Bella Vita, new film teaser & website

we are proud to announce www.bellavitafilm.com is LIVE - please check it out to see our new film teaser and website.

and feel free to join the conversation at:
www.facebook.com/bellavitafilm

Edition29 Interview

i was really jazzed to be included in the Edition29 "return of the surfer 001" iPad issue.  this is a whole new world of media for me - audio interviews with photos, music, videos and enlightening content - all beautifully art-directed and packaged for your iPad absorbing enjoyment.  if you admire good aesthetics or a simple dose of surf stoke - download today - profiles include mollusk surf shop, julie goldstein's killer wood-block prints and my friend, italian photographer filippo maffei - as well as yours truly yammering for 5 minutes after way too much italian espresso, luckily they edit the raw audio files  - fun stuff.  they even got me to talk about our new project, BELLA VITA.

thanks to sean o'brien and jeff johnson for some "behind the scenes" photos.

chasing waves in the mediterranean

if you are looking for a truly unique surfing experience - please track down our friend Marco from menhirs surf camp in the mediterranean sea.  the weather systems move extremely fast here and your really need a knowledgeable guide to be on top of things.

he has shown us some of the most beautiful coast-line you will ever see, the clearest water i've ever seen and some really fun waves to boot.  it's not tahiti or hawaii but it is an incredible mix of fun surf, great food, amazing people, culture and history.

we thank all our new friends here for their generosity and warmth.  as our friend dave stated, in all my travels, these people have some of the most genuine aloha i've ever experienced.
www.albergomenhirs.it

bella vita, director's log - update #2

hard to believe it has been nearly 60days that i've been on the road, away from my family, friends and new baby jones!  italy has been amazing.  the hospitality of the local italian people is overwhelming.  without their support, Bella Vita could never happen.

we have been chasing waves, making amazing dinners, harvesting grapes at the castellani vine-yards and sharing with chris del moro, his reconnection to family and friends here in italy.

we have watched the seasons change from warm summer heat to a tempest of energy as the high-pressure system over the mediterranean breaks down, storm systems take over and violent wind storms produce rideable and sometimes, very good, surf.  it is a bit surreal to enjoy everything the world loves about italy and to then combine it with the joy of surfing.

the outer islands are raw and country.  i liken it to america's "old west" for surfers.  a vast frontier, open, and undiscovered.  every drive, every turn, shows us the natural potential this region has- but with sometimes fickle and frustrating conditions, a surfer could spend a lifetime absorbing information on what reef, cove, point or slab could have it's epic day.  Rastovich has already eyed a couple shallow zones- that we've been told have never been surfed.

we get our first solid pulse of swell this week- and it will be truly interesting to see what mother nature provides.  i think all the locals are excited to see their home-breaks in the sights of chris, rasta and the coffins.  it is a very sharing, family oriented culture here and the tribe of surfers is no different.  it reminds me of stories i read in The Surfers Journal about early California or Hawaii.  Where the tribe lived together, ate together and chased waves together.  That spirit is alive and well in italy.  We are honored to spend our short period of time within it.  - jb  10/14/12

bella vita, director's log #1

umm... what's the fastest way to...

Fly to Charles de Gual Int. France via Alitalia operated by Air France - 1 large pelican for Film Gear, 1 large Patagonia Duffle for living, 1 Tripod in Case, 1 Large camera bag for carry-on, 1 small patagonia backpack for additional carry--on-laptop, travel needs, etc.   One 9’ 8” Tyler Pig, prototype model.  24hrs. before the next swell is to arrive, must fly asap - just bought the ticket.

my producer, greg, drops me off at Tom Bradley 2:30pm for 4p flight (a bit late / which is funny since i live about 7min. from LAX) not funny since i was working a job the day before and packed 3months of gear in about 5 hrs - approach Air France Check-in, told to go to Alitalia Check-in / at Terminal 2 (about 400yds away!).  

begin walking with gear on cart - cart falls off curb, spills EVERYWHERE, someone asks to help - greg  pulls back up, jumps out - we load gear into his car, strap board back on top and drive airport loop.  Arrive T2 - i jump out and find Alitalia, we parked 50yds shy.  We hump gear to counter - i try to check in, the lady tells me i need to be at Air France Gate !!!   she says, sprint or you’ll be late.  i say “I WAS JUST THERE.”  she says nothing she can do.  greg is gone.  I grab an empty cart.  load it with bags, grab 35lb tyler and sprint down curb - 80degrees, August - i’m soaking wet with sweat.  wondering why i'd ever want to make another independent film when commercials feed you so well.

I trudge back to Air France Counter - run up - they tell me i’ve missed the flight and i can only do standby.  Standby!!!  i say, I WAS HERE.  finally, the manager nicely looks through my itinerary - after 15min - she comes back, she says i can confirm you on the 9pm flight.  You are good to go (which means i will make the swell, so i’m happy) but then she says, “you’ll have to check in at Alitalia - it is an Alitalia operated flight.”

At this point, I can only laugh.  I schlep cart - slowly this time, back to T2 and check - now really soaking wet.  I ask for a free up-grade, she says no - but she does nicely give me an Air France Lounge pass and a food cupon - her name was Layla - good song.  she dings me $300 for board and gear - that's a $100 discount, for my troubles, she says.

I call greg - he comes back to pick me up (great producer, better friend) - i go home, take a shower, wash my clothes - head to a nearby tiki bar and throw back 3 Mai-Tais, not the lame, pink, grenadine-ridden kind, but the real deal, dark-ass rum, Tiki Mug toting kind.  good stuff. now happy.  

Back to airport - pass security easily, enjoy free Martini at Air France Lounge (as a "sorry we made you hike all over LAX with 300lbs of gear) - get on plane, take Ambien (don't try this at home, i'm a professional) - sleep 10hrs.  wake up near France.  Next flight delayed, do email.  have some bad food - fly to Pisa.  

and the journey begins.   bellavitafilm.com

The Dark Sequel

my good friend, JJ, forwarded along this interesting article on "the dark side" of the 2nd film in the Indiana Jones series, "Temple of Doom."  if you are a film fan or more importantly, an Indy fan - it's a fun read.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8321331/explaining-indiana-jones-temple-doom

In response to this article - i replied to john, seemed kinda fun to share:

ah, yes, the dark sequel - many see the Empire Strikes Back as the darkest of star wars films as well.  and arguably one of the best in the series.

i went to a fairly dark place making One California Day - maybe it has to do with the pressures of living up to the first success- or just the difficulty of shooting California for 4 years.  luckily, OCD was made with my friend, mark jeremias,  so perhaps his stoke balanced what  could-have-been myself derailing into despair and portraying california surfers as delusional druggies - like those guys from venice in Point Break.

who knows, maybe dark is good.  it's definitely better than fluff.  

as i embark on Number Three - i do feel the pressure, that line in the "Temple of Doom" article about not disappointing the audience with what they "expect".  As a filmmaker, you want to do something different, you want to challenge yourself- but you also want people to enjoy watching it.  i guess it, as my yogi wife would say, is all about balance.

or as yoda would say,  "trust your instincts and use the force"

ciao from Marina di Pisa, italy.

b

making a film is like carrying all the pressures of a falling - or slightly leaning building. 

Bella Vita

we are truly living the "beautiful life."  production has officially begun on our new feature documentary,  "Bella Vita".  This film will take an intimate look at a rarely publicized surf culture, until now, underground from mainstream media.  we hope to combine eclectic characters, inspiring stories, adventure and beautiful imagery - more info to come.