Hal was born in 1940 in Los Angeles, California and began surfing at
17. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA in 1968, and
became a real estate agent before producing his first surf film "Cosmic
Children" in 1970. Jepsen's best known work showcased Hawaiian surfers
Jeff Hakman and Barry Kanaiaupuni in their prime. Jepsen followed with
three more full-length surf movies, "A Sea for Yourself" in 1973 along
with "Super Session" in 1975 and "We Got Surf" in 1981. In 1978 he
branched out into skateboarding with the film "Skateboard Madness,"
staring Stacy Peralta. In 1997, his filmmaking accomplishments were
profiled in The Surfers Journal's 50 Years of Surfing on Film series
for the Outdoor Life Network.
Hal's extensive work in the early 70's surfing and skateboarding
subcultures is revered today in documentaries and feature films, such
as "The Lords Of Dogtown."
From SURFER Magazine:
Surf Filmmaker Hal Jepsen Passes On
Filmmaker Hal Jepsen passed away on February 2, 2006 at the age of 66.
Hal was born in 1940 in Los Angeles, California and began surfing at 17. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA in 1968, and became a real estate agent before producing his first surf film "Cosmic Children" in 1970. Jepsen's best known work showcased Hawaiian surfers Jeff Hakman and Barry Kanaiaupuni in their prime. Jepsen followed with three more full-length surf movies, "A Sea for Yourself" in 1973 along with "Super Session" in 1975 and "We Got Surf" in 1981. In 1978 he branched out into skateboarding with the film "Skateboard Madness," staring Stacy Peralta.
In 1997, his filmmaking accomplishments were profiled in The Surfers Journal's 50 Years of Surfing on Film series for the Outdoor Life Network.
Jepson was the first surf filmmaker to really integrate and edit contemporary music to footage, setting the soundtrack template for virtually all surf films to follow. Hendrix, Cream, the Chambers Brothers, The Stones -- if it was on Jepson's 8-track, it was in the movie.
Transitioning from the MacGillivray-Freeman, Dale Davis, John Severson era, his 1970 film The Cosmic Children was the first New Wave shortboard surf movie, establishing itself as the "Momentum" of its era.
Jepson was the first (and just about the only) surf filmaker to shoot the Ranch, editing the sequence of J Riddle, George Trafton and Davey Hilton that launched a 1000 Boston Whalers. Epic Malibu and Topanga Point footage also set his films apart from
His 1973 film Super Session, with its up-to-date segments featuring Larry "Rubberman" Bertlemann, some of the very first urethane wheel skateboard action, and a remarkable Australian sequence featuring a young Rabbit Bartholomew and the incredible Michael Peterson, reinvigorated interest in high-performance small wave surfing, signaling a switch away from the "all Pipeline, all the time" format of many of the period's films...
Hal was interested only in surfing, but too much blow and Jack Daniels spoiled him. They said he was a fag because he took an interest in young surfers. But I lived with him for five years during the '80s, with his collection of old Cadillacs in the funky old house at Topanga next to the Feed Bin, and recall him sleeping with only one person -- a girl -- in all that time. That's because he had but one passion: to make the greatest surf film ever. The goal eluded him, depressed him, and finally ruined him. But he was always sincere, and a true friend -- one of the most tolerant people I've ever met. He had an iron head and constitution but drink will kill the best of men if they're not careful; and Hal was rarely that.
ReplyDeleteYet, as I'm sure anyone who knew him well admits, with his passing a page of surf history turns. People who didn't live through the days when surf film makers had to shoot the film, pay for it (a hundred bucks per three-minute roll), edit it, find a sound system, rent a hall, advertise it by plastering cheap A4-sized posters on every phone pole within a radius of twenty miles, haul their projection equipment to the hall, collect the tickets, and narrate the film live while mixing the backing tracks -- will never appreciate just what Hal had to do to bring the best surfers on the best days in the best spots to film audiences.
He was genuinely a hero of sorts. I only wish more people had given him his due while he still lived.
Marque A. Rome
And yet Hal STILL isn't in the Surfing Hall of Fame in HB.
ReplyDeleteI know Hal had his demons but what did he do that was so terrible to deserve such a snub?
Hi Marque, still trying to figure out if you survived the tsunami.
ReplyDeleteJeff Haas in Texas
Hi Marque
ReplyDeleteI am an old friend of Hal's from Australia.
I shot all the Australian sequences for Hal's films.
Do you have an e-mail address or phone number?
Steve
That chick in bed was sane Kate whom we all appreciated, and went on to stand up paddling
ReplyDeleteHal was my mentor, my editing client, and my friend.
ReplyDeleteHe taught me everything I know about film techniques, and he taught me about being direct and having integrity.
When my marriage fell apart, I moved to Texas and lost touch with him and I never got to thank him before he died.
The rumor about Hal's sexuality was pure bunk, spawned by one hanger on in the skate culture. He knows who he is and he's currently rotting in prison, nuff said.
Hal loved the surf culture and Hal's only sin regarding personal relationships with the fair sex was that he was unwilling to commit the time required because it would take away from the energy he wanted to invest in his art.
Hal deserves a lot more recognition and I hope the surf community rectifies his anonymity.