Documented over 18 months, Engrained is the brainchild and passion project of cinematographer Darcy Ward and myself. Artistically captured, the 21-minute film is a visual feast tied together with underlying narration, with the aim of taking the viewer on a journey to each picturesque landscape as we slowly return home to familiar waters. The concept for Engrained evolved off the back of Eye Sea, a short film Darcy and I created together in 2015.
Darcy and I have been good mates and worked closely together for five years and what began as a simple back and forth of ideas, eventually grew into something we set our minds too bringing alive. We began filming and let the ideas, narrative and locations naturally evolve and come together as we set about chasing the waves and experiences we wanted to pursue.
Our main objective for the development of Engrained was to combine and portray our passions, Darcy’s ‘filmmaking’ and my ‘writing’, through our love for the ocean and all things that are engrained into it. We wanted to invite the audience to perhaps reflect on their relationship, or deeper understanding with or about the ocean, a particular location or anything at all they are passionate about. Writing the text for the narration instilled an emotional connection and doubled as a representation of the underlying beauty and appreciation we both have for the locations and experiences attached to each trip.
The film was entirely planned, written, created and produced by Darcy and myself. The whole process of the movie took over 18 months, filming, sourcing the narrators, finding the perfect music and piecing it all together. The text for each section was written during or after every trip to try and capture the essence of what we had just experienced or were feeling at that particular moment. We had financial support from my sponsors Ocean and Earth, Globe and Brunotti, but the majority of what you see is self-funded. Once we had all the content and a shared vision for the film, Darcy packed up shop from Queensland and lived at my place on the south coast for six months. He had the creative eye to tie it all together seamlessly and the narrators and music we sourced just moulded to the visuals and feel of the movie so well.
Engrained – it was more about taking the viewer on a symbolic journey and combining our favourite locations with our favourite surfers and bringing attention to the hidden depth that lies beyond the visuals.
Locations visited in the film are Ireland, Scotland, Tasmania (Shipsterns), The Australian Outback and the East Coast of Aus. Featured surfers are Brett Burcher, Russ Bierke, Sean Mawson, Louie Hynd, Elliot Marshall, Paul Morgan, Nath Bartlett, Khy Hoole and Glen McDonald.
Music By Woodes, Marrie Sioux, Bad Dreems, Sammy Smith, Bored Nothing.
Contributing filmers- Darcy Ward- @darcywardvisuals, Talon Clemow- @onepalmedia, Lewis Arnold- @lasurfpics, Simon Punch- @simonpunchphoto, Vincent Schaap- @vincentschaap, Andrew Kaineder- @Kaineder, Simon Treweek- @treeksea, Ryan Craig- @chachfiles, Chris Zinon- @zinon_, Stu Gibson- @stugibson, Dave Fox- @foxinsocks
Brett at Shippies. Photo Talon Clemow.
Scottish slab. Photo Lewis Arnold.
Burch by Chris Zinon.
Image Darcy Ward.
Image Darcy Ward.
Image Darcy Ward.
Image Darcy Ward.
Image Darcy Ward.
Louie Hynd. Image Darcy Ward.
Russ Bierke by Andrew Kaineder.
Image Stu Gibson.
