Jack McCoy’s “A Deeper Shade of Blue” is not a surf movie. It’s a movie about long boards, short boards, skimboards, Hawaiian beach boys, finless surfing, hot curls, camaraderie, competition — in short, it’s not a surf movie, it’s a movie about surfing.
Told in 11 interwoven chapters, “A Deeper Shade of Blue” explores surfing’s deeper roots: in history, lore, the subconscious, and man’s relationship with the natural world. This documentary includes historical and contemporary surfers alike, stitching a story of appreciation and passion through stunning visuals and compelling interviews with today’s leading surfers that seeks to answer the questions “what is surfing and where did it all begin?”
“A Deeper Shade of Blue” will be having its world premier at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival next Tuesday, February 1st, at the Arlington Theater at 8 p.m.
“Ninety-eight percent of most surfers these days have no idea what the roots of surfing are. I felt responsible to show what I know, what I grew up with, to others,” director McCoy said.
A Deeper Shade of Blue is Jack McCoy’s 25th film. (A Deeper Shade of Blue Photos)
One of the legendary surf filmmakers of our current time, Jack McCoy grew up in Hawaii and currently lives in Australia. He said he’s been a “water man” all his life, learning at an early age to surf, sail, paddleboard, fish — you name it — McCoy knows it. His past films have included “Storm Riders”, “The Green Iguana”, and “Blue Horizons”.
“A Deeper Shade of Blue” will mark the 25th film of McCoy’s prolific career.
“With Hawaii in my heart, for my 25th film I wanted to acknowledge what surfing is, not what surfing’s become—a billion dollar industry. In Hawaii surfing was all about respect,” he says.
And it’s that respect that McCoy hopes to convey.
McCoy’s film delves into the rich history and legacy of surfing
The film also covers the present and contains some heavy big-wave shots
McCoy’s voyage into the evolution of modern surf culture includes a look back with Jamie O’Brien; insight into the Waikiki-California-Malibu connection with Rabbit Kekai; the invention of the long-board with Joe Quigg, David Nuuhiva and the Marshall Brothers; the history of the short board, tube riding, finless boards; a nod to women surfers from Princess Kaiulani and Gidget to Stephanie Gilmore; and an overall appreciation for surfing’s guiding spirit of “aloha”.
“It is a film about feeling good to be alive… and it will make you feel good.”
The film also includes some incredible visuals, thanks to McCoy’s underwater sub tracking shots.
McCoy is thrilled to be premiering this film at such a prestigious festival as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. “I’ll be doing cartwheels down the streets of Santa Barbara for the opportunity!” he exclaimed.
McCoy believes the film will appeal to old and new surfers alike. When asked if he had any advice for beginning surfers, McCoy simply said, “the biggest trick is getting onto the right board. Once you do, and you’re up—there’s nothing like it. As they say, you’re hooked.”
And it’s that spirit that has us hooked by “A Deeper Shade of Blue”.
