I've been taking my time with Little Black Wheels. I think that is what makes surf films so special. It isn't like the latest NetFlix movie you consumed in two hours and spit out never to watch again. In an age of consumable media, the GOOD surf film is a rare exception to the rule. Instead of watching them once and moving on with your life, you take them in like a fine wine, sipping on them and savoring every flavor and feeling you get from it.
The good surf film is and always has been the way we get to re-experience as surfers what we do, how we look at the world and how we feel about what we are choosing to do with our lives. It's a way to reflect on the beauty and the stoke of what makes us get up in the morning.
Little Black Wheels to me is one of those surf films that is special. It gets better and better with time. It is one of those films that makes you feel great about choosing to spend your life in and around the water. It makes you connect with the special souls that bare themselves in the film and makes you get lost for a few moments of your day to feel completely stoked, inspired and ready to go find a right hander to do some turns on.
The down and dirty of the film is that it is shot with style and a pure artistic eye. The surfing is great. Tons of soul and lots of barrels. Mick is like a painter with his images. Showing the value of detail in the world and the beauty of perspective. He combines it all with his knack to letting his cast tell their stores, surf their hearts out and bare their souls for us to be inspired by what they do is this world.
The music in the film is down right great. I wish I had a sound track of this film. I can't stop singing Beau Young's Horse Song. (You have to see it to get it.) Where can I get that CD?!
All and all its a must see. With soul surfing from Johnny Abbeg, Beau Young, Rasta, Kristian Spencer (Beard!), Jimmy McMillan and a bunch of guys I've never even heard of but made me watch every turn and barrel with an open mouth and sparkle in my eye. It's also narrated in part by Mick's daughter Ruby who steels the show.
You can get it direct from Mick
here
I watched it so much I started taking stills for fun. Here's a few...
There is always someone new in a film who sneaks up on me, shakes me up and makes me want to know more about them. In this film Kristian Spencer a.k.a. Beard was one of those guys who caught my attention. Beard is a barrel machine and a bad ass in my book.
Johnny Abbeg and Sea Surfboards where two elements that make this film inspiring to me. Sea Surfboards is a resin tint love'n mans dream and Johnny is flawless in his soul surfing. Two segments that you won't want to miss.
Beau Young is and will always be a huge draw for me in Mick's films. His segment is great and learning about his profession as a children's song writer and singer was cool. The guy is talented for sure. How do I get that horse song?!
Dave Macaulay and his family was inspiring in that the whole lot of them surf. Dave was in the top 3 in the world in 1993 and he still rips.
Jimmy McMillan was an inspiration. I won't spoil it but it's pretty remarkable he can even do this turn.
Rasta is always one of my favorites. Seriously, what can you say, the guys just kills it with pure style on anything.
The movie is filled with details and perspectives that make the hard core photographer wish they were there to pull the trigger. It's filled with beauty from start to finish.
Ruby steals the show.
5 months on the road with your pregnant wife, dog and little girl. Pretty amazing adventure.
