Keeping In The Shadows: Surf Film Tour & Deeper Meaning
The surf world is buzzing with anticipation for premiere of “Keeping In The Shadows,” a film six years in the making from Perry Gershkow and Noah “Waggy” Wegrich. The project, featuring a lineup of elite surfers including Cliff Kapono, Torren Martyn, Parker Coffin, Nat Young, Tanner and Pat Gudauskas, and Tom Lowe, isn’t just another surf movie; it’s a deliberate departure from the instant-gratification culture that often defines the sport.
The premiere tour is currently sweeping through Southern California, with a stop at Daydream Surf Shop in Newport Beach , followed by screenings at the Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna on , Dear Tomorrow in Oceanside on , and La Paloma in Encinitas on . Tickets are available here, but organizers advise acting quickly as showings are selling out.
Gershkow and Wegrich recently wrapped up a tour of Northern and Central California, where they were met with overwhelmingly positive responses. “You know, we worked our asses off to make this happen but as with any self-funded project, it takes a village,” Gershkow shared. “We are so grateful for everyone that helped make this a reality and we are so stoked to be selling out these premieres, it truly feels like the hard work is paying off.”
The filmmakers have intentionally created a diverse screening experience, ranging from traditional theater showings to more intimate “backyard shindigs” and surf shop gatherings. Wegrich recounted a particularly memorable event in SLO, where attendees brought beach chairs to a parking lot, creating a spontaneous and energetic atmosphere. “Everyone brought beach chairs out to this parking lot people were raging and having so much fun. It was such a good turnout.”
Keeping In The Shadows
But “Keeping In The Shadows” aims to be more than just a visually stunning surf film. Gershkow explained that the film delves into deeper themes, exploring the desire to disconnect from the constant demands of social media and the “now-now-now” culture. “One of the coolest things that I’ve come across, which is what I wanted, is that people see it more than just a surf film. There’s a lot of other themes that are spoken to in voice-overs from calls with the surfers that speak to disconnecting from the algorithm and the now-now-now culture into something that feels more familiar and universal. People have been really relating to that, thinking of their own moments on trips that are truly so special. It doesn’t have to be surfing, it can be camping or a family trip of whatever, it’s not just relatable to surfers–everyone can get something from it.”
The extended production timeline – six years – wasn’t accidental. Wegrich admits he’s more comfortable with patience than Gershkow, but emphasizes the importance of meticulously curating the footage. “Man it’s way easier for me to wait six years than for Noah to wait six years–its a lot crazier for him than for me. He fully committed to saving his best for this and I respect that so much.”
Keeping In The Shadows
Wegrich articulated the film’s philosophy: “The title of the film is a nod to this, ‘Keeping in the Shadows’, we couldn’t care less about people’s Instagrams–this was never about chasing clips for quick hit. It’s more like sit down and listen to the whole album, start to finish. The voice-overs are the interludes, they give deeper context. It’s about the whole experience, not just the hits.” He added that the project represents a culmination of 15 years of work, a “full circle moment” to acknowledge their dedication to the craft.
The process wasn’t constant filming; the filmmakers balanced the project with their individual lives, often simply discussing and refining their vision. “We weren’t hammering the whole time, we each have our own lives, but we were constantly thinking about it–sometimes that’s all we did. We’d hang out and just talk. That’s part of it, we had to take steps back because there was just so much footage.”
Keeping In The Shadows
Gershkow credits Dana Shaw’s film “Circles” as a major inspiration, noting Shaw’s guidance helped shape the authenticity of the conversations featured in “Keeping In The Shadows.” He highlighted a particularly striking example involving conversations with Nat Young and Bill Bergerson (PeeWee), two Ocean Beach legends who, despite different eras, echoed similar sentiments.
“Keeping In The Shadows” is a film about rediscovering the core motivations behind a passion for surfing – and for life. As Richard Kenvin states in the opening message of Dana Shaw’s “Circles,” “no shoe company, no surfboard company, no fucking app on your phone is going to give you stoke, that comes from within, from skating or surfing. You can’t go and buy it, no one can sell it to you.”
Tickets for “Keeping In The Shadows” are available here. It’s an investment of $20 that promises to deliver a significant return in stoke.