Watch: The Occumentary
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mark Occhilupo’s remarkable 1999 ASP World Title victory and the acclaimed film ‘The Occumentary,’ renowned surf filmmaker Jack McCoy and Occhilupo are set to embark on a journey along the east coast of Australia.
“The Occumentary” tells the extraordinary tale of Mark Occhilupo, tracing his journey from humble beginnings in Kurnell to his meteoric rise and fall, and eventual triumphant return to the top of the surfing world in 1999. Rooted deeply in the story of surf culture, this film shows the power of determination and passion in the face of adversity. With a new generation of surfers pushing the boundaries of style and performance, and the greats embarking on new adventures, there's a palpable shift in the surfing landscape. And amidst this evolving scene, “The Occumentary” offers a timely reminder of resilience and the enduring spirit of surfing.
You can really feel the synergy between Jack and Occy, their energy together is magic. As they captivate audiences with tales of their adventures, it feels as though we're gathered around a campfire, soaking it all in. But beyond the anecdotes and nostalgia, there's a deeper message of perseverance and redemption. Gordon Merchant's decision to send Occy to the McCoy West Australian farm marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Through years of collaboration and friendship, they also produced iconic films like "Bunyip Dreaming," "Green Iguana," and the "Billabong Challenge.”
Occy fondly recalls their adventures, sharing stories of Jack's penchant for spontaneous detours and impromptu time-lapse sessions. Despite the challenges, Jack's unwavering belief in Occy's potential never wavered. From the depths of despair to the pinnacle of success, their bond forged through shared passion and determination. ‘We’d call him time-lapse Jack, because no matter if we were driving through the wilderness, Jack would just stop and do a time-lapse. He’d take so long, sometimes all afternoon. Jack would always stop and do the most random things, and always make us do the most random things. But that’s the gold, it was always a good time.’
Now, a quarter-century after his historic World Title victory, Occy is entering a new phase of his career. Embracing this "testimonial year," he reflects on the peace and joy he finds in the present moment, surrounded by loved ones and embarking on new surfing adventures.
Meanwhile, Jack's meticulous remastering of "The Occumentary" breathes life into the film, ensuring that its message endures for generations to come. McCoy is also known to have good ears and "The Occumentary" soundtrack is as expected, one of the best and the film captures the essence of surfing's sonic and visual beauty. A few weeks ago I got a phone call. “The fucking Occumentary on the big screen”. The first words I heard from the speaker, Jack as hyped as a squirrel on espresso. He had just had the first test screening of the film at the Sydney Orpheum Theatre in all its glory.
“The Occumentary” spans so many years, so many adventures, but of course there’s one trip that takes all for Occ. “You know what, it's got to be in Sumba where Occy’s left is. It was just so good being there. I’d been to a lot of places by then, this was the most primitive and harder to get to. It was radical, the plane landed on this different runway, it was so new to land planes in Sumba, it nearly crashed, bouncing all over the makeshift runway, it wasn’t even a runway. The drive in there was so hectic too. And then we posted up for a couple of weeks, Sunny Garcia was with us, but we didn’t get a big swell. It was good, like about three foot, but it wasn’t proper. Sunny left and we ended up staying on for another few weeks and scoring it. So we really put our time in and it was so hard to get to. The clip that Jack got was just epic, and now it’s called Occy’s left and I’m so stoked. It’s actually official now, they’re actually calling it Occy’s left now. I didn’t think they wanted to for a while, but the people did anyway, you know what I mean. I can’t wait to go.
And for Jack it was about growing up, the early years of freedom and expression. “You know what, I really loved filming the little Occy and Margo sequences. I knew I wanted to carry a theme of Rocky again in the film, and to include Occy’s sidekick Margo. I had to work with a lot of people, and a lot of the people didn’t get what I was trying to do. But Occ and Margo didn’t once question me, even though it sounded pretty weird. ‘I want you to go up on that hill, go down here, we’re going to duct tape about fifty boxes together, and make this giant rock looking thing.' We covered it in hessian and painted it. We took it to the end of Duranbah Hill and I go across the beach and shot Occy working out with this giant block. For me that’s the type of fun filmmaking and these guys get it.”
If you've seen The Occumentary, prepare to be blown away by its debut on the big screen. And if you or your ocean family haven't experienced this extraordinary film yet, we encourage you to come along and have your minds blown. It's more than just surf entertainment; it's a journey that delves deep into the soul of surfing, showcasing the unwavering spirit of its greatest champions.
As the Australian film tour commences, audiences across the country will have the opportunity to experience this timeless tale on the big screen for the first time. It's a journey that transcends surf entertainment, offering a glimpse into the soul of surfing and the indomitable spirit of its greatest champions.
Coming to a cinema near you in May. Tickets and locations at jackmccoy.com
