Thank Baby Jesus, Chapter 11 TV Isn’t Going Anywhere

Chapter 11’s 11th episode references the absurdity of cancel culture at [6:06]. 11/11 superstitions raised questions that it might’ve been the last episode from his series before he closed the book on the creative endeavour that followed Marine Layer Productions. Nothing seems incidental in a Dane film but he reassured us it was a joke when Stab contacted Dane earlier today.

“We’re definitely still going! Everyone is getting ‘canceled’ for ridiculous stuff… anyway it was a joke, not a funny one, just everyone is getting overly sensitive and ‘cancelled’ is when someone is no longer accepted by society.”

Ridiculous indeed. 

His latest 16-minute clip is a “medley of my friends and I surfing our favorite zones over the past winter that hopefully captures the essence of our surf community.” Dane has created a genuine platform for his friends and marketing managers are now seeing the value. A bunch of these guys’ stocks have risen, with new sponsors being thrown around as a result of being featured in his films.

The clip features a list of 15 surfers: Brad Chisholm, Matt Mccabe, Rollo Montez, Josiah Amico, Tommy Mckeown, Shane Sykes, Jake Kelley, Eithan Osborne, Andrew Doheny,  Swift, Mikey Mccabe, Micky Clarke, K bone, Jim Martin and 10 year old, Oli Curran. 

“After this past year and a half of covid restricting gatherings I wanted to throw an event that brought everyone together.” The premier was held last week at @madewestbeer on Donlon st in Ventura. It was a community event featuring bespoke merch from the Chapter 11 brand, raffles and beer. Lots of it.

Chapter 11 TV 011 has the signature Reynolds look and feel about it which is above-average surfing in average waves interwoven with portraits of unwitting pedestrians who provide a sense of place of life in the Ventura surf scene. 

As always, the hallmark soundscaping of a Reynolds clip is what sets it apart. The audacity to move between genres from White Fence to Oasis to a bunch of bands you’ve never heard of that will likely be in your Spotify-liked track listing violates the rules of coherence, but it works. The part is filmed by Hunter Martinez, Jason Blanchard and Andrew Schonener. 

Oscar Wilde said, “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” I can’t tell you why these CH11 clips are so good, but no one does surf fantasia like DR. They’re both relatable and aspirational surf films that make you want to paddle out even when the waves are shitty. His capacity to use the rudimentary and fringe in the service of creating films that capture the core essence of the surf-scene of Santa Barbara and Ventura is unrivalled. Dane cares little for mainstream appeal and his clips feel like they’re made for an audience of one: himself. 

The platform he’s created however is still the most unique and creative in surfing. The 15 people whose career he’s fast forwarded just by being featured need to make sure the Reynolds household are on their Christmas List. That goes for all of us actually. Dane has no major sponsor any more yet continues to create this work and put it on the internet for free. Thank baby jesus for that.

Coming soon from Dane Reynolds and Stab: Made by Dane Reynolds, the Electric Acid Microdose featuring select surfboards from Noa Deane’s E.A.S.T in Mexico, aptly named Stab Fried. Spoiler: he doesn’t love all the boards.