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| TV NBN TELEVISION REVIEWS Review
by Barbie English – Actor/Filmmaker
'ON CREDIT' is a non-stop adventure documentary by filmmaker Johnny Abegg. Taking us behind the scenes and the hype of the WQS professional surfing circuit, Johnny reveals to us the heaven and the heartache of traveling the world on virtually a nil budget. Speckled with humour, insight and wisdom beyond his years, Johnny takes us on a journey from the comfort and safety of his homeland into the great unknown. Johnny's sensitivity, perception and passion not only captivates us but signals the presence of a dynamic new talent in the director's chair. The result of Johnny's outstanding efforts as Director/Producer/Editor/ Composer – is an emotionally truthful adventure story that will appeal to all audiences young and old alike. Be prepared to take a passenger seat in this world ride through places, people, continents, competition and the sweet and simple joy of living your dreams. Highly recommended! Review by Phil Roxburgh – Northern Star Columnist Byron-based JCA International is launching the On Credit DVD, featuring aspiring Byron Bay pro surfer, Johnny Abegg. On Credit takes a refreshingly real look at a side of surfing usually served up in celluloid gloss, promoting a possibility of life as a series of spectacular days with perfect waves and resplendent digs to retire to at day's end. Johnny takes in more than just the surfing world as he literally surfs the world. On Credit is the documentary of a dream; it's a surf travelogue of a surfing life. It's almost another endless season movie, an endless contest season, as Abegg follows the season and scampers to contests across the globe. The trip is far from 1st class but very real and very absorbing. Beginning with a quirky, quietly understated introduction and retrospective view by the author and chief subject, the story outline builds, subtly drawing the viewer into the plot. From the end of the opening sequence, which has Johnny summing up the lunacy of surfing your way around the world competing and making a movie on a tenuous string of credit cards, with a glum, "should be interesting"! You know it will be and you're on for the ride. North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa, it's all there and New York, Rio, Hong Kong, Bali and Durban all have their own tales and issues that touch the traveller in Johnny Abegg, and the human in us all. The images and scenery, the smooth editing, the juxtaposition and framing all work to keep the visuals alive as the viewer gets swept along on a worthwhile ride. Any surfer will appreciate On Credit and a whole lot of non-surfers too. Savvy editing throughout, along with an obvious eye for crisp classic scenes full of colour and life displayed with a fine balance of landscape, cityscape and seascape all adds to this original surf chronicle. The musical score blends easily with the moods and scenes of the film, matching emotions and enhancing action. Paying music royalties was out of the question, so Johnny simply wrote his own. There are any numbers of good waves littering the background and sometimes featuring more fully, but the story is bigger than just riding waves. The story survives in a good dose of reality DVD. The 8 new bonus selections, including the making of On Credit add further interest and illumination to the project, plus more WQS surfing from the cast and others. Johnny Abegg can be justly proud of his efforts, especially as he has almost single-handedly been producer/director/writer/videographer/ editor and composer. To master even half of that list in a few months is an astonishing feat. On Credit has an honest depth to it that makes it destined to become a cult classic. It should be put onto the prescribed viewing list for Southern Cross University's surfing diploma. |
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