Los Angeles, CA-based entertainment company WINDOWSEAT chronicles the tides of internal drive and dedication for one of the world’s biggest surf competitions in their 22-minute TV documentary, “The Billabong Pipe Masters.” The documentary, will be airing globally on networks like Sky, Canal, Fox International, Fuel TV, Global Brazil and many others and showcases the beauty, excitement, and spirit of competition that takes place at the Pipe Masters on Hawaii’s famed and feared North Shore. Director Bill Kiely utilized WINDOWSEAT‘s extensive onsite team to provide coverage of every angle of this competition, from the live action to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, capturing the meta-energy of every triumph and defeat.nnThe WINDOWSEAT team worked feverishly from December 8-12, 2012 to document the 2012 Billabong Pipeline Masters competition, famed for being the third stop and crown jewel event of the 40-day-long Vans Triple Crown Competition Series as well as the final event of the year for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Pipe Masters competition, as customary, was held on the Bonzai Pipeline at the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.nn
2012 Billabong Pipe Masters, Kelly vs Shane from Windowseat Pictures on Vimeo.
nSays Kiely, “I wouldn’t do this if I couldn’t surf everyday while I’m there. Either by myself or with some of these guys. Obviously I love being in the water, but it’s also the only way to wrap your brain around what’s really going with the competitors and the event generally. And a lot of the pros have become friends over the years, so bringing out their true personalities on camera has become easy and a lot of fun.” nnPipe Masters centers on the fierce competition between Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson—both of whom went tit-for-tat throughout the competition for the ASP championship title. It also features candid interviews with surfing giants held in their private homes and beaches only years of covering the event grants. Slater, an 11-time world champion surfer, is touted by some as the greatest surfer of all time—beginning his rise to surfer stardom in the mid 90’s. Parkinson, the budding talent hot on the heels of the veteran surfer, was seeking his first-ever world championship. The underdog ultimately prevailed. nnFootage from Pipe Masters ranged from close proximity, in-water shots to faraway land vantage points. Kiely and his crew worked carefully to piece together action footage as well as behind-the-scenes footage captured by the WINDOWSEAT team onsite in Hawaii. There is no shortage of cut-aways to stunning, turquoise hued Hawaiian coastline. Natural sound was used to a large extent, particularly noticeable with the song of a native Hawaiian’s Ukelele tune used as the closing music accompanied by stunning recap shots.nnAdds Kiely, “Our approach is always dictated by the personalities and surf conditions, but each year we challenge ourselves to do something new. To create something these guys and their fans would want to watch year in and year out. It’s a real honor to be tasked with capturing the most important event in the sport.”nnWINDOWSEAT has been creating and syndicating comprehensive content for the Vans Triple Crown Competition for the last nine years. They work closely with event sponsors, vitaminwater, Nixon, GoPro, Reef, Billabong, Skullcandy, Cliff Bar, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Surfing Magazine to bring vie
