much to ask for a music that adds/supports the surfing/screen?
i would be happy if Paul Kelly featured on every surf vid.
PK , the Celibate Rifles and the Sunnyboys – we’d be set!
Well, I’m all for the Celibate Rifles*and Sunnyboys, but while being a fan of PK, I think he is a bit folksy for a surf vid. Damn it, now I’ve got ‘Before Too Long’ ear wormed.
* in the spirit of full disclosure, I’m an ex-roadie of theirs, in fact that may be my highest qualification.
Sunnyboys, Celibate Rifles and Ed Kuepper played a show down the Gold Coast last night. Couldn’t make it myself.
no shit!!
what a dream line up
just had a look and apparently there is a live recording out from the sunnyboys show last year at the enmore called ‘best seat in the house”
Ed Kuepper played at a pub in the Sunshine Coast hinterland a couple years back. Just him an acoustic and a 12 string. Great show. Haven’t heard anything about the Friday show yet. My mates are slack.
Awesome!!
That was great! The lighting, music, and surfing were spot on. Not to mention the golden locks and hair whips, A plus.