NewEnglandFilm.com

Filmmakers Dylan Ladds and Ryan Scura found a way to combine their passions — filmmaking and surfing — with their short film New England Blood, which they have since turned into a feature film, The Granite Stoke. Here, they talk about making their New England Blood, which can be seen online as part of the 2014 Online New England Film Festival.

When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker? And how did you learn — did you just start doing it, did you go to film school?

We started making films together in seventh grade, and we never really stopped. Ryan studied studio art and film at Middlebury College, and Dylan studied Film/Animation/Video at the Rhode Island School of Design.

What inspired you to make your film?

We started surfing in New Hampshire in the summer of 2007, and quickly realized how special the local surfing community is. The people are passionate, close, and caring – and surfing bonds them.

Where has the film been shown (festivals, other screenings, etc.)?

This short film has shown at the Kona Surf film Festival, the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival, The San Diego Surf Film Festival, and the New Hampshire Film Festival. We have been a part of the San Diego Surf Film Festival for three years in a row now, and it’s always fun to bring a little east coast flavor out there.

How did you find your cast and crew for this film?

The two of us are the crew, and the NH surfing community is our cast. We didn’t really know anyone there to begin with. We started reaching out to people, and they would give us suggestions for other people to interview.

What film(s) are you working on now?
We have a number of smaller projects that will end up as short films. We try to find opportunities for adventure film and reaching out to local craftsmen.

Also, this short film functions as a trailer for our feature film, The Granite Stoke. We released the film in May, and it has already been in a number of festivals.

Any advice on making films you want to share?

We still have a lot to learn about all of this, but asking questions is crucial. Reach out to people who have made work you like, who have more experience, and learn as much as you can from them. Jump at opportunities; try new things; pay attention to your own development. Show your work to a lot of people, and get feedback.