Brendan Calder

Brendan Calder: Surfing through awards season

Recent LMU film school grad Brendan Calder’s thesis film, a short documentary entitled “Learning to Float” is making the festival rounds and garnering serious awards attention, most recently named Best Documentary Short at the San Luis Obispo Festival and “Spirit of the Festival” award at the San Diego Surf Festival. 

Brendan, who now works as a freelance cinematographer, says he owes much of his success to the training received, relationships formed and opportunities afforded him while in LMU’s top-rated film and television program.

“I love this school,” Brendan said, “and feel really blessed that I got the opportunity to go here.”

Consequently, Brendan stumbled upon the subject for his documentary while he was in LMU’s Surf Club.

“Float,” tells the story of Giovanni Doursseau, a fatherless inner-city kid who went on a youth center surf trip that changed his life in more ways than one when his mentor introduced him to the wonders of surfing.  Riding the waves helped Giovanni not only shed 120 pounds from his 300-pound frame, but also gave him a new lease on life, motivating him to help others. 

Giovanni, now a junior at LMU, started his own youth mentoring program called “Urban Oasis Surf Academy,” which brings inner-city kids to the beach.

Brendan says the film will soon screen in Florida and Hawaii and places as far-reaching as Costa Rica and Portugal.

When originally searching for film schools to attend, Brendan says LMU stood out from the pack due to its small campus atmosphere, the film school’s excellent production facilities and funding possibilities.

Down the line, Brendan says he’d like to shoot a feature-length documentary and have his own production company. “It’s just about finding the right person who can share your vision,” Brendan said.

He adds that he experienced plenty of creative collaboration at LMU working on sets nearly every single weekend and that his network of talented colleagues is still abuzz, and often gets him work.  For example, at the end of the month he’ll be shooting a commercial.

As for any advice he might have for incoming freshmen interested in the entertainment industry…

“Network right away,” Brendan said, “be totally available and just try to put yourself out there a little bit more.”