Russel Crowe says that work on the Bra Boys film that may be his feature directorial debut is progressing nicely, according to Sky News.
“We are on our third different take on the story, probably on our second draft of our third take,” he said.
“We approached it in one way and it worked and encapsulated it nicely but it left too many things on the table so we’ve tried it a second way and had the same result. . . . We’re now in a place where we’re trying it a third way and it’s a little more satisfying in terms of the punch of the overall film.”
The film is not based on the documentary, but on the best-selling book My Brothers Keeper, by investigative reporters Charles Miranda and Angelea Kamper and follows the story of “standover man” Anthony Hines, his meeting with infamous Sydney surfing gang ‘the Bra Boys’, and his killing. According to Russel, the film will not start Mark Wahlberg and instead will feature Australian actors.
“This is a great Australian story and it belongs to the Australian film industry and it’s all well and good to finance it from overseas because film is an international medium but we’ve got great actors in our country.”
Tony Hawk joined Hilary Duff, Jessica Biel, and Slash to remind people that getting involved and sharing your time is a good thing. Here’s a little of what Tony says:
I believe everyone can change the world you don’t have to be rich and famous, you can start in your own community: start locally. Help people that are in need. Help causes that interest you. . . .A lot of people want to help or say that there are these problems, but you have to physically go there and do it and that’s what makes a difference.
Slash obviously had a hard time being on camera without his guitar, but Tony’s comments were right on.
Spy Optic parent company Orange 21 announced yesterday financial results for the year ending December 31, 2008 and though net sales were up 2% over 2007 to $47.3 million, their losses increased from $8 million in 2007 to $15.2 million in 2008.
“The current recession continues to have a significant impact on our sales,” commented Stone Douglass, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “The impact is being felt not just in the US, but overseas as well. During these last few months we have reacted swiftly to reduce operating expenditures in all our companies and increase our sales and marketing efficiencies. In addition, we have been seeking new opportunities on a global basis.”
Douglass says that he is excited about some new opportunities in the future, but damn, that losing $23 million in two years seems like a pretty large wall to climb even with the office being closed on Fridays and cutting employee pay by 10 percent. [click to continue…]
According to a story in the Sydney Morning HeraldBillabong is a nightmare brand for ad agencies and television networks because they are playing by their own rules all the way around.
It does not make TV commercials, it does not book space on television. And its magazine ads are produced by its own team. Billabong is not just a surf brand, it is a media company, says the person in charge of producing the hours of surf-related content. . . “This just ups the ante,” says Scott Wallace of the deal announced last week with Sony. “We are turning into a media company as well as a clothing company.”
Wallace, formerly with IMG, and now VP New Media and Strategic Partnerships, appears to be putting Billabong on the right track. As we’ve said several times: if you want to control your message, be the messenger. And it looks like Wallace is doing just that.
The Magazine Publishers of America just released their print advertising numbers for Q1 2009 (Jan. to Mar. 2009 vs. 2008) and as might be expected things are not looking good. On average pages in the titles tracked by the MPA are down 26.1 percent and revenue is down 20.6 percent.
In the action sports magazine space Transworld Media has the only titles tracked and advertising pages were down across the board. Here are Transworld Media advertising page totals for Q1 2009 as reported by the MPA.
According to the MPA, in the first three months of this year Transworld Media print advertising was down a total of 251.85 pages when compared to the same period in 2008. Assuming that a page in the magazines cost on average $2,500 this drop in ad pages represents about $630,000 in revenue.
On a positive note: when compared to the magazine market in general Transworld’s titles are doing well, about 10 percent ahead of the market in every mag but Transword Surf. So by that metric, things are looking pretty good.
Then again, we don’t think the print advertising market will ever get better.
It’s the story of a Brigham Young University student who took an idea to the nation. BYU NewsNet writer Kresha Worton tells the story of senior advertising student Chip Neff and how he and his brother Shaun built the Neff brand.
Neff said he and his brother have managed all of the business responsibilities over the past few years, but with their tremendous growth they recently were able to hire seven full-time employees to specialize in different areas. . . He said one of the biggest things that has contributed to their success has been the unique design and colors of the brand. . . “The theme of the brand is very fun and colorful,” Neff said. “We offer all the fun, most colorful and fresh designs.” . . .WGSN, a company that provides trend analysis and news to the fashion industry, had nothing but good things to say about Neff. . . This year WGSN predicted Neff as the biggest trendsetter for the snowboarding industry.
And what if every one of the reportedly 13.5 million Mormons world-wide were to buy just one hat. . . isn’t that the least they could do?
Roxy announced today that they will be teaming up with home electronics titans JBL, Inc. to produce a new line of headphones.
The new series of multimedia products will combine Roxy’s leading fashion sense for adventuresome young women, with JBL’s award-winning, pro-sound technology. The first products will include a line of co-branded headphones in fashion colors slated for launch in the second quarter of 2009. . . .The special edition line will represent the first time a key fashion has partnered with a premium audio brand to create portable multimedia products that look as great as they sound. Consistent with each brands’ reputation for pro-level performance, the Roxy / JBL suite of products will be marketed with an emphasis on combining a premium, personal music experience with high intensity sports action.
While we don’t exactly think they will be creating “an new market category of branded headphones,” we’re sure Roxy branded headphone will come in colors and patterns that will make the little girls scream. [click to continue…]
Stephan Hierhofer, 37, was reportedly surfing on his honeymoon in Capo Noli, Italy when he was knocked off his new surfboard and swept out to sea, according to a story in the Austrian Times.
Hierhofer ended up more than 50 miles from the beach where he’d waved to his wife as he tried out his new board in Capo Noli, northern Italy. . . Coastguards scrambled a rescue helicopter when his frantic family dialed emergency services after seeing a massive wave knock the 37-year-old teacher from Cologne, Germany, off his board. . . .But he was only saved when a yachtsman spotted him miles adrift further down the coast the next day.
Yet another reminder that taking surfboards on honeymoons is a bad, bad, omen.
Much has been written about Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, but when he was in Australia for the opening of a Patagonia store in Torquay (opened in partnership with surf legend Wayne Lynch) The Age’s Saturday Editor Michael Gordon got to check in with the businessman that Gordon calls a contrarian.
The contrarian streak is evident soon after our conversation begins, overlooking the surf at Torquay. “I don’t like authority and I always wanted to do it my way,” he says. “I wanted to have a company where I could do things differently and not end up like a grease-ball businessman.”
We’ve always thought Patagonia was a little too cool to be cool, but this profile on the man behind the brand made us like their whole groove a little more than we did before reading it. And that surprised us a little.
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is deeply saddened by this morning’s passing of its longtime president, leader and guiding light, Dick Baker, after his two-year battle with cancer. The SIMA Board of Directors, Advisory Boards and staff are devastated by the loss.
Baker became involved with SIMA in 2000 after coming to work for the iconic surf brand Ocean Pacific (Op), and served as president of SIMA for nine years. His presidency was instrumental in creating the vibrant trade association of Orange County based surf lifestyle brands, and he provided unfailing leadership and guidance throughout a time that has marked the association’s largest growth and expansion.
“Words cannot express our grief or how greatly Dick will be missed,” said Sean Smith, SIMA executive director. “Dick’s leadership in SIMA was absolutely unparalleled. I speak on behalf of the SIMA family and entire surf industry in saying he was so much more than our leader – he was our mentor, our best friend, a role model, a confidant. As a person he was generous, positive and a devoted family man. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Information regarding memorial services will be shared when available. Please contact the SIMA office with questions or inquiries.
Follow the jump for more comments about Dick Baker and stories from his life of business leadership and caring contributions to the surf industry. . . [click to continue…]
Russel Crowe says that work on the Bra Boys film that may be his feature directorial debut is progressing nicely, according to Sky News.
