drift, perspectives in surfing

Photos: Kurt Vincent

This year’s winner of the Viewer’s Choice award at the NYSFF came out of an unlikely spot: Cleveland, Ohio. Out of Place is a portrait of surfing on Lake Erie. Not just a surf film documenting that yes, there are waves on the Great Lakes, Out of Place is a glimpse into the lives of the core members of Cleveland’s surfing community. These guys will redefine your standard of what’s cold, what’s too windy, and what is rideable.

Drift peppered editor, cinematographer and Lake Erie surfer Kurt Vincent with a few quick questions over a PBR or three. Kurt shed some light on the motives for making Out of Place and what’s next.

How long was your film in production?
Filming began in 2001.  We began editing in 2007. We wrapped a week before the NYSFF.  Yeah, it took a long time.

How did you arrive at the decision to make a surf film?  Why now?
Scott Ditzenberger fell in with the Cleveland surfing community and realized he had joined a very interesting underground culture at a special time. I am speaking for him, but I believe he felt obligated to preserve what was going on because he knew it was not going to be that way forever.  And he was right.  The community we captured in the film is no longer there. I met Scott surfing in Lake Erie when I was 15 and we stayed in contact. When I heard he was working on a film I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Thus began our collaboration.

Is the NYSFF the culmination of your filmmaking process or one stop on the long road?
We premiered at the festival, which was a dream come true. I sort of figured we would premiere at a little theater in Cleveland, but no, we end up at the Tribeca Cinema’s in the heart of the independent film world. Because of the attention we received we are being contacted to screen it elsewhere. We plan to show it across the country.

Also, how does it feel to win the Viewer’s Choice, especially considering that your film was about such an off the radar surf community?
It feels unreal. I’m serious.  This film was entirely self-produced and like you said, “off the radar.”   Scott and I are first time filmmakers and there were plenty of moments when we doubted ourselves and the movie. Being in Cleveland in the middle of February and trying to finish it was tough as hell.   We all started going a little crazy.  What I’m trying to say is that we had no idea if our movie was going to be good and I think the odds were against us.  Lake surfing is a novelty, but we aimed to make a movie that was more than that.  Something that would be enjoyed by surfers and non-surfers, and do justice to our friends in the community.  When we won the Viewers Choice all of our fears disappeared and we knew  the movie connected with people.  It’s so crazy that a movie about lake surfers in Cleveland, Ohio won a surf film festival in New York City, it blows me away.  I am still smiling.

Out Of Place Trailer from Kurt P Vincent on Vimeo.