Nathan Oldfield's Stillbirth and Surfing A Grief Story

From our friend Nathan Oldfield. 

"Mark Twain said that there aren’t enough words in all the languages in the world to express the sorrow of losing a child. This is a short film I produced while grieving for my daughter, Willow, who was stillborn.

This short actually forms the centrepiece of a feature length surf film I made, called Seaworthy. Since the film’s release, I have received many heartfelt words of sympathy & encouragement. There have been scores of letters & emails from surfers from all over the world that have been sensitive & authentic & moving. I have been especially touched by the messages from those who have travelled their own grief journeys. I am awed & humbled that my work somehow resonated with others’ broken hearts.

A common theme echoed among the beautiful feedback I’ve received is that the story deserves a wider audience. Surf films, by definition, appeal to only a limited demographic, & the kind of surf films I make are left-of-centre even within surfing circles. So I decided to post this online, in the hope that it may reach a few others, especially those who may be living with loss & longing.

All of us experience & express grief in varied ways, which is a good thing since we’re all different. Because I’m a surfer, this is how I gave expression to my experience of bereavement.

Thanks for taking the time to watch. [Nathan]"

Lines from a Poem - By Nathan Oldfield

Lines from a Poem by our friend and ultra soul photog/filmmaker Nathan Oldfield just got released on thesufnetwork.com. Nathan is the filmmaker who made Seaworthy another great film. Lines of a Poem was Nathan's debut film and features lots of great longboarding in Australia. If you are a fan of Nathan then this is a great one to add to your collection.

If you haven't seen Seaworthy yet you are in for a huge treat. One of my favorite of all time.

Summery Loggery - by Nathan Oldfield

Here is a new short by Nathan Oldfield called Summery Loggery. Nathan is one of my favorite Aussie filmmakers. As I watched this I was suddenly hit by the reality that it is currently summer in Australia. A thought that vibrated to my core after freezing my arse off in my 3/2 in 56°F water today. I can't wait for Santa to get me a new 4/3!

Sing it now...

Santa baby, slip a 4/3 under the tree, for me

I've been an awful good boy indeed

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a Steve Lis Fish shaped just for me, light blue

I'll wait up for you

Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the rights I've missed

Think of all the lips that I haven't kissed

Next year I could be oh so good

If you'd check off my Christmas list

Boo doo bee doo

Latest Short by Nathan Oldfield

Our friend Nathan Oldfield shared this clip with us of Dane Peterson doing his thing. I like Nathan's work because it is always inspiring and very dreamy. You get lost in it the way he uses focal points, edits and music. It's like you could check in and live there for a while and be very happy.  Watching Dane on a point break makes me wish I lived in Byron Bay. I could use some nice long right hand points right about now. The kind that you can see bend down the beach as you go down the line. Enjoy.

Movie of the Week - Seaworthy only $6.99!

If you don't already own Seaworthy now is the time to buy it. It is currently the movie of the week at www.thesurfnetwork.com  and is listed for only $6.99. Nathan did a great job on this film. It's one of my all time favorites.