Billabong and Taylor Steele's Trilogy Debuts in US
September 10, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
The big gun's of world surfing traded the waves for the red carpet in California over the weekend to celebrate the World Premiere of the years most anticipated surf film.
Billabong's TRILOGY , filmed and produced by legendary surf cinematographer Taylor Steele played to over 3000 enthusiasts, celebrities, surf industry heavyweights and professional's at Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego and the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
Both premieres were supported by Billabong, Macbeth, Surfing Magazine, Surfline, Fuel TV and Monster Energy.
The San Diego venue, which is normally home to the San Diego Harmonic, was transferred into a huge surf rock concert following the film screening, as Angels and Airwaves lit up the stage in their first public appearance in over a year.
The show then rolled on to Las Vegas, Nevada the following night where it screened to a packed inland beach party at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino followed by another performance by Angels and Airwaves.
With hundreds of spectators surrounding the huge hotel pool in Vegas, Billabong wake team members Shaun Watson (Florida), Erik Ruck (Florida), Brian Grubb (Florida), Kevin Henshaw (Florida) and Chard Sharpe (Canada) hit a 50ft rail secured to the pool floor with the help of a pulley system.
The film is an expose into the lives of three times world champion Andy Irons (Haw) Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, QLD) and Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA). It is the first time the trio have worked on a dedicated feature film together and all three have been highly competitive in securing strong parts in the production over the past 18 months.
Trilogy played to audience shouts and cheers at both venues with surf industry insiders claiming the long awaited film lived up to all expectations.
"I'm very happy with it," said Steele. "You never really know until you get some crowd feedback and there was plenty of noise coming out of both shows.
"We went into the edit room with each of the guys and saw how passionate they were about which waves they wanted in the film which was great.
"I think it really gave them a good idea of how it all works, and I'm stoked to be able to showcase the talent of three really unique surfers."
Rated as three of the most inspirational and influential surfers of modern time, Trilogy was filmed over the past 18 months and features locations including Spain, Morocco, Australia, Tahiti, Indonesia, Mexico and Hawaii.
Iron's, who blows minds from the opening sequence and leaves the viewer wide eyed after one session at a renowned Indonesian left hander said he had mixed emotions about the film's debut and forthcoming release.
"It has been a long two years of filming and we got some great waves at the start of the production," said Irons. "I didn't get much towards the end but just surfing with Parko and Taj was awesome."
"It's kind of sad in a way that the project is over but I'm really exited to see how people will like it."
Without spoiling the show, highlights from the film include a session of Iron's blowing tail in Bali, Burrow finding huge tubes in Morocco and Parkinson scoring a perfect session at a secret Australian reef break.
"It's always pretty exiting getting good waves and nailing some good clips, I'm looking forward to just taking it all in," said Burrow.
The sought after final section, which is the holy grail for any professional surfer in a Steele produced film is usually objectively awarded to the surfer with the strongest footage.
With all three stars notching up incredible action from around the globe, the final decision was reached over a game of no limit Texas Hold 'Em poker and won by the West Australian Burrow.
"We played poker for the final section, it was a nerve racking game, but I got the win in the end," he said.
For Parkinson, Trilogy followed directly on from 12 months of filming for biopic, Free As A Dog and will be his second dedicated feature in under 2 years. The laid back Coolangatta kid with the smoothest style in surfing doesn't fail to disappoint on this latest collaboration.
"There is so many different feelings in surfing," he said. "From the feeling of winning contests and other highs, there is nothing better than sitting in a big amphitheatre, getting a huge barrel up on the screen and everyone is around you screaming their heads off.
"Just to hear those screams in insane, you know they like it and it's reassuring."
Trilogy will hit Australian shores on Thursday 25th October for a special 700 invite only VIP screening at the Cremorne Orpheum and will debut in Europe during the Billabong Pro Mundaka on October 5th and 6th.
The DVD will be available for purchase at all leading surf retailers in time for Christmas. For a sneak peak at the project and epic behind the scenes images, visit www.trilogymovie.com
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