Interviewee Name: Peter Pendergast

Genre: Independent film maker

Geographical Area:  U.S. - "Surf's Up" will cover surfing on both coasts and in South America

Live interview  by The Blue Sting Raye on December 17, 2005 in Mansfield CT.

 

 “Surf's Up” is planned to be a weekly 30 minute television series on surfing and the surf lifestyle, from coast to coast and South America too. The pilot is currently in production and scheduled for completion in March 2006.

Current line-up of the film crew:

Peter Pendergast, Co-producer

Lisa Vitale, Co-producer

Tom Lowe, Director

 

The East Coast ground swells start…

Peter Pendergast, a Boston native, went to Emerson College and left to join the Army in 1988. Peter spent six years in the army, returning to the Boston area where he began working with a local cable access station. He created several shows related to his favorite pastime, motorcycles, including producing a 10 part, 30 minute series titled “Iron Horse”. This was followed by a demo film and the 2002 independent film “Back Yard Bike Builders”, a documentary about people who build low budget custom motorcycles called "Choppers" (www.backyardbike.com), which featured several local bands, 9th Wave among them. (Peter had met Mike Rosado and 9th Wave at one of their many Boston appearances prior to the film’s completion and wanted to use their music as part of this independent film.)

In 2004 Peter was hired to work on a show called “Boating Today” as a grip and camera man, filming in Florida and California. Peter was working with Tom Lowe, the man who he would eventually tap to direct “Surf’s Up”.  The project ended in June 2005 and Peter was once again looking for a new adventure to keep him busy.

Peter was approached by his friend Lisa Vitale in November of 2005. Lisa, another Boston native, film producer, and screenwriter in LA, is a film producer currently in town working on a film called "Townies". Lisa proposed partnering up with Peter to produce a show. They kicked around a few ideas and eventually came up with the idea for a program on surf and the surf lifestyle. Peter did some research and found that when it came to surf and television programs dedicated to surf, there was a definite void in the industry; he pulled Tom Lowe in as director.

As Peter had an appreciation of surf music and a relationship with Mike Rosado, one of his first calls was to the NESMA founder. Peter suggested that a portion of the pilot program be a piece on 9th Wave and NESMA. Peter and Tom came down to Connecticut in mid December to not only chat with the co-founders of NESMA (Mike Rosado and Sandy Brooks), but to film surf bands in action. They turned the Rosado home into a film studio where Peter interviewed Mike and Sandy about surf, the music, and the future of NESMA. This was followed by a live shoot of The Clams, the Shinto Kings, and 9th Wave at the local club, Schmedley’s, in Mansfield, CT.

 

Wiped out and thrashed…

From as early as Peter can remember he has had a definite love of avant-garde independent films, and states that he prefers movies such as Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and the Indiana Jones and Star Wars chronicles. Movies with action and thrills have had much influence on his film projects and his life.

Peter, a long time motorcycle enthusiast and rider, suffered a severe accident in 2001. He shattered six ribs, shoulder blade and collar bone. He unfortunately fell into a coma, almost died and was even given last rites. Obviously he recovered and considers himself to be a very lucky man, though he was not able to ride again. It was after his accident that Peter started listening to surf music, Dick Dale, 9th Wave and, yes, even the Beach Boys and a little Jan and Dean. But the need to ride lived inside him and, when given an opportunity to pick up a surfboard, he grabbed it - for past 3 years he has been surfing. Riding the waves became his next favorite pastime.

 

Amped and full on...Surf’s Up!

On Saturday, January 7th,  2006 at 12 noon there will be a casting call at The Rack, located at Faneuil Hall in Boston. There Peter, Lisa, and Tom will interview and hopefully meet the new host of “Surf’s Up”. The following week there will be a screen test and by the 3rd week of January 2006 Peter hopes to have the host for his television series. Full scale production and filming will take place in February 2006. The focus of the pilot is the sport of Winter Surfing on the East Coast. Post production is scheduled to be completed in March 2006, then the marketing begins. If the pilot is picked up 12 more episodes will be created, filming on both U.S. coasts and down to South America as well. Each program will feature a segment on surf related arts and entertainment, including books, music, and film.

Peter is quick to point out that “Surf’s Up” is not an exploitation piece or a reality show.

It's all about the sport and the lifestyle. Whatever the finished project turns out to be it will be “stylie”- surf chat for “with good form - with grace”.

By The Blue Sting Raye, official NESMA reviewer and interviewer