Forbidden Trim
Forbidden Trim
Filmmaker George Trimm has been on our radar since he dropped his first film Bootleg – a colab with Joel Tudor mixing stylish surfing with rad tunes. Since then, this cutting edge independent director has been working feverishly on a new project – Forbidden Trim. Shot entirely on celluloid, George has crafted what is arguably the most hotly anticipated surf movie of the year that combines the best of grindhouse, B-Movie traditions with a surfing twist. What’s more, he’s produced a 35mm print for the big screen that he’s bringing to London for its first outing accompanied by a live performance from the Forbidden Trim Band.
We caught up with George to find out more.
London Surf Film Festival hosts the UK Premiere of Forbidden Trim Saturday 1st October. For tickets and info, hit the link: http://londonsurffilmfestival.com/forbidden-trim/
Can you tell us about ‘Forbidden Trim’ – what’s the concept and how did you pull the whole thing together?
I wanted to make something that resembles a short novel, a H.P. Lovecraft or a Louis L’Amore, but set in the deep jungle. I like the idea of going on an adventure with the main character, into the darkness to find out what’s going on where no one’s allowed to go. With Forbidden Trim I am mixing a lot of different film genres. It’s a Grindhouse, Surfing, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy, War film. I’ve been editing it ever since I put out Bootleg, which is a bit over three years. We started filming five years ago – and I’m stoked to be sharing the 35mm print with the UK audience.
It sounds like more than your average surf movie!
It’s definitely a movie you can watch four times and still find something new on the fifth visit. My small team and I did everything on this movie. All the filming, score, miniature models, props, art direction, editing, special effects, etc. It’s my most involved picture for sure.
As an independent filmmaker how hard is it to get a project like this financed?
It’s hard. I have been taking little bits of each pay check I receive from being a professional editor/videographer, and putting it into this movie. It’s shot on super8mm and 16mm film, which is not cheap.
How did you get into filmmaking?
My parents bought a Hi-8 camera when I was about 10. I was getting into surfing then so I would film pictures of surfboards and little objects around my house. I started interning at O’Neill wetsuits when I was 16 as a graphic artist. I went to college for Graphic Design. I didn’t do much filmmaking until 2008 when I started assisting a motion graphics editor. I loved how graphics were used in films, and was super inspired by people like Saul Bass. I bought a super 8 camera in 2009 and went to Australia and shot 18 rolls of super 8 and ever since I’ve been hooked on Cinematography, Editing, and tying those crafts together with custom musical scores.
What is it about filmmaking that drives you?
In my opinion it is the most exciting art we have today, being able to create with image, concept, dialogue, time, layout, and audio. Not only with the score but the creation of sound effects. Take those elements and throw in some surfing, I think that’s what I am most interested in as a filmmaker today. For the last six years I’ve been working as a freelance filmmaker full time, doing commercial work to help with the bills. This is not a hobby, I see filmmaking as a lifelong career, and hope to make many more movies in the future.
London Surf / Film Festival X Reef concludes this weekend 30 September – 1 October brings to the UK the best surf films from around the globe. Accompanied by talks with waveriding’s most inspiring heroes and icons, a live audio visual performance, a very special 35mm screening, a gallery show, music, art and more this saline hit of inspiration is an essential cultural happening. For full schedule details and info on a couple of very special LS/FF pop-up screenings head to: www.londonsurffilmfestival.com
