Stab Magazine | Taylor Steele Directed Scenes That Shaped An Era

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

278 Views

Taylor Steele Directed Scenes That Shaped An Era

Extensive nostalgia, featuring: Shane Dorian and Albee Layer.

cinema // Jan 3, 2018
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

I remember when I saw Stranger Than Fiction first premier at La Paloma Theatre. It was phenomenal because, even though I didn’t have an irresponsible amount of alcohol flowing through my veins at the time, as is customary for those sort of events (I was 13, okay), it still made me stand up in my chair, raise my fist and obnoxiously scream, “Yew!” multiple times all the same. In your face, high-performance surfing paired with a thumping soundtrack will do that.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gGL-R9rYOHE

The initial behind the scenes clip that teased today’s Proximity inspired surfer pairing.

The film’s impact also translated into possession of six different DVD copies for me. Why such a high number? Because I have a tendency to replace things after misplacing their predecessors. A display in instant self-gratification in regards to my favourite Taylor Steele flick. Clearly the emotions of man are stirred more quickly than his intelligence. At least I’m never short of something to pop-in and watch when I’m seeking a little more inspiration before a paddle out. 

It’d be safe to say most folks have similar attachments to one, or many, of Taylor’s films as well. Whether it be Stranger Than Fiction, Campaign, Loose Change, or anything in between, the list goes on and on. Hence why our ongoing four-part tease for Taylor’s newest film, Proximity, continues.

In this second edition, we picked our favorite sections from years past of Proximity surfer pairing Shane Dorian and Albee Layer. Starting with Dorian, who has long been a fixture in Taylor’s films. His sections have always been fantastic because, while they still show off his prowess in the bigger stuff he’s known for, they display his handedness as a small wave surfer as well. And his contribution to 2003’s Campaign (seen above) is a wonderful, below-the-knee-boardshorts example of just that. How rare (and oddly refreshing) is it watching a Dorian clip that has more air shots than Jaws (or any other big wave spot for that matter) elevator drops? 

Another adroit Hawaiian, Albee Layer didn’t start appearing in Taylor’s films until a bit later. An unavoidable circumstance of being born in 1991, and thus being relatively younger than the Momentum-age stars Taylor built his foundation on. All of which apparently didn’t matter to Albee, though, as he made an impression in 2011’s Innersection (find the clip all the way up top) all the same.

Make sure to catch Proximity as it picks up passport stamps on its premier tour. Dates and more info here.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part Two

A few more foam craftsmen worth keeping on your radar.

Jul 14, 2025

Watch: Rip Curl Mobilises Its Teenage Army In ‘Dunno’

A 30-minute surf film by Vaughan Blakey and Nick Pollet.

Jul 14, 2025

There’s A New Number One Surfer In The World

And it feels so right.

Jul 13, 2025

Controversial Opinion: No One Needs To Yoga In Boardshorts

8 Trunks for the traditionalist.

Jul 13, 2025

Stab Edit Of The Year: Sam Piter Stars in ‘Rogue DNA’.

French blood, thick water.

Jul 13, 2025

Matty McG Skydives Into CT Heat, But Jordy’s Still The Main Event

A full day of heats at J-Bay, and only one shark warning.

Jul 12, 2025

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025

How Josh Ku Nearly Died Trying To Cross From Ulus to G Land by Hydrofoil

“If someone finds me dead at least they can find my phone and know what…

Jul 10, 2025

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025
Advertisement