Bustin’ On The Big Screen At Bleach*

You gotta love that 70's style. Screen shot from Bustin' Down The Door.

Bleach* Surfing the Fringe festival is bringing outdoor cinema to Coolangatta with some classic surf films and modern flicks overlooking iconic Kirra on the grass at Queen Elizabeth Park.

The outdoor free screening of Bustin’ Down the Door joins a series of surf movies being screened at Bleach* over the next couple of weeks.

In case you haven’t heard about this classic surf documentary, Bustin’ Down the Door documents the birth of professional surfing through the lives of Cooly legend Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, South Africa’s Shaun Tomson, Aussie legends Mark Richards and Ian Cairns and a host of other surfing greats. These surfers gave rise to modern professional surfing … but faced a lot of opposition along the way, not least from local Hawaiians who didn’t like their brash attitudes.

Bustin’ never enjoyed a national cinema release, and so this screening will be a rare opportunity to see the film on the big screen.

Surfing was never the same again... Bustin' Down The Door tells you all about it.

The event has been organised as a way to give back to Coolangatta, Rabbit Barthomolmew’s hometown and the place where his journey to international surf stardom began. "I am stoked to present a free public screening of Bustin’ Down the Door right here in Coolangatta as part of this new festival,” Bartholomew said.

The evening will also feature a live couch chat session with some of the films' stars who will be available for autograph signings after the show.

Bustin’ Down the Door joins an enticing Bleach* surf movie schedule that includes several local premieres as well as classic film re-launches, all with entry for free or by donation.

These films include In Natural Flow, the revolutionary 1972 Steve Core film that captured the style of a new generation. The full-restored 16 mm footage of surf luminaries MP, PT, Rabbit, Peter Drouyn, Simon Anderson and many others will be dusted off for one of its first public screenings in almost 30 years. The experience will be enhanced by the vibrant tones of 3Illa playing a live set.

Kallalu Gallery will showcase Oceanscape, an experimental photographic film by Shelli Bankier. Journey through the form and movement of the changing elements of the ocean and the essence of the breaking wave.

Surf World Gold Coast Museum will host Retrospect, an evening filled with films featuring longboards, 8mm film and footage straight from the 60’s, 70’s and even a little of the 80’s. Witness the resurgence of the past with feature films including Paul Witzig’s 1967 classic Hot Generation and legendary surf visionary George Greenough’s Deep Tube Riding and Wipeout short films and George’s brand new film clip for Band of Frequencies, All I’ve Found, plus other great footage.

George Greenough's and Band of Frequencies', All I’ve Found

Patagonia and Fuel TV will present two consecutive evenings of free outdoor movie screenings when Surf Surf Films takes over Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta.

Summer Surf Films opening night movies include short flick Lunchbreak (starring Laura Enever, Tyler and Kirby Wright, Serena Brooke, Ellie-Jean Coffey and more) plus the local premiere of Come Hell Or High Water, surfer Keith Malloy’s new movie exploring the simplicity and beauty of riding waves from a different perspective. His directional debut showcases the talent of Mark Cunningham, Mike Stewart, Dan Malloy, Chris Malloy, Koa Watson, Belinda Baggs and more, and was the winner of Best Film and Best Cinematography awards at both the New York Surf Film Festival 2011 and London Surf Film Festival 2011.

Nigh two of Summer Surf Films will see a special screening of legendary surf filmer Jack McCoy’s Blue Sway, a film clip shot for musical royalty, Sir Paul McCartney. This will be followed by Under The Sun, a feature length documentary by Cyrus Sutton filmed on location in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast which examines where the commercialization of surfing stems from. Shot in super 16mm, it stars Dave Rastovich, Nat Young, Beau Young, Rabbit Bartholomew, and Dean Morrison.

Commercialism in surfing with Under The Sun.

The local theme will continue at a separate evening centred around new feature Sons of Beaches 72’, an art & film installation charting the evolution of the pro surfing movement that sprung from the Gold Coast.

The movie’s focal point is the 1972 Australian Surfing Team, a line-up of raw young talent who revolutionized the surfing world with short board speed, power moves and deep tube riding without legropes. The team was led by Michael Peterson and

luminaries Peter 'PT' Townend, Paul and Rick Neilsen, Mark Warren, Grant 'Dappa' Oliver, Ian 'Kanga' Cairns, Terry Fitzgerald, Col Smith, Tony Hardwick, Andrew 'AndyMac' McKinnon and juniors Simon Anderson, Mark Richards and Rabbit Bartholomew.

To shed light on this pivotal time, Producer Glen Blight accessed Peter Townend's personal collection of original surf press clippings and photos, and this interactive installation showcases PT's collection alongside art, film and on-the-couch sessions guaranteed to touch a nostalgic nerve as guest speakers bring the past into full colour.

Along with a celebrity panel Q & A, Sons of Beaches 72’ guests including Hawaii’s legendary Larry Bertelmann for this special one-off Bleach* screening. Sons of Beaches 72’ will also screen at the Gold Coast Arts Centre.

Bleach* will host over fifty-five art and photography installations, talks, and film, music, fashion, theatre and food events staged across the spectacular beaches, foreshores and major venues unique to the Southern Gold Coast from 11-26 Feb 2012. For 16 days, across 10kms, over 80 artists and musicians will be on display during Bleach* Surfing the Fringe’s varied schedule.

A full listing of musical acts and films can be found at www.bleachfestival.com.au