Taylor Steele

Directing

Taylor Steele

Born

1972-06-07 (54)

Place of birth

San Diego, California, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

37 titles

Taylor Steele has been involved in the surf film industry for decades. He has won awards as both director and producer. His production company, Poor Specimen, has launched the careers of some of surfing’s most influential figures and has played a role in the success of bands such as Blink-182, Pennywise, and Jack Johnson, who were introduced in Steele's early movies.

Known for

Momentum II poster
NR

After Momentum I... the next logical step? MOMENTUM II. More polish. More production. More ripping. But the formula remains the same. Sick sections from the next generation of rising talents. Kelly Slater. Rob Machado. Shane Dorian. Taylor Knox. Kalani Robb. Benji Weatherly. And more. No one could have predicted the success of the first Momentum. And Taylor's immediate response -- even before it's success -- was to keep doing what he was doing: documenting a new generation of rising talent.

Momentum II

1993

Drive Thru California Expedition poster
NR

This comedic real life approach to a road rules type of surf adventure features the misadventures of Greg Browning, Donavon Frankenreiter, Tim Curren and Shawn 'Barney' Baron. Filmed in 30 days, it covers the four surfers' journey down the coast of California while living in a rented RV. Along with the surf footage are practical jokes, footage of mishaps and complications on the trip, and the general comedy of the four guys living in such close quarters for a month.

Drive Thru California Expedition

2002

Innersection poster
10.0

Featuring twenty short surf films from twenty international directors.

Innersection

2011

The Drifter poster
5.0

A surfer is trying to identify the rhythm of his soul in the surrounding world. He uses travel as a tool which allows him to discover himself.

The Drifter

2009

Drive Thru South Africa poster
NR

Donavon, Benji and Pat O were joined this time by rookies Noodles, Lossness and the legendary Pottz for an epic two weeks traveling beautiful South Africa. Not only did they score the best J-Bay in five years with their Drive Thru buddy Slater, they also discovered a super sharky secret spot that produced a perfect left point break. Mix this in with some Durban beach break, ostrich racing, the worlds highest bungee jump and you get the Drive Thru South Africa. Starring: Donavon Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherly, Kelly Slater, Pat O'Connell, Nathan Webster, Mike Lossness and Martin Potter.

Drive Thru South Africa

2005

Factory Seconds poster
NR

Never let good footage go to waste. The talented Jason Weatherley edited together this cornucopious bouquet of outtakes from the Focus film, featuring Kelly Slater, Rob Machado and many more.

Factory Seconds

1995

Behind the camera

Momentum II poster
NR

After Momentum I... the next logical step? MOMENTUM II. More polish. More production. More ripping. But the formula remains the same. Sick sections from the next generation of rising talents. Kelly Slater. Rob Machado. Shane Dorian. Taylor Knox. Kalani Robb. Benji Weatherly. And more. No one could have predicted the success of the first Momentum. And Taylor's immediate response -- even before it's success -- was to keep doing what he was doing: documenting a new generation of rising talent.

Momentum II

1993

Drive Thru California Expedition poster
NR

This comedic real life approach to a road rules type of surf adventure features the misadventures of Greg Browning, Donavon Frankenreiter, Tim Curren and Shawn 'Barney' Baron. Filmed in 30 days, it covers the four surfers' journey down the coast of California while living in a rented RV. Along with the surf footage are practical jokes, footage of mishaps and complications on the trip, and the general comedy of the four guys living in such close quarters for a month.

Drive Thru California Expedition

2002

Innersection poster
10.0

Featuring twenty short surf films from twenty international directors.

Innersection

2011

The Drifter poster
5.0

A surfer is trying to identify the rhythm of his soul in the surrounding world. He uses travel as a tool which allows him to discover himself.

The Drifter

2009

Drive Thru South Africa poster
NR

Donavon, Benji and Pat O were joined this time by rookies Noodles, Lossness and the legendary Pottz for an epic two weeks traveling beautiful South Africa. Not only did they score the best J-Bay in five years with their Drive Thru buddy Slater, they also discovered a super sharky secret spot that produced a perfect left point break. Mix this in with some Durban beach break, ostrich racing, the worlds highest bungee jump and you get the Drive Thru South Africa. Starring: Donavon Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherly, Kelly Slater, Pat O'Connell, Nathan Webster, Mike Lossness and Martin Potter.

Drive Thru South Africa

2005

Factory Seconds poster
NR

Never let good footage go to waste. The talented Jason Weatherley edited together this cornucopious bouquet of outtakes from the Focus film, featuring Kelly Slater, Rob Machado and many more.

Factory Seconds

1995

Innersection: Orange poster
NR

For his third "Innersection" project, Taylor Steele brings together twenty new short surf films from twenty directors around the world. The tried and true format showcases the talents of Championship Tour veterans, underground chargers, and undiscovered stars alike. "Orange" features all-new clips from Jamie O'Brien, Sebastian Zietz, Nat Young, and many more.

Innersection: Orange

2011

Trilogy poster
NR

Taylor Steele & Billabong bring you TRILOGY, the Andy, Parko, Taj DVD.Billabong and Taylor Steele came together to bring you a rare insight into the lives and surfing skills of three of the greatest surfers of all time.

Trilogy

2007

Drive Thru Europe poster
NR

Benji Weatherley, Rizal Tanjung, Ry Craike, Pat O'Connell and Kelly Slater take Europe by storm. From the scooter gang in Italy, to the topless beaches in France, the castles in Portugal and back in time for Halloween in France. The "Drive Thru Europe" takes a typical surf trip to a whole new level.

Drive Thru Europe

2005

The Show poster
NR

Greg Browning as a lost space traveler, Chris Malloy as a cowboy, Shane Dorian and Taylor Knox as street thugs, Rob Machado as the Godfather? Sounds more like a night at the local multiplex than one of the greatest surf films of all time.

The Show

1997

Drive Thru Caribbean poster
NR

Greg Browning, the creator of The Drive Thru series, brings us his latest hilariously entertaining and action packed installment "Drive Thru Caribbean". Donavon, Benji, Pat O, and Kalani welcome Aussie aerialist Yadin Nicol as they get wrapped up in some serious hijinks during their search for waves on the thousands of islets, reefs, and cayos strewn through the Caribbean. The crew had a chance to surf secret reefs in Puerto Rico that broke unlike any other wave they had encountered. While exploring Jamaica they hung with the local Rastas after long days of scoring warm water perfection on this tranquil island nation. The search lead them to the far reaches of the Caribbean where they ripped the famous Soup Bowls of Barbados. From riding dolphins to riding waves the "Drive Thru Caribbean" puts you in shotgun on this hysterical island hopping adventure. Locations: Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Barbados.

Drive Thru Caribbean

2007

Drifting: Rob Machado Chronicles poster
NR

Family man. Style master. Traveler. Artist. Filmmaker. Loyal friend. Deep thinker. Musician. Weirdo. Afro. Surfer. Rob Machado is many things. And this 1996 biopic touches on them all. A goofyfoot classic.

Drifting: Rob Machado Chronicles

1996

Castles In The Sky poster
7.3

Filmed in five countries over three years, the documentary delves into the heart of the locations while the surfers travel through them with a sense of open-minded awe. With never-before seen waves and some of the best surfers in the world contributing their art, passion and athleticism, this is as close to the experience of pioneering new coastlines as you can get without getting on a plane. Written by Anonymous

Castles In The Sky

2010

Here & Now poster
NR

This film was shot in one day. More than 25 filmmakers and surfers worked in unison to document the world of surfing in a single 24-hour period: May 2, 2012. From world champs like Kelly Slater and Stephanie Gilmore to free spirits like Dave Rastovich, Ozzy Wright and Alex Knost, this project brings together shapers, photographers, legends, beginners, third world, first world and surf world. Some scored big. Others couldn’t find a ripple. It’s all part of the surfing experience. From contests to camping, hanging at home or hitting the road, veteran surf filmmaker Taylor Steele pulls together an epic, international cast to prove the best place to be is here and now.

Here & Now

2012

Focus poster
NR

Poor Specimen Productions presents a Taylor Steele film featuring Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Taylor Knox, Donovan Frankenreiter, Justin Postin, Sunny Garcia and introducing Tim Curran!

Focus

1994

Drive Thru Australia Part 2 poster
NR

Donavon Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherley and Pat O'Connell are joined by Shane Dorian, three time world champion Andy Irons and Australia's own Mark Occhilupo. Spend two crazy weeks driving, surfing and traveling thru some of Australia's most incredible coastlines. From kangaroos to sky diving, shark scares to golfing the Drive Thru Australia is packed with hilarious hijinks and incredible surfing.

Drive Thru Australia Part 2

2009

Campaign poster
NR

Pro surfers are the solution in coorporate marketing. As they say in the ad game, Surfing sells. Campaign is a comedy that mocks corporate America combined with the most mind blowing surfing of today.

Campaign

2003

Drive Thru New Zealand poster
NR

Overlanding it nearly 4000 km from Auckland on the North Island to Dunedin on the wave rich yet rugged South Island, Drive Thru New Zealand embarks on another zany adventure as veteran road warriors scour this beautiful surf soaked land.

Drive Thru New Zealand

2008

Momentum poster
NR

MOMENTUM marks the beginning of a new era in surfing. Featuring some of the first sections of New School surfers Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Benji Weatherly, Kalani Robb and more, Taylor Steele's 1991 breakout VHS release changed the way surf movies were made for the next decade and became the namesake for The Momentum Generation of surfers. In 2007, Momentum was listed as #3 on Surfing Magazine's "Greatest Surf Movies of All Time."

Momentum

1992

Sipping Jetstreams: An Adventure in Life poster
6.0

With a sense of natural whit and an eye for beauty, this romantic surf novel unfolds throughout the worlds most untouched destinations with today's best surfers, period.

Sipping Jetstreams: An Adventure in Life

2006

No artwork available
NR

Before there was Momentum, Taylor Steele released ONE STEP BEYOND (1991). This was the follow-up to his high school project Seaside, filmed entirely at Seaside in Cardiff...so the natural progression was to go "one step beyond." The film features his first section-based edits and his first full section with a young Kelly Slater. Also of note are sections with Tom Curren, Brad Gerlach and Johnny Boy Gomes, as well as a classic wipeouts compilation.

One Step Beyond

1991

Drive Thru South Central America poster
NR

Top professional surfers Shane Dorian, Donavon Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherly, Ozzie Wright, and Kalani Robb make their way through Panama, Brazil, and Chile in a hilariously action packed two week real world, road trip. The "Drive Thru South Central America" is the fourth installment of the ongoing Drive Thru series. Whether it's hang gliding in Brazil, off roading in Chile or stand up barrels in Panama, the "Drive Thru" offers a unique first hand experience for everyone to enjoy.

Drive Thru South Central America

2004

Campaign 2: A Taylor Steele Movie poster
10.0

Stick a finger down your throat and barf right now ’cause this vid is SICK! Slater manhandling 10-foot thick “Soup Bowls.” Andy and Bruce pumping your veins up withdanger-shred ballet. But don’t eat a tub of Daaz washed down with an eight ball just yet – Shane Dorian ends this ride raw like the spandex-ed Bruce Dickenson of “Maiden Japan.” We at The Mag recommend this vid big.

Campaign 2: A Taylor Steele Movie

2005

Shelter poster
5.8

In 2001 Woodshed Films released their third Moonshine Experiment surf movie entitled “Shelter.” With a similar style and feel to the first two Moonshine Experiments, “Thicker Than Water” and “September Sessions”, “Shelter” is one of Taylor Steele and Chris Malloy’s best productions. This surf movie does a great job of staying far away from the politics of surfing and focuses more on soul surfing. However, don’t think that there aren’t any surfers worth watching in this movie because there are plenty. “Shelter” is jam packed with professional and well-known surfers such as Rob Machado, Taylor Knox, Joel Tudor, Mick Fanning, Dean Morrison, Jack Johnson, The Malloy’s, Kelly Slater, Nat Young, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shane Dorian, Jon Swift and many more. The soundtrack for “Shelter” is similar to “Thicker Than Water” and “September Sessions”. It has a slower and mellower feel, featuring artists such as Mason Jennings, The Shins, White Buffalo and even surfers Jon Swift and Rob Machado.

Shelter

2001

Good Times poster
NR

With the release of GOOD TIMES, the Momentum Crew was riding a high. While earlier films were devoted to crushing the established hierarchy of surfing, now their crew was the established hierarchy, dominating competition, freesurfing and the media. Kelly Slater was world champ, with Dorian, Machado and Knox all hovering around the top 10 competitive slots. Even the bands involved with the films were riding the wave, and Good Times film release evolved into a full rock-n-roll tour with Pennywise, Sprung Monkey and Blink-182. As the name suggests...it really was a good time.

Good Times

1995

Stranger Than Fiction poster
NR

Is pro surfing a complete lie? Is modern wave-riding being faked for glory and profit? Is Dane Reynolds actually a robot? With trademark humour and a trend-setting soundtrack, Taylor Steele's latest genre-defining action flick pulls back the curtain on pro surfing's deepest, darkest secrets.

Stranger Than Fiction

2007

No artwork available
NR

Sipping Jetstreams Media presents This Time Tomorrow, a film by Taylor Steele, documenting an epic Pacific swell chase over 8 days and 18,000 miles traveled. Two surfers, Dave Rastovich and Craig Anderson, tracked waves generated from this single storm in an exhausting attempt to surf the same wave twice as they pulsed eastward through the Pacific. As these waves thundered across the legendary reef of Teahupo’o, reeled down the endless point breaks of Mexico and onwards towards a frosty Arctic conclusion the pair gathered friends Kelly Slater, Chris Del Moro, Alex Gray, and Dan Malloy for this cinematic and cosmic experience of a lifetime.

This Time Tomorrow

2012

No artwork available
NR

Sipping Jetstreams Media presents This Time Tomorrow, a film by Taylor Steele, documenting an epic Pacific swell chase over 8 days and 18,000 miles traveled. Two surfers, Dave Rastovich and Craig Anderson, tracked waves generated from this single storm in an exhausting attempt to surf the same wave twice as they pulsed eastward through the Pacific. As these waves thundered across the legendary reef of Teahupo’o, reeled down the endless point breaks of Mexico and onwards towards a frosty Arctic conclusion the pair gathered friends Kelly Slater, Chris Del Moro, Alex Gray, and Dan Malloy for this cinematic and cosmic experience of a lifetime.

This Time Tomorrow

2012

Proximity poster
4.0

Eight of the world's best surfers—four legends and four rising stars—search for new waves and deeper understanding in exotic destinations.

Proximity

2017

Friday The 17th poster
2.0

Who died best? And who is Shane Barbara? A surfing horror film.

Friday The 17th

1996

Drive Thru Australia poster
NR

This is the third and unquestionably the best of the "Drive Thru" Series, thanks to Oz serving up solid surf, an excellent soundtrack and all of the misadventures with the Aussies in the land down under. Rob, Benji, Donovan and Kalani (sort of) meet up with locals such as Dean Morrison, Dylan Longbottom, Margo and Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter as they make their way down the East Coast from Brisbane to Sydney. You'll see hollow waves, airs, big moves and according to Dean Morrison, his best barrel ever at Superbank.

Drive Thru Australia

2009

Hit & Run poster
8.5

After year's of silly stunts and goofy skits, HIT & RUN (2000) takes a more serious look at what makes these top pros tick through a series of intimate interviews paired with the cutting edge of performance surfing. Great sections from the Bruce Irons, Andy Irons, The Hobgoods, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and more.

Hit & Run

2000

Missing poster
NR

Taylor Steele’s brand new film – “Missing” – puts ASP World Champion Mick Fanning in some of the most radical places on the planet alongside his good friends John John Florence, Jordy Smith, Matt Wilkinson, and Tom Curren. Under the direction of the world-renowned film-maker, the project takes Mick Fanning out of the competition world of the ASP, gives him a boarding pass with a blank destination and for 21 days he is relocated all over the world with only a passport, suitcase and surfboard at his disposal. As a result, the surfing is special, raw, and some of the best that you’ll see on screen this year. From Africa and Ireland to Central America and Spain, the experience literally is life changing for Mick Fanning.

Missing

2013

Days of the Strange poster
NR

Stranger Than Fiction had so much footage left in the can that it made sense to release Days of the Strange, showcasing the days of filming you did not see. Plus a fresh batch of new bangers from all the usual suspects.

Days of the Strange

2009

Loose Change poster
NR

With a decidedly comedic approach Loose Change takes on the age old question "what would a pro surfer be doing if he didn't surf?" In between the surfing segments, viewers follow Rob Machado as "the slacker" traveling around his home town looking for work. On his way, he meets up with today's best surfers as their non- surfing counterparts. The acting is hilarious and the surfing is off the scale.

Loose Change

1999

The Bottom Line poster
NR

Shot over two years from 1995-1997, and featuring top surfers from the era, this is a collection of previously unseen footage from the '90s show.

The Bottom Line

1998

Drive Thru Japan poster
NR

Ride along with Rob, Benji, Barney and Donavon on planes, vans and a bullet train for a two week trip of pure comedy, as they search for waves in the land of the rising sun. A few boards, a couple guitars, a little sushi and a lot of sake. These four are on the high road scoring insane waves with the locals, singing karaoke, skating with Kris Markovich, and stinking up the van as the epic surf saga of 'The Drive Thru' continues...into the mystical land of Japan.

Drive Thru Japan

2002