Carlos Carneiro offers a unique insight into the people behind the non-governmental organization "Surfers Against Sewage", with the backdrop of the wild coast of Cornwall where SAS combine their passion for surfing with campaigns for better coastal environment that can benefit everyone.
How you got the idea to make this film?
Carlos Carneiro : This was the result of a co-production between Daze &Confused and TOMs who created an online contest, my friend sent me the link of the competition. They were looking for ideas for films about an individual or a group who inspire people to change. I looked up, I found it funny, and I thought of a story linked to the Olympic Games in London, but I considered that it was too obvious. Then I remembered my friends in Porto, where I grew up, I'm from that town, they always surfed and now decided to unite to form an organization to protect their beaches. I found it interesting that they were doing something for society, their community and not just a selfish search for waves. I was happy for them and for that effort, and then I remembered the contest, I thought this was the story, but the idea of the film would have to be centered in the UK, so basically I looked for the equivalent. I thought there should also be this kind of organizations in England, I researched and found the "Surfers Against Sewage" ( SAS ) in Cornwall which is an isolated location and interesting for a movie. And then I submitted the idea to the competition, I won and they gave me the opportunity to make a movie. Then I got in touch with the SAS who were a bit apprehensive, obviously they did not know me, I convinced them to open the doors to me and Bruno Ramos and we went there and spent a week. It was in October 2012. Cornwall is a beautiful place where the SAS spoke of their campaigns, their objectives and what is the importance of their work. Explained that these are not environmental battles to be won, but rather an ongoing effort for many generations.
What was the most challenging thing on this movie?
CC: Finding the story. I had a week of interviews and a week of filming, the challenge was to summarize everything in 6 minutes so it was captivating and interesting. And in a way that I and other people liked and approved. When I left there and arrived in London I thought I was in trouble, because I had to find the thread. And after months of post -production with my editor, I found this balance, of liking it and not finding it too long.
You mentioned that there was some suspicion when you approached the SAS. Why? Is it typical of surfers?
CC: It's natural, they did not know us, and they didn't know who we were. I bet if there were other people who wanted to make movies with them, of course they did not want to be misrepresented. After a few days near the end of the week there was a mutual feeling that we knew we were friends, we still have much contact and were pleased with the film. This hesitation was perfectly natural. And anticipating that situation, I planned to stay a week and not a few days, because only after some time good things started to appear. At first it seemed like a script, they just said the right things, the ones that should be told and only then more personal stories appeared and that's what's interesting.
The true cinema them?
CC: Yes, we are talking about people here, and it was the same as in any village, you cannot just arrive and say: hello is everything ok? And now we would like to make some pictures? They are suspicious at first, but then begin to open. It is natural.
You just stated that the film was inspired by a group of surfers, your friends do Porto, but this short film has traveled all over the world. I wonder if people or other groups similar approach you because they somehow identify with the challenges of SAS?
CC : Yes, as I said at the beginning, the SAS is not a single effort, it is something global, and all over the world there are surfers. The title of "Surfers Against Sewage" could be "the paddlers of canoes against sewers", they are people who use the sea. And there is one thing I did not mentioned is that important, why they decided to form this organization, and the phrase is funny in English: "they were sick of getting sick" why? As they also use the water they become ill with ear, eyes and stomach infections, because there is this devaluation of what is released into the sea from the sewers. And then there is a monster that is where to start? Swabs flushed down the toilet will end up in the sea, because there is no filter that contains the stick of this type of toiletry utensil. Containers that go on the boats have white plastic balls, regulated ones, which end up on the beach, they are called mermaids tears. I even thought of using it as the title for the film, but then changed my mind. People end up identifying with this effort, because pollution is everywhere. Another important aspect is education, knowing that if we do that, if we pollute, it will end up in the sea and our fish will eat it. We are changing the food chain for many species and it is happening all over the world. The generation of our parents did not have this concern, it was a different time, now our awareness has increased and I think future generations will be even more active and unfortunately we have to do the work, because this is the only planet we have.
Why the title? You just said that you thought of another.
CC : For aesthetics and phonetics. It was playing by the opposite, I'm talking about the sea and decided to call it "killing waves", wanted it to have stamina unlike "mermaid tears" a title that was softer. I was not sure at the beginning, but then I eventually left it and liked it.
http://www.sas.org.uk/sas-tv/killing-waves/
