Carsey-Wolf Center at UC Santa Barbara 
CWC Docs: SURFILMUSIC
- Saturday, October 3, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (PDT)
- Pollock Theater
- Screening Format: 4K digital projection (77 minutes)
- With Emmett Malloy (filmmaker)
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Starring: Jack Johnson, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Gerry Lopez, Chris Malloy
The documentary SURFILMUSIC (2026) chronicles UCSB alumnus Jack Johnson’s evolution from surfer to filmmaker to world-renowned musician. Jack’s early years making surf films with close friends became a foundation for a much broader creative life, capturing moments in and out of the water that later surfaced in his songwriting. Blending rare footage from those formative surf films and Jack’s personal and family archives with present-day reflections, the film weaves together how lived experience, friendship, and exploration shaped the sound and stories behind the music. SURFILMUSIC features Jack Johnson, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Gerry Lopez, Chris Malloy, G. Love, Ben Harper, John Florence, Kim Johnson, and more, with a beautiful score by Jack Johnson and Hermanos Gutiérrez.
Emmett Malloy (filmmaker) will join moderator Alex Champlin (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of SURFILMUSIC.
Please note the special time for this event: the screening will begin at noon.
This event is free but a reservation is recommended in order to guarantee a seat.
Biographies
Emmett Malloy (filmmaker)
Emmett Malloy, half of the acclaimed directing duo The Malloys, has helmed major campaigns for Nike, ESPN, Apple, Google, and the NBA. The Malloys have been nominated for DGA Commercial Directors of the Year. Malloy won a Grammy for Big Easy Express and earned a nomination for Under Great White Northern Lights, his intimate film on The White Stripes. In 2021, he directed the Netflix documentary BIGGIE: I Got a Story to Tell and co-created a five-part series on the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team.” Emmett was also named in Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch list for their feature film The Tribes of Palos Verdes, starring Jennifer Garner. Beyond filmmaking, Malloy manages musician and environmentalist Jack Johnson. Together, they founded Brushfire Records in 1998, pioneering sustainability in the music industry and selling nearly 30 million records worldwide.
Moderator Alex Champlin (Film and Media Studies, UCSB)
Alex Champlin is an alumnus of UCSB’s Department of Film and Media Studies Graduate Program as well as the Carsey-Wolf Center. He continues to call Santa Barbara home, where he works as a researcher and writer—and spends his free time chasing waves and live music.
This event is sponsored by the Carsey-Wolf Center.
CWC Docs
The Carsey-Wolf Center is committed to screening documentaries from across the world that engage with contemporary and historical issues, especially regarding social justice and environmental concerns. Documentaries allow filmmakers to address pressing issues and frame the critical debates of our time.