Jonno Durrant whose documentary, Surfing 50 States, will make its big-screen debut at the weekend. 42916
By Tania Martin
JONNO Durrant’s two biggest passions – surfing and filmmaking – will hit the big screen at the weekend.
The 28-year-old former Montrose man spent months in 2006 and 2007 travelling around the United States filming his first documentary.
His film, Surfing 50 States, has its premiere at the Hillside Film Festival on Friday from 9pm at Cameo Cinemas, 1628 Burwood Highway, Belgrave.
It’s about how Jonno and his mate, Stefan Hunt, took an ice-cream truck around the US to find inventive and wacky ways to surf.
“We got some great waves in Alaska and Hawaii but had to get creative in the inland states,” Jonno said.
“We slid down a huge pile of potatoes in Idaho, surfed over a waterfall in Massachusetts, surfed through a Wizard of Oz play in Kansas and surfed behind a cowboy and his horse in Texas.”
Jonno said the documentary was inspired by his three biggest loves – travel, surfing and filmmaking.
The idea for the film was born from Jonno’s love of the waves. He loves to surf but admits he was never really any good at it.
Soon after turning 18, Jonno moved to Point Lonsdale, where he spent most of his days on one wave or another.
“But still I didn’t get any good at it,” Jonno said.
He travelled around Europe and ended up teaching surfing in Portugal. It was then the inspiration for the film struck.
“I emailed all my good mates and Stefan was the only one who replied straight away,” he said.
Jonno said his dad had been a huge inspiration because he could always be seen with a camera.
It wasn’t until Jonno was 21 and could afford his own camera that his passion for filmmaking started to grow.
He is thrilled his documentary will screen for the first time in Belgrave.
Jonno will also be a guest speaker on the opening night at Cameo Outdoor Cinema.
“I hope some old high school and primary school friends show up who I haven’t seen for ages … I always enjoy talking about our fun times travelling the States,” he said.
The festival will run all weekend and aims to give budding filmmakers and directors the opportunity to see their films on the big screen.
Now in its fifth year, the event promises to be bigger and better than every and has attracted entries even from across the Tasman.
Films will also be shown on Saturday 20 February. Screening times are available on www.hillsidefilmfestival.com
