San Diego's Gordon & Smith is arguably the most influential
Surf & Skateboard Company in history.
G&S has been charging it since 1959 & still going strong! 

We cordially invite everyone to participate in the production of a historic trilogy...

Three documentary films providing a global audience the most comprehensive look at San Diego's culture of Surfing & Skateboarding and the influence the Gordon and Smith Company has had on world history since 1959, as shared through the storied legends of the Gordon and Smith Surf Team, the G&S Skate Team Riders, and the G&S Craftsmen & Artisans, of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The power of films have been impactful on society since their inception. The G&S One Long Ride Documentary Trilogy will continue that tradition by reminding us all of what was once good, what is good, and what can be again.

At it's heart, the G&S One Long Ride Trilogy is

 the quintessential California family story.


"One Long Ride: Surf" is a feature length documentary film chronicling the iconic Surf and Skateboarding company that Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith founded in San Diego, California in 1959. The legendary company flourishes today by sharing and nurturing the tried and true philosophies and principles that have become legacy. The enduring G&S legacy is their tradition of commitment to Surfing & Skateboarding the world over and the love of Debbie Gordon, her brother Eric Gordon and the Gordon family.

"One Long Ride: Skate" is a feature length documentary film chronicling the legitimization of a fledgling skateboarding industry beginning in the early 1960’s. The skateboard itself had been patented in San Diego just years before in 1947. 

After many had long dismissed skateboarding a novelty, a toy, merely a passing fad… 

G&S leaned in, hard! 

A few ardent Skateboarders and Surfers from Mission Bay High School in San Diego's Pacific Beach, named Larry Gordon, Floyd Smith, Skip Frye and Mike Hynson (the Endless Summer) accelerated advancement, through design, redesign, and refinement of the skateboard beginning with the first production G&S Surfskates. This never ending commitment has been integral to the decades of evolution of design and the modernization of skateboards. G&S advanced product development through the application of new technologies and cutting edge materials re-imagining everything including wheels, trucks and bearings. G&S remains just as dedicated to the sport as it has in every decade, ever since. 

G&S, and in particular Larry Gordon, galvanized skateboarding decade after decade, sponsoring athletes from countries around the world. The company’s enduring love of skateboarding continues to prevail through the purity of genuine dedication to advancement. As a result, competitive skateboarding of every discipline maintains an international appeal and a generational admiration. Skateboarding has long since become a bonafide Olympic sport, not only loved, but respected, the world over.

 "One Long Ride: Full Circle" is a feature length documentary film chronicling the dedication and commitment to faith that transcended G&S and Larry Gordon as well as the many, many souls that Larry so profoundly touched in his 60 + years at Gordon and Smith.

The G&S ethos has passed seamlessly from father to daughter and son. That tradition is proudly continued on today by Eric and Debbie Gordon some 65 plus years later going into their 7th decade in business, as they pass the torch to the next generations…

Combining a staggering 126 years of Surfing and Skateboarding history, San Diego’s Gordon and Smith has, and continues to advance surfboard and skateboard designs by channeling insight from some of the best skaters, and some of the best surfers in the world. G&S has mentored scores of industry stalwarts, respected Journeymen Shapers, Artisans and Craftsmen that accelerated innovation, and continue to elevate modern Skateboarding & Surfing today.

We cannot build a reputation on what we are going to do...


Why these films are historically significant, and why we are the production company chosen by the Gordon family to collaborate to bring the book “One Long Ride” to film?

Well, we felt that it would be best to leave that up to the experts:

- FEATURED IN THE PROLOGUE -

Sam George is an accomplished Surfer. Sam wrote and directed “Hawaiian, The Legend of Eddie Aikau”, “Hollywood Don’t Surf”, “Crips and Bloods Made in America”. Sam collaborated with Stacy Peralta to write and create “Riding Giants” amongst his very many achievements. Sam served as Editor for both Surfing and Surfer Magazines.

An accomplished Surfer, Bird is a walking talking encyclopedia of knowledge and Surf History. Bird’s Surf Shed in San Diego is California’s Notre Dame of Surfing Cathedrals, admired the world over. His insight on San Diego’s inextricably prominent role in Surfing History makes him a national treasure. 

Busting down the door - bigger than life - Aussie powerhouse - Peter Townend was the first ISP World Champion and has never stopped leaving his mark on Surfing. After retiring from competitive surfing PT became the voice of Professional Surfing. “The Mate” is revered for uniquely calling wave by wave action, combined his unforgettable insightful commentary that brought the excitement of Professional Surfing into homes the world over, for decades.

Fran Richards' writing, editing, his accomplishments and contributions to Skateboarding and Snowboarding are irreplaceable. Fran founded and helped organize the first music & skateboarding festival benefiting charity, Board Aid, on California's Big Bear Mountain. Board Aid served as the model music and skateboarding festival that volved into the Vans Warp Tour.

The intrepid Jane Schmauss is an accomplished business woman, published writer, surf historian and the driving force founder of the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, California.

Todd Huber embodies the dedication, sacrifice, spirit and calling required for the preservation of an inextricable lore of California and world history that is Skateboarding. A visit to the Skateboarding Hall of Fame will move anyone who has ever skateboarded or never has.  

Dr. Ben Cater is a respected member of academia integrating all of the aspects and impacts of surfing, elementally and historically. Introducing and teaching a transcendental understanding of the fundamental appreciation of the natural, social, spiritual, personal and interpersonal tribal principles experienced when one immerses oneself in the ocean to surf.

Larry Balma re-engineered the skateboard truck and took Tracker Trucks into production right here in San Diego. Trackers Trucks continue to be manufactured and mounted to skateboards worldwide. Larry Balma founded and ran what became the industry go-to standard, Transworld Skateboarding Magazine.

Jim Gray is a Professional Skateboarder from Orange County that skated with the G&S Team in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Jim went on to found ACME skateboards. Jim was a licensee and manufacturer of G&S Skateboards for several years during the 90’s, reintroducing the FiberFlex. He has remained an indelible fixture in the Skateboarding industry and sticker manufacturing.

We are proud of our first two Feature Length Documentary Films...

We've come to understand the foundational connectivity between storyteller and audiences that we continue to build upon. We gratefully devote every available moment expecting much more of ourselves in our work with each new day.

Muerte O' Gloria the Rise of the American Soccer Fan tells the story of the successful growth of the Major League Soccer through an in depth look at the founding Soccer Supporters Club, DC United's Barra Brava.

Muerte O Gloria is the story of the Barra Brava, the pioneering and influential fan club of DC United soccer club. From humble beginnings, this small group created a dynamic movement that has not only created a unique sports fan culture, but has been a leading the way popularizing  Major League Soccer.

Interviews include Kevin Payne President DC United and Co-Founder of Major League Soccer, DC United Hall of Fame Coach and Two Time MLS All Star Ben Olsen, players including Goalkeeper Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen, Bobby Boswell, Chris Pontius, Washington Post Sportswriter Stephen Goff, and the founding members and characters of the Barra Brava.

We worked closely with Major League Soccer and League Co-Founder Kevin Payne, DC United and the Barra Brava fan supporters group to produce our first feature length film "Muerte O Gloria the Rise of the American Soccer Fan." The film was honored in the Barcelona Film Festival, and was the featured film at Major League Soccer's All Star Week in Denver, Colorado. 

The 1960's San Diego Surfing movement that led to the creation of America's First Surfing Park. 

“A Line in the Sand” is a documentary film about San Diego’s rich history of surfing, beach culture and lifeguarding. The film highlights the inspiring as well as fascinating events that led to the creation of Tourmaline Surfing Park, and the 50 years of Aloha that has followed since its dedication. Inspirational tales that led to the Coastal Preservation Act of 1972, the creation of the California Coastal Commission and the continuous fight to preserve coastal access for all. 

The film features, amongst other surf legends, Floyd Smith of the famed Gordon and Smith Surfboards, the legendary Skip Frye, Hank Warner, Marshall Malcolm, Mike Hynson from the original “the Endless Summer”, University of San Diego Professor of Anthropology and Archeologist Jerome Hall, and is narrated by radio personality Chris Cantore. A Line in the Sand was optioned by PBS for four years and broadcast several times in San Diego.

We are in the documentary filmmaking business…

We'll be perfectly honest. Seeking any financial assistance is antithetical to our independent self supporting nature. We’ve never had any intention of asking for any charity, ever, and we never intend to.

For the size and scale of such an ambitious three documentary film production like this one,
fundraising is a necessity ; albeit not exactly our area of experience.

So, in producing the Prologue, we've begun a Progress Based Fundraising Campaign, because we prefer it that way. Crafting our mission this way keeps us true to the Gordon & Smith One Long Ride Productions and most importantly to maintain transparency for Our Team of Supporters.

We're launching our 2 Round 'Fun'draising Campaign to earn trust, and share the entire journey
of the production of the three One Long Ride Docs. In other words, we feel much more 
confident encouraging and engaging support through participation to successfully complete the G&S One Long Ride Documentary Series to the world, rather than just passing a hat around.

Double Down With Two Fun Rounds!

With the help of the Gordon & Smith Ohana (family), we are packing a bunch of “fun” into our Crowdfundr Campaign to champion the G&S One Long Ride Surf, G&S One Long Ride Skate, and G&S One Long Ride Full Circle documentary films.



We’re seeking to “fun”draise in the manner most befitting the tradition of Gordon and Smith Surfing and G&S Skateboarding. We'll be offering up some fun collectibles over two rounds of fundraising to our G&S One Long Ride Trilogy supporters to say thank you!

It is gonna feel just a lil' mo betta supporting the G&S One Long Ride Trilogy, especially when we share with you, your family and friends a special somethin-somethin or two for joining Our Production Team!

Supporting the One Long Ride Production is not just about the satisfaction of passing down multigenerational surf and skate history and preserving it for generations to come; but reciprocation for participating in the Productions with some fun collectibles for you, your family, friends for encouraging those closest to you to participate in the production of G&S One Long Ride Surf, Skate and Full Circle.

 - Pre-Production 10% -  



Pre-production began prior to the shutdown of the pandemic. We have met weekly with Eric and Debbie Gordon going back to 2021 - 2022. Resulting Impact Films has taken on all of the initiative and has been absorbing all of the pre-production costs. This includes filming several events, as well as the the nine formal preliminary interviews that serve as the foundation for the G&S One Long RideTrilogy Prologue.



- Production 37.5%-

Production is broken up into three filming units: Interviews Consist of up to 27 interviews scheduled 2 per day for 3 five day periods.

We plan to begin scheduling interviews upon reaching 51% of our intended fundraising total.
 Downhill Skateboarding coverage, freestyle skating, parks, Hall of Fame Ceremony and the El Gato in Palm Springs and other Skateboarding events sponsored or not.

We have begun to film surfing for the documentaries. Supportive surfing cinematography will be coordinated with the best swells to hit Southern California between August 2025 through the end of post production, to maximize the best conditions for both surfing and filming amidst one of the most beautiful backdrops on earth, San Diego County.

We will have a local Director of Photography (DP) and small crew on standby ready to mobilize any night
before really good swells hit the Southern California Coastline.

Cinematography Mike McEntire


Mack Dawg Productions has filmed and produced a storied collection of skateboard, snowboarding, and action sports compilations. Mike McEntire’s cinematography and filmmaking skills are, in our minds, hands down, the best in the business. He has worked with legends like Ken Block of Hoonigan and Gymkhana fame, Greg Noll, Robbie Maddison, Shaun White, Ricky Carmichael, and a veritable who’s who of skateboarding and snowboarding throughout the years. 



Mike has produced numerous World of X Games Real Moto & Real Snow episodes for ESPN. Filmed numerous productions for Red Bull including producing Formula 1 commercial content for Red Bull Racing; most famously the “Formula 1 Comes to America!” promotion. And this is only a very small sampling of his accomplishments.



"Through his lens, Mike’s Cinematography captures the essence of film. 
The silent visual storytelling told through
artfully devised moving pictures that engage audiences.
Mike McEntire is a talented and truly gifted cinematographer.

"

                                                                                                                  - Matthew 'Mateo' Melin

Collaborating with Mike throughout filming the Prologue for the G&S Trilogy continues to be an honor, and a hugely impactful filmmaking experience. We are excited to thoughtfully document the interviews, and capture footage of today’s and yesterday’s G&S surfing and skating legends and craftsmen on RED Digital Cinema Cameras in 8K. 
 

Director/Producer Matthew Steven Melin

Mateo, was a Second Unit Director for several interviews in the One Long Ride Prologue and memorably collaborated with Mike McEntire to Co-Direct all of the interviews in the Prologue. Mateo is proficient Director of Photography but most importantly a very capable Editor. Matt walks the talk and has funded and finished two prior documentaries, as well as, multiple activist pieces. 

Mateo has been surfing in the shadows of Surfing's Giants most of his life. His respect for the history, the love and admiration for both sports offers an intrinsic storytelling connection.

Matt will not rest until the job is done right.

Matt Melin has been able to connect his lifelong dedication to surfing with his ever growing passion for inspiring filmmaking. As a Filmmaker, and Editor Matt has a way of consistently drawing audiences into the story in the most visceral way, engaging audiences to anticipate the next scene or shot. 


Executive Producer/Producer/Writer Brittany M. Pope


Born and raised a Southern Californian, Brittany has had the pleasure and enjoyment to immerse herself in the surfing and skating culture.

As someone that has executive produced two prior films, “Muerte O’ Gloria’ and  ‘A Line in the Sand”, these films come as a welcome adventure into the world of Skating and Surfing.

Though Brittany has never considered herself an avid skater and surfer, her California roots identify with the story of this family and the important role this company has had on history. These stories, as she puts it, have touched her in a very inspirational way. Brittany feels that the depth of these films will reflect life in a way that we can all benefit from and find ourselves aspiring to.


Brittany is an intuitive, receptive, thoughtful Producer and involved on every set. She has that rare soul that can interconnect with everyone almost instantly. She facilitates a good storytelling environment, and walks the talk by fostering an inviting, conversational environment on-set that relaxes everyone, most importantly those being interviewed. The One Long Ride Trilogy, the years of pre-production, and the Prologue would never have been possible without her continued dedication.   

- Post-Production 47.5% - 



We have set the films up to be shot and edited concurrently. The existing framework of the Prologue serves as the foundations for each film in the Trilogy. 

The lion’s share of the budget will be allocated to post production. The films will feature sophisticated motion graphics embodying the informational spirit of Larry Gordon’s ad layouts of Gordon and Smith over the decades. 

Shot on RED in 8K and professionally color corrected and graded, the three films of the G&S Trilogy will be mastered in 9.1 Dolby Atmos™, Surround Sound. 

All three films in essence are future proofed for posterity. This ensures that the G&S One Long Ride Trilogy preserves the G&S legacy for future generations.

We will continue our commitment to Debbie Gordon throughout post production to accurately document the history in the most authentic way we can. Letting those that lived the experiences of the eras share these legendary stories.   


Matthew Steven Melin Editor and Post Production Supervisor 

Matt has been editing since 1999. He is an accomplished Editor, a Certified Colorist, & Certified Fairlight Audio Sound Designer proficient in mixing and mastering in Dolby Atmos™ Surround Sound. 


Each film will be enriched with Motion Graphics made up of basic and complex animations. 

The films will continue in the tradition of the informational presentations of G&S Surf and Skate advertising over the decades. One Long Ride Surf, for example, seeks to demystify fundamental aspects of applied hydrodynamics. One Long Ride Skate, as another example, seeks to simplify the basic scientific principles and physics involved with the evolution of skateboarding design.

Audiences will more easily understand what became possible, and why, in large part because of the G&S commitment to advancing technology application and integrated design throughout the decades.

  - Marketing: 5% -

The G&S Trilogy has several unique social media marketing opportunities.

Team riders past and present of both Surf and Skate are very active on assorted platforms replete with their own followers.

The One Long Ride Films will be marketed utilizing the major social media platforms during all phases of production to generate a sustained presence and building excitement going into their release. 

G&S has a global appeal. All three films will be translated into Japanese, French, Spanish and Portuguese for marketing and distribution worldwide.

1st ROUND STRETCH GOALS ROLL INTO THE 2nd ROUND FUNDING

STRETCH GOAL ALLOCATION

- Production - 


Expansion of supportive Cinematography, 
additional shooting days of skateboarding and surfing footage & additional location shoots. 
Additional WaterCam, aerial cinematography, and expanding our already elaborate shot-lists.


 - Post Production -


Additional 3D Imagery, 3-D animation, Motion Graphics, and further refinement of all three films 
will widen our use of immersive filmmaking enhancement techniques in Dolby Atmos ™


- Soundtrack Compilation -


Our goal is to create a soundtrack for all three films to benefit the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the California Surf Museum, and the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
 Additional funds raised will be in part, used to secure music locally and original music rights wherever it may be applicable.

- Thank You -

We appreciate the time you have taken to consider participating in
the G&S One Long Ride Surf, Skate, & Full Circle Productions.
We hope you have enjoyed the G&S One Long Ride Prologue.
We are looking forward to teaming up to preserve our history!

Mateo and Brittany