Interview: Emmett Malloy

A few years back SFist went to a Jack Johnson concert on Stanford Campus, where he was screening a surf movie. Besides playing completely unplugged (no hook up, the crowd was small and quiet), the night was memorable for the movie which made the land-lubber in us wish we were out in the water right then. Emmett Malloy was the producer of that film (Thicker Than Water) and is the owner of Brushfire Records (best known as the label Jack Johnson is on). Emmett will be appearing at the SF Apple store on Monday night to discuss how he uses Macs in his movies and music business. He’ll be screening a new film, “A Brokedown Melody” and Matt Costa will be playing. Emmett was kind enough to answer a few SFist questions about what he does, surfing and our beloved antipathy with LA, and even volunteered some of his personal stats.

You're appearing in Apple stores to discuss how to use Macs in Film and Editing, what is the BEST thing about them?
WELL, THESE DAYS I JUST LIKE HOW SMALL AND SIMPLE EVERYTHING IS.

When and why did you start using Macs for your work? Would you consider yourself an Apple acolyte?
AFTER I TRADED IN MY COMMODORE 64, I UPGRADED TO A MAC. I STARTED IN THE FILM BUSINESS AS AN EDITOR AND I EDITED TRAILERS FOR HOLLYWOOD MOVIES SUCH AS STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 AND THE THIN RED LINE. SO I FIRST GOT STARTED ON AN AVID, WHICH RAN OFF OF A MAC COMPUTER. SO FOR ME IN THIS BUSINESS, MAC'S ARE ALL I HAVE EVER USED.

How do you decide which song to use with a particular scene in the film?
WELL THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I HAVE LISTENED TO A RECORD AND A CERTAIN SONG JUST HAD A VERY CINEMATIC FEEL. SO I JUST SAVE THAT THOUGHT AND KNOW THAT AT SOME POINT A SCENE WILL COME ALONG THAT WILL FIT IT PERFECT. WHILE OTHER TIMES I HAVE A SCENE THAT NEEDS A SONG AND I JUST START GOING THROUGH CD'S AND RECORDS IN SEARCH OF THE RIGHT ONE. BUT I MUST SAY, I HAVE NO SET PROCESS, I JUST LOVE MUSIC AND AM ALWAYS WANTING TO LISTEN TO STUFF THAT IS NEW TO ME. SOME OF THAT JUST INSPIRES ME TO MAKE SOMETHING COOL AND SOME OF IT FITS PERFECTLY INTO A SCENE. LASTLY, I CALL A FRIEND AND HAVE HIM MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR A SCENE, WHICH IS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE ROUTE.

Any tips for aspiring surf film creators?
JUST GET OUT AND DO IT. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT MAKING SURF FILMS, IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH.