The internet’s a blessing and a curse. For surf filmmakers, it’s lowered the barriers to entry. No distribution contracts, just upload what you’ve made for thousands to see. For viewers, being inundated with a new edit sometimes multiple times per day is not only exhausting, it’s desensitizing. They all start to look alike, which means only the most unique are able to rise above. The stakes are high, but it’s led to what just might be the richest period of experimentation and creativity ever in surf filmmaking.
Vissla’s latest effort, directed by Eddie Obrand, isn’t just a visual cornucopia of great surfing and azure tubes. It’s a journey, with an actual narrative and an actual story. Color us blown away.