"Relationships are the most important thing in life." By nature, women are nurturers, family bond connectors, and community-oriented beings. Women's relationships with each other are definitely something special — uplifting, supportive and filled with joy. We saw this heart warming bond in Seeababe Taylor Nelson and her friends Eveline Van Brande and Anna Ehrgott in the short film, We Rise Together filmed closeby to their home surf breaks in California.
"All three of us are adventure lovers. After our trip together I learned that we are wild women and that we love to move: surf, hike, sail, swim, scuba. We are all girls who are go-getters! We embrace the outdoors and always seek to be humbled by nature. I have learned that we all cherish relationships and love the world around us. I think that we all have a common goal of following our bliss — whether it be in the enjoying the sea or mountain," explains Taylor.
Their messages about female empowerment and humility are most clear in what you don't see: them in bikinis. This is not that kind of film. Taylor tells us more about why: "Eveline, Anna, and I had a discussion a while back ago because we were bummed seeing the direction of the women's active/surf industry. We saw the active women's industry heading down a degrading sexual path instead of encouraging realness and adventuring. Surfer girls want to see other surfer girls ripping. There is a drive in the surf industry to encourage women to pursue and promote an authentic lifestyle of action and adventure and away from the sex sells view."
Filmmakers Adam Reynolds and Shane Passantino were game to capture the spirit of these friends that treats them as more complex beings than models in front of their cameras. "When Shane and I set out to make this film, we focused our efforts on telling a different kind of story — We weren't looking to showcase the biggest airs, or the most complex maneuvers, though stylish surfing does add a nice flare, but rather we wanted to go beyond the surface of the surf industry and connect with the hearts and souls of the independent surfer, especially women," says Adam.
We say its a mission accomplished. Stay until the end and you'll see which of these friends will bark like a seal with no hesitation, and we dare you to not catch contagious laughter too! Follow Scopo Studios for forthcoming films.
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| Image courtesy of Scopo Studios. |
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| Eveline Van Brande. Image courtesy of Scopo Studios. |
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| Image courtesy of Scopo Studios. |
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