Jack Johnson On The Friendship At Heart Of New Documentary SURFILMUSIC

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentJack Johnson On The Friendship At Heart Of New Documentary SURFILMUSICByJim Ryan,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about the business of musicFollow AuthorJun 05, 2026, 11:26am EDTMADRID, SPAIN - JULY 14: American singer-songwriter and professional surfer Jack Johnson performs in concert during Mad Cool Festival 2018 on July 14, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mariano Regidor/Redferns)RedfernsFor multi-platinum singer songwriter Jack Johnson, the storytelling started early, albeit subconsciously. Growing up in Hawaii, Johnson began surfing at a young age, telling stories on his board as he emulated the lines of surfers like Tom Curren. In his teens, Johnson would begin competing in prestigious surfing events like the Pipeline Masters. Later, he’d emerge from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in film studies, working with friends like Emmett and Chris Malloy and surfing legends like Kelly Slater to create a pair of 16mm surf films.Newly remastered in 4K from the original prints, those films (1999’s Thicker Than Water and 2000’s The September Sessions), set Johnson upon a creative path that predates his career as a Grammy-nominated musician. Both are now available for purchase or streaming on most VOD platforms.Taking a rare look back, Johnson began coming through the old footage in an effort to help promote the wider release of the films, a process which quickly snowballed. As its title implies, the new documentary SURFILMUSIC masterfully ties together Johnson’s worlds. Directed by Emmett Malloy, who’s co-managed Johnson for 25 years while directing films like the 2009 White Stripes documentary Under Great White Northern Lights, the new documentary traces Johnson’s unique journey.Themes like the importance of friendship and adventure quickly emerge from a film which examines both life and loss while celebrating the ideas of creativity and acceptance.MORE FOR YOUWhile Johnson an...