Creative Spotlight: Filmmaker Riley Blakeway of Team Average 2.0

Check out the exclusive Sun Diego interview with filmmaker Riley Blakeway and watch his latest video Team Average 2.0, presented by Monster Children and Hurley.

His unique style and attention to detail have landed filmmaker Riley Blakeway at the top of the surf film making industry and have put some of today’s top surfers in front of this lens. At only 21 years old, he has contributed footage to Kai Nevelle’s “Modern Collective”, produced his own movie “Now” with friend Chippa Wilson, created videos for Mink Pink, along and with many other fashion, skateboarding, and music video projects. Talk about a well rounded fella. Blakeway believes that in order to become a good filmmaker, one has to go outside of their comfort zone and work with different industries. I like the way you think Riley. I touched base with Riley for a short interview before the launch of his latest video, Team Average 2.0. 1. What got you into filming and at what age did you start? I've had a camera in my hands for as long as I can remember.  I got my first video camera when I was 11 and I have been shooting like crazy ever since.  At first it was just a huge old camcorder that took VHS tapes.  I could never get the footage off the tapes to edit but I would shoot stupid shit all day with my friends and we'd all crowd around a TV and watch later that night.  Things progressed from there and I got serious alter in High school. I eventually dropped out of Uni to make my first film and wrote email after email until I finally got a couple of starts in the surf industry.  That then led to some amazing opportunities.  Film has always been a constant in my life. 2. Who/what inspires your style in filming? Very hard to pinpoint - Many filmmakers from many different fields.  Spike Jonze, Vincent Gallo, Gus Van Sant, Harmony Korine, Terrence Malick, Stanley Kubrick... etc to name a few.  Allot of my surf work is inspired by skate filmmakers like Greg Hunt and Pontus Alv.  Allot of my latest work has been inspired by some close friends, artists and photographers - Matt O'Brien, Jeremy Asher Lynch. 3. Best place you have traveled? I just got back from San Sebastian, Spain.  It blew my mind! 4. Favorite place to surf? Lower Trestles 5. What kind of gear are you working with? At the moment I have the Sony PMW-EX1, The 7D (50mm 1.4, 100-400 4.8), a 16mm Bolex and a Nizo super 8mm. 6. #1 person you want to meet? Tough one...  Spike Jonze 7. What is the best part about being a filmer? Being able to reflect on your work and the remembering the moments, remembering why you made it, what it meant to you at the time, where you were in life. Reflecting on growth.   Thanks Riley. Now, time for Team Average 2.0 presented by Monster Children & Hurley. Watch Dylan Rieder, Natas Kaupas, Greyson Fletcher, Ryan Wilson, Jack Fardell, Alex Gray, and Chippa Wilson tear New Zealand to bits. "Pointless hyping it up. Just watch. It’s brilliant." Filmed, edited, and directed by Riley Blakeway.