Having worked on many projects around SA and abroad, as well as funded his own award-winning surf films, Jason Hearn has become one of the most respected videographers in his line of work in Mzansi – especially from a young aspiring filmmaker’s perspective. Making use of light and music to produce a feeling and interest that is rarely seen in locally produced videos, Jason has a knack for visual storytelling. And after a recent mission up the west coast and an adventure to remote Madagascar, now was a good time for a catch-up.

“This is a collection of imagery from various productions and personal shoots I have worked on as a Director / Director of Photography in the adventure sport and lifestyle genre” – Jason Hearn. Go to jasonhearn.co.za to see more of Jason’s work.

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ZIGZAG: Howzit Jason, could you please give us some background on your journey as a videographer. Is it something that you always wanted to do?
JASON: When I left school there were no MacBook Pros, affordable video cameras or filmmaking tools, so becoming a filmmaker was not something that even crossed our minds back then. I hit the road when I was 21 to go to Hawaii to surf for the season of 96/97 and came home eight years later after travelling the globe extensively – the travel bug bit. It was while I was travelling that I started sparking an interest in photography to capture what I was experiencing, which in turn led to a stint in London to pay off my first video camera. The rest is history.

In terms of surf videography specifically, is that something that one can make a successful career out of in South Africa at the moment? Or do you have to supplement your income with other jobs and keep the surf films as a kind of self-funded side project for your own passion and enjoyment?
When I made my first surf film The Fountain of Youth, people were like, “man you’re crazy, there’s no money in that, stay clear.” But the thing is I was not doing it for the money, it was out of sheer passion and for the love of filmmaking. My goal with the film was to explore the artistic lifestyle side of surfing as opposed to just the action, and to tell you the truth The Fountain of Youth is what put me on the map. It got me the exposure I needed to move forward and appealed to the right people outside of the surfing world. I owe where I am today to making that initial leap of faith. And if there is any advice I can give to aspiring filmmakers, it’s to go out and make that one film that defines who you are and the direction you want to take. If you do a good job then people will take notice.

Getting back to your question, for sure you cannot survive financially on making surf films alone. You definitely need to venture in other directions, where you can earn a stable living and support your passion for making surf films. I am immersed in shooting commercials here in Cape Town – that’s how I support my family.

Jason nails the shot of Ricky Basnett while on location up the weskus.

Could you tell us about some of your other projects before “The Africa Project,” that inspired you to keep pushing towards bigger and better films?
After The Fountain of Youth I made a couple of other films; 15 Below, The Meltdown, The Path and others. Every time you want the next one to be bigger and better – each film is a stepping stone to the next.

How was this last trip you did to Madagascar, and what were some of the challenges filming a mission in a remote destination like that?
The trip to Madagascar was epic; super remote and untouched with zero crowds. Adventure trips like these are what I live for on the surf filming front these days as the web is saturated with short action clips. Storytelling is where it is headed now I think. Personal stories of adventure and travel and this trip was all about that. Filming in super remote locations like that definitely has its challenges as it’s dangerous, extremely hot, sharky and there’s no support. I mean my camera for my water housing got wet and died on the second day, so I just had to suck it up as you aren’t going to get someone to deliver you a backup out there. But it’s all part of it and what attracts me to shooting in those environments. The rewards at the end of the day are higher.

Gear check – What’s your filmic arsenal looking like these days in terms of bodies and lenses, and what’s been your favourite piece of equipment lately?
I have a Red Dragon setup with water housing and a full array of Zeis CP2, ZE and Canon lenses. I also have a DJI Ronin stabilising system which is a game changer. My 5D still comes along as backup and is also good for time lapses.

Is there a dream camera that you’re still after, or is creating a beautiful motion piece not so much about the gear you’re using as it is the people involved and the locations you’re shooting?
I am lucky to own my dream camera already, the Red Dragon, but for sure it is the eye of the beholder that creates the magic in any film. However, the images from the Red just elevate the magic that is captured.

You did a film mission up the weskus recently with Casey Grant and Ricky Basnett. How did that work out, and what were you hoping to achieve from that trip? And most importantly, are we going to be seeing anything come together from that this year, or is it a work in progress?
Ricky is one of those rare talents in surfing, he is just a natural. He lost his way for a while but is back surfing better than ever. This for me was a nice story for a film, so I took him deep west – self sufficient for two weeks come rain or shine, onshore or offshore – to tell his story. Casey is another super talented and stylish surfer, who was a perfect fit to go head-to-head with Rick in the surf. The trip was epic and we got great waves while exploring some of the best coastline Africa has to offer. I am busy editing together a short film of the trip where Ricky tells it as it is and showcases, along with Casey, their passion for adventure and surfing. It’s a story about losing your way but realising that if you’re willing you can find your way back, which is what Ricky has done. The film will be submitted to surf film festivals worldwide and will be showing online.

Are there any big projects that you’re currently working on that we should keep our ears pricked about? Or is there anything in the Jason Hearn dream pipeline that you’d like to see through to fruition one day?
As I mentioned, I am working on the Ricky short film at the moment. But for sure one day I would like to shoot a film on Frankie Oberholzer – his influence on surfing and surfers both in SA and worldwide is a story that needs to be told.

Lastly, we’re currently running a short film competition called Zag Shorts. The comp is aimed at anyone in SA and offers film enthusiasts and professionals the chance to win a spot on a Zag surf trip as well as R20 000 from Go Pro. That’s a chance for someone to springboard their path as a videographer and put their work in the limelight. Any suggestions to anyone submitting shorts?
My only advice is to have a vision for your film and tell a story, whether it’s through words or visuals or both and give the viewer more than just the action.

An introduction to The Africa Project.