Nineteen-year-old Chilean filmmaker Fernando Jara brings us this cinematic insight into the arrival of the Cyclone Gabrielle swell as it rolled into Christchurch and eventually found favour on the banks of Taylor’s Mistake.
Fernando is a budding cinematographer who arrived in New Zealand when he was 15 to join his family and mum who have now been here for eight years.
“I finished school as well as a media course, and currently we’re battling with Immigration New Zealand to stay in the country,” he explains. “I have a little sister with some disabilities and it’s all been very hard – we’ve been on the news a bunch of times.”
The cyclone presented a great opportunity for Fernando to showcase his story telling skills as he looks tyo learn the craft and build his profile.
“I’m pretty new to the surf community even though I’ve been in the water for a while,” he smiles. “But step-by-step I’m building my way up.”
We reckon he has a big future if this wee edit is anything to go by. Press play and enjoy …