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Taylor Steele (filmmaker)

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  • Comment: Please do not state your opinions in the article, rather state facts in a disinterested tone. Darylgolden(talk) 09:12, 2 June 2014 (UTC)
Taylor Steele
Taylor Steele on the 12 of January, 2012.
Born
Taylor Steele

(1972-06-07) June 7, 1972 (age 52)
San Diego County, California, USA
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film director, Film Producer, Music Producer
Years active1990–present

Taylor Steele was born on 7th June 1972. Taylor has been involved in the surf film industry for over two decades. He has won awards as both director and producer. His production company, Poor Specimen has launched the careers of some of surfing’s most influential figures and has played a role in the success of bands such as Blink-182, Pennywise, and Jack Johnson, who were introduced in Taylor’s early movies.[1]

Early career

In 1992, Taylor Steele released a 35-minute VHS film entitled Momentum. As an unknown filmmaker this first film by Taylor was a success, showcasing a blend of punk rock music, great surfing and a cast of friends that would later become the best surfers in the world. The film Momentum launched Taylor's career and allowed him to move forward as a filmmaker.

File:Momentum DVD Cover.jpg
1992 Momentum Cover.

Taylor's early career was surrounded by future stars both in the surfing and music worlds. He collaborated with figures such as Kelly Slater , Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, also musicians such as Blink-182, Pennywise and The Offspring. In an interview with Tracks Magazine vocalists from Blink-182, Tom DeLonge recalls Taylor's contribution to their early success, "Taylor was putting our bands songs along with the biggest surfer’s in the world and back then Action Sports wasn’t really called action sports but that lifestyle was very connected to punk rock music so we had our first really big chance to win over any kind of fans within the surfing and skate boarding community".[2] Taylor's collaboration with the musicians featured in his early films initiated the GoodTimes Tour. The GoodTimes Tour was a concert tour by American rock band in support of GoodTimes, a surf video directed by Taylor Steele. The tour featured bands from the video's soundtrack, including Pennywise, Blink-182, Pivit, Unwritten Law, 7 Seconds and Sprung Monkey. Blink-182 drummer Scott Raynor commented on the tour in 2010: "Honestly, the shows went well. We always got a good reaction, and the next time we came around we had more fans and better floors to sleep on". Taylor's 1999 comedic surf film Loose Change featuring Rob Machado won the Australian Surfing Life Reader's Choice Award.[3] In 2009, Taylor Steele and Rob Machado collaborated to create the film The Drifter. The film won Best Picture at the California Surf Film Festival and the Ombak Bali Festival. The Drifter was also screened at the X-Dance Film Festival in Aspen, Colorado in January.[4]

Later works

After a series of early films including; GoodTimes, Loose Change, Arc, Focus and several others Taylor's filmmaking shifted focus.

In 2006, Taylor made Sipping Jetstreams. The film is a combination of travel and surf. Taylor Steele and photographer Dustin Humphrie's objective was a light, but beautiful, travelogue. Sipping Jetstreams won best cinematography at the X-Dance Film Festival.[5] Sipping Jetstreams the oversize hard-back coffee-table book and the DVD were released in October 2006.[6]

File:Sipping Jetstreams.jpg
2006 Sipping Jetstreams Cover

In 2010, Taylor released Castles in the Sky. Castles In The Sky stars Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Rob Machado, Dave Rastovich, Kalani Rob, Dan Malloy, Craig Anderson and others, surfing in the various offbeat countries around the globe. Each location is characterized by its unique landscape.[7] Taylor talks with Eva Holland about the film:

Eva: "Location plays a much more dominant role in “Castles in the Sky” than in most surf films. Did you know that you wanted this to be as much about place as about surf, or did your approach change once you actually hit some of these remote locations?"

Steele: "Yes, the place is the main focus and then the crew is selected to fit within the parameters of those places. Things always evolve and change on location, especially due to the nature of travel and the waves."[8] The soundtrack for Castles in the Sky was recorded on location with musician/surfers like Timmy Curran, Ozzie Wright, and Kelly Slater; in many cases the soundtrack included music from local cultures. Over the years Taylor has received recognition for his works within the film industry. In 2002, he won the X-Dance award for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing for the movie Shelter. That same year acting as executive producer, the film Hallowed Ground was named ESPN’s Action Sports Movie of the Year.[9] In addition Castles in the Sky won Audience Choice award for most Visionary Documentary, the film also picked up the Beacon Award at the Maui Film Festival.[10] Further more, Castles in the Sky was showcased at National Geographic headquarters in 2010. [11] Recently Taylor was voted one of Surfer Magazine’s “25 Most Powerful People” and one of Wave Magazine’s “Top Ten Most Important People in Surfing”. [12]

Current works

Taylor currently works as the Creative Director of Corona for Australia. With a new focus on commercial directing, Taylor’s work now encompasses numerous international brands, music production and art collaborations. Some of which have featured at the Gagosian Gallery NY and the Venice Biennale. Currently underway is the development of Taylors first feature film, under his production company Sipping Jetstreams Media.

In 2012, Taylor worked with artist Richard Phillips to co-direct the short film First Point, starring Lindsay Lohan. The film was inspired by 90s noir of Lost Highway and Free and Easy by Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman. Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk did the score, while Jay Rabinowitz who worked on Requiem for a Dream and The Tree of Life, edited the short film.[13] Currenty, Taylor is the producer of Byron Bay band MT WARNING. Their new single Youth Bird was previewed on Dom Alessio from National Broadcaster Triple J’s blog on 7th August 2013,[14] where Dom noted “Following on from the beautiful slow-burner Forward Miles, MT WARNING are back with the propulsive and rocking Youth Bird. It features sharp guitar chords, a driving drum rhythm and Mikey Bee's howling vocals.” The Youth Bird music video directed by Taylor Steele just recently won Triple J's Ripe Clip of the Week.

Taylors most recent film, Missing showcases ASP world champion Mick Fanning's ability to surf and travel the most remote locations on the planet. The film recently won movie of the year at The Australian Surfing Awards.

Taylor now resides in Byron Bay with his wife Sybil and their two daughters; Jaiden and Milla.

File:MT & T.png
Taylor Steele produces MT Warning

Filmography

  • 1991: One Step Beyond - Limited Release
  • 1992: Momentum
  • 1993: Momentum 2
  • 1994: Focus
  • 1994: Factory Seconds
  • 1995: Good Times
  • 1996: Drifting
  • 1997: The Show - Best Video Surfer Poll Awards
  • 1998: All For One
  • 1999: Loose Change - Best Film 2000 Readers Choice Award
  • 2000: Hit and Run
  • 2001: Under The Influence - Hallowed Ground (executive Producer) - ESPN Action Sports Movie Of The Year Award
  • 2002: Arc
  • 2002: Drive Thru Series
  • 2003: Campaign
  • 2005: Campaign 2
  • 2006: Sipping Jetstreams - Best Cinematography X-Dance Film Festival
  • 2007: Stranger Than Fiction
  • 2007: Shelter (Co-directed with Chris Malloy)
  • 2008: Days of Strange
  • 2009: The Drifter - Best Directer X-Dance Film Festival
  • 2010: Modern Collective, Producer - Best Video Surfer Poll Awards
  • 2010: Castles In The Sky - Most Visionary Documentary Maui Film Festival - Best Cinematography Surfer Poll Awards
  • 2012: Here & Now, Producer
  • 2012: This Time Tomorrow
  • 2012: Innersection
  • 2013: Missing - Movie of the Year The Australian Surfing Awards

References

  1. ^ "Taylor Steele Tribute". Maui Film Festival. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ Col, Bernasconi. "Interview with Tom Delonge of A & A and Blink 182". Tracks Magazine. Retrieved 18/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ John (2007). "Taylor Steele Partners with SURFING Magazine". SURFING Magazine. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Daniel, Ikaika Ito. "Lost and Found". Contrast. Contrast. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ JT. "Sipping wins 'Best Cinematography' at X-Dance". Retrieved 22/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ FC. "Sipping Jetstreams". FC. Retrieved 22/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Mick. "Quick QnA With Castles In The Sky Director Taylor Steele". TransWorld Surf. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ Eva, Holland. "Taylor Steele - Award Winning Surf Filmmaker". Matador Network. Retrieved 19/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ Jacj. "Hallowed Ground ESPN's Action Sports Video of the Year Award". Skateboarding Transworld. Retrieved 19/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ LEHIA, APANA. "Waves of Change". The Maui News. The Maui News. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ "Music on…Film – Melali: The Drifter Sessions". Nat Geo Live. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Taylor Steele Tribute". Maui Film Festival. Retrieved 24/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Richard Phillips Teams Up With Lindsay Lohan, Taylor Steele, Thomas Bangalter In 'First Point' (VIDEO, INTERVIEW)". Huff Posts Arts & Culture. Edition U.S. Retrieved 22/09/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "MT WARNING YOUTH BIRD". 7 AUGUST 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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