A Surf Reel We Really Like

If you didn’t already know, Coopers & Stab are hosting a contest celebrating underground and original Australian filmmakers. Winner takes home $5K, a gig shooting one of our next projects, and a truckload of glory. If that sounds like it might tickle your fancy (or a friend’s) you can view the current entires, T&C’s, and more, on the RTR landing page here.

Without further ado, let’s introduce our third entrant, Tyge Landa.

Tyge is a New South Welshman currently residing in Torquay. Tyge’s been shooting surf, action and lifestyle cinema for the better part of 12 years. Tyge’s RTR reel features Dane Reynolds, Kelly Slater, Craig Anderson, Beau Foster, Dave Wincester and a big fuck-off GW shark that nearly ate him the day before (no like, seriously). Tyge’s reel epitomises ‘big names, and big ideas’, in a creative and aesthetically-delighting bite-sized morsel.

Here, Tyge shares a little about himself and his thoughts on surf cinema. 

“Surf filmmaking teaches you to work hard, particularly if you become obsessed. The upside is that because it is so hard, there’s a demand for skilled cinematographers in action sports and if you include water ability you can land you all sorts of gigs both in and out of surfing, documentaries, commercials, films, and so on. I was lucky enough to be part of the camera crew for the feature film, ‘Nitram’ based on the Martin Bryant, Port Arthur massacre, that’s playing on Stan now. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s a craft that will pull you in all directions, if you stay teachable and amped.”

“Being dynamic is really important. Shooting land, water, from a boat, drones… It adds range and diversity to your capabilities. The other thing I’d say is there’s real value in taking risks and developing a style. I’d say my style has evolved over the years to be defined by close ups with a high frame-rate. That’s what I love and am super passionate about, but it takes time to develop and find what your ‘ikigai’ is, a Japanese mantra meaning, the thing that gets you up in the morning.”

“There’s a website called NoFilmSchool which talks about going against the grain and breaking some of the unspoken rules in cinema. Conformity is playing it safe, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but taking risks can also be an asset that differentiate you from the pack. Particularly as young filmmakers, you don’t really have anything to lose. Be nimble, take risks, choose speciality art forms, and try to master your craft.”

Folks, Tyge Landa.