I’ll be the first to admit that I’m getting pretty damn sick of hearing about the Modern Collective. Said to be the surf movie to end all surf movies, the film marks the directorial debut of Kai Neville, a protégé to Taylor Steele, and has garnered just about as much press as Michael Jackson’s death. In the beginning, I was just as psyched as everyone, perhaps more so, on the upcoming release. The world’s best surfers, a new filmmaker set on the avante garde…what’s not to like? But a few months in, I’d heard all I wanted to about the film. It was like eating at a buffet, two hours stuffing your face and you just can’t seem to take anymore in. And I could only imagine how the director felt, fending off a six-month blitzkrieg of media interviews. With that in mind, I decided to give old Kai one final strafe before the film releases later this month to see what gives.

It seems like I can't pick up a surf mag or go to a website without there being something on the Modern Collective lately. As your major debut, does the flood of media attention ever make you wonder if the film is being over-hyped and setting an unrealistic, golden standard for you?

The coverage has been wicked, I started the little blog on our first trip to France and we have generated a unique following. I assume the film will be very different from people’s expectations. The movie is session based so what you see is what you get. No two-minute bang of keepers. It showcases a more candid approach to the way these guys surf. I know people are expecting a lot out of this movie, the pressure is on for me to bring the goods. You can’t appeal to everyone though I’m trying to find an enjoyable medium. I religiously watched surf vids around the age 13-17 so my main focal point is to keep the younger generation psyched to go flair.

What or who do you look to for creative inspiration? I know surfing in the past hasn't been the most progressive of genres, but is there a person or a magazine or cinematographer that makes you reexamine how you do your job?

The audience for sure craves more today and I have been tapping into a few genres and music videos for ideas, taking what I like and trying to apply that technique to a surf film. Also, I draw ideas from design and culture magazines like Wonderland, Wallpaper, Dazed, etc. This style has created a really clean and minimal look to the project. More emphasis on the subject rather than applying wild motion graphics and titles across the screen. I love the look in most features and fashion ads of using small text with extravagant imagery as opposed to covering the page with hideous graphics.

When the last of the editing is done and the film is released, how are you gonna unwind or are you gonna start plugging away at another film?

I’m stoked right now just finished the main edit. About to embark on a wild North American tour! After that I will be ready for a little break to actually go surf and also work on the pre-production for the next movie.

Modern Collective teaser ft: Jordy from Poor Specimen on Vimeo.