Cole Walton
It’s tough to make surfing look interesting, but Cole Walton gets it done.
Cole Walton is a bit mysterious (as you can tell by the photos he decided to share with us), a bit of a legend, and quite the talented filmmaker for someone who makes the assertion that there are no directors in surf films. I might make the assertion that Cole himself, as the filmer/editor/instigator/ideas man, adds up to a director, but we aren’t in the business of forcing titles on people. We are in the business of lifting up on a Bright Young pedestal, which is exactly what we are doing here. Get up there, Cole. Shine on you crazy diamond.
Who are you?
Cole Walton, 21, Scorpio.
What do you do?
I make videos for people to send their loved ones.
How long have you been doing that?
I don’t think I even know, I always made videos when I was younger and took a break around like middle school but then started maybe junior year of high school. Let’s call it five years.
What is your favorite song right now and why?
‘Gigantic’ by the Pixies, Kim Deal is really sick, my girlfriend was showing me everything she has been involved in and I am now a massive fan.
“Convincing people I know what I am doing is pretty easy.”
If you weren’t filming or surfing, what would you be doing?
Skating or wandering around, if I got time and money I like to go to places that have no real reason to be visited, I would way rather go to a desert town with 200 people living there then go to Bali.
Some slang you catch yourself saying? (Ie.Thatslaps)
I defiantly say ‘cutty’ a lot, but I haven’t even spent that much time in SF so I don’t know how I adopted that one. Probably heard someone out there saying it and I thought it was cool.
What do you do outside of surfing and filming and how does that thing influence or affect your craft?
I skate a ton, I like skate culture cause people are way more accepting of differences and way more down to try new things. I am massively influenced by skate videos.
The best/worst thing about the surfing industry?
Best thing about the surf industry is that they pay me sometimes and the worst thing about it is probably everything else. Also I hate people putting ‘Directed by ___’ at the end of surf videos. You didn’t direct shit.
Something you’re most proud of?
I am proud that I have been able to make projects that my friends are happy to be apart of.
Biggest lesson learned about your craft so far?
The most low effort bullshit stuff is the most popular. You have to want to make a project because it makes you and your friends happy and not cause it’s gonna go a lot of views.
Something anyone can do today to make the world a better place?
Just be nice to people, don’t be selfish, and don’t ever talk to the police.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far in your industry?
I don’t think I have overcome any challenge, I don’t know anything about the surf industry really, and I also don’t really care to learn. Someone else could answer that for me.
What was surprisingly easy to do?
Convincing people I know what I am doing is pretty easy.
What advice might you give to you from five years ago? Ten years ago?
Learn Blender, that probably it, I’ve liked the weird journey I’ve done, wouldn’t want it changed at all.
What is your hidden talent or thing you are good at that is completely unrelated to the thing we are interviewing you about?
I have a really accurate throw, I am pretty good at being able to hit things.
Who do you think is doing it the best/coolest in your industry right now?
Nil Puissant is epic, he has never made a video but he’s about to and it’s gonna be super radical. Oh and @appleshift4 (Charlie) makes the sickest videos actually, everyone needs to check her out.
What do your mates think of your job?
They all make fun of me cause they all think surfing is pretty corny but honestly I don’t even think I have a job. I sometimes get so stressed on that and I think I am gonna quit making videos and go work a normal service job, or go to school and become like a data analyst, I like numbers.
What are the things that you are looking for as a filmer?
In surfing just good waves and any way I can show peoples personalities. In filming - everything else, I just look for actual emotion from people. I love to keep the cameras running and see what happens. I rarely ever go anywhere without my camera.
Do you think it's important to show people’s personalities when you film or just let their talent do the talking?
Everyone is talented as fuck now so you gotta get that cheque by having a personality. I would way rather watch a fun video with bad waves then some dude fucking ripping for twenty mins with no cuts, that shit is so lame. In my opinion, its style over everything, and personality is part of style. As a filmmaker, you gotta create and edit that shows that.
What’s your dream project to film if you had an infinite budget?
I wanna start a public broadcast television show, have people submit their own short films, have bands play on it, and have live interviews with whoever. I think I am going to try and make a pilot myself and pitch it to some network, or maybe I’ll pitch it to MC. Hit me up I’ll let you guys in on the ground floor.
