Pirates, Not Porate is the latest offering from the Keks Machine crew, supported by the Bong.
A self-described Anti-Surf Project. “The idea behind making a film about it was to break away from some of the clichés surrounding the surf culture of our generation: increasingly individualistic, polished and at times, a little too serious. We wanted to create something that genuinely felt like us, bringing back some of the raw DNA of the Y2Ks using our own codes, celebrating the power of the collective and above all, not taking ourselves too seriously”.
We sat down with director Jordan “Djoko” Sevellee and filmmaker Theo “Titigee” Preuilh Gereaume to gain a deeper insight into how the whole project came together.
WT:
Billabong’s global brand strategist, Val Bourgeon told you to find the new underground, rock’n’roll and disruptive scene in surfing. Did you actually know what you were looking for?
Djoko:
I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for yet, but I knew who. The team made the history. We didn’t create anything, we just kept doing what we’ve been doing independently for almost 10 years. More than just the disruptive scene, we wanted to put surf as a collective back in the spotlight. And that wasn’t too hard with the three most creative collectives in Europe — they’re not friends, they’re brothers. Eyeson fam / nothend / Keks machine ❤️
At what point did you realise: “Oh shit, this project is actually getting serious”?
Titigee:
When I got a brand-new wardrobe and an actual paycheque from Billa on my birthday. That was the moment I thought, “hell yeah, this thing is actually fucking on.” Hahaha.
Djoko :
Contract signed, invoice sent, payment received — that’s the corporate part, when you know the project has officially started.
But you really start to realise it through the little bonuses of the year: “La Mèche” with Occy, the Mogul collection with childhood friends blown up in 3×4 on the Billabong Hossegor shop window, the trip to Senegal, the premieres, the publications…
What was the most chaotic moment that somehow made it into the final film?
Titigee:
Tibo’s closeout at Mullaghmore. That was completely chaotic to me.
I drove for 20 hours, crossed four countries and went from Sagres to Bundoran in two days. Two days before, I was filming three-foot waves with Sassa under the Algarve sun. Then suddenly I’m sitting on a gun in the channel at Mullaghmore on a freezing morning, trying to handle my housing, while watching my mate take off deeper than anyone else on a massive wave and get absolutely obliterated. So yeah, pretty much everything about it was chaos. The fact that it made it into the film somehow feels appropriate.
If you had to describe Titigee as a director using only three words, what would they be?
Djoko:
* Fibre optic
* Jerking off
* Master cut
You took the crew to the village where you guys grew up in Senegal. What was it like bringing this whole circus back home?
Titigee:
It was the sickest way to end the year and go on Christmas holidays with the boys
Getting to bring the boys to the place and meet the people we’d been telling them about for years was pretty special. Then watching them slowly get sucked into the local lifestyle was even better.
50-cent tuna mayo sandwiches at Ngor parking, jumping on a pirogue and going surf the island’s right hander. Then negotiating taxis at the embarcadaire and going to the almadies to join Babou, Assane, Max, Pata, Cherif and all the homies to surf the Vivier and drink dozen of FLAGs (fresh light African & generous beers). It was just a good fucking time. I’m stoked I finally got to make those memories with the homies there, and even more stoked we somehow came back with a surf part out of the whole mess.
What’s one scene in the film that you’re secretly the proudest of?
Titigee:
Probably the little Ngor interlude where the pirates are in jail, the hangman comes to deliver them, and they somehow escape to sea on a boat. The whole thing was completely improvised and pretty fucking messy when we shot it. I love that. No plan, no budget, slightly questionable decisions, and somehow it ends up being one of the funniest bits in the film.
What’s one thing that happened during the project that will never make it into the film… but will definitely be remembered forever?
Titigee:
Way too much shit. One of the most memorable ones is when we almost lost one of our friends to the Indonesian authorities. Let’s just say that it’s probably better left between the people who were there.
Djoko:
Our Italian special forces homie in Senegal.
The broken window in Ericeira.
Mathis’ birthday in Indo.
The tense arrest in Ecuador.
The Citadium surfboard & Teiva.
After all this, would you trust this crew with another trip… or are you officially done with them & you need five years of therapy first?
Titigee:
I’d trust this crew for as long as I’m a surf filmer. Having a childhood dream brand as the client and some of your best mates as the cast is a pretty fucking unique situation. It’s the kind of project you know you’ll remember for a long time.
Djoko:
It’s been a while since I’ve needed to go see a therapist, but I really think my friends are my best therapy. So I’d take the same crew and do it all over again anytime!
