The Cigarette Surfboard
The Cigarette Surfboard (2024 Winner: Waco Indie Best Documentary Feature) Impassioned surfer Taylor Lane builds a functional surfboard with 10,000 cigarette butts collected from California beaches. The Cigarette Surfboard becomes a platform to learn from professional surfers who are working to protect the ocean, and the symbol of a grassroots campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic, plastic waste. Surfing is the medium, but the message is universal.
Director, Ben Judkins and Surfboard Builder, Taylor Lane with 2 Cigarette Surfboards on the 2024 Waco Indie Red Carpet.
Surf’s Up! We’re stoked to be joined today by Ben Judkins, the director of The Cigarette Surfboard. This film was the winner of our documentary feature in 2024, and for great reason. Tremendous story - so much heart, and the visuals are absolutely amazing. Let’s dive in.
Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us. How is everything with you?
BJ: Thanks for the alumni interview! I'm doing great. We just completed our first year of touring The Cigarette Surfboard, with more than 80 screenings around the world in the past 12 months (and attending most of those). And what an honor to have our U.S. Premiere at Waco Indie.
What do you remember most about Waco Indie?
BJ: I met some amazing filmmakers, a couple of whom I've remained in close contact with this past year. I saw some awesome films, and had a blast at all the events / parties put on by Waco Indie. The crew at Waco Surf were incredible - they hosted us, got us on the Ciggy Boards in the wave pool, and helped make our U.S. Premiere really memorable.
The folks at Waco Surf are so awesome! Just the nicest folks and incredible festival sponsors.
BJ: Yeah, I highly recommend folks go check out Waco Surf while in town - for any level of surfing, wakeboarding, hitting the water slide or just floating the lazy river. Good times all around!
What inspired you to make this film?
BJ: As a surfer myself, and someone who deeply cares about the health of the ocean, the message of this film really resonates with me. It uses surfing to tell a bigger story, about the role of surfers to speak up on behalf of the ocean, and the capacity anyone has to be a steward of the sea. All of the participants in the film inspired me through their actions as ocean stewards, and I feel honored to be able to spread their stories to the world.
What have you learned about yourself or about life in making this film?
BJ: While making (and specifically editing) a film can feel all-consuming, make sure you take care of yourself while you're deep in it. Try to eat well, try to sleep well, and take care of your mental health. For me, that meant going for a surf and spending time with friends. Every time I pulled myself away from the computer to go for a surf, or hang with friends, I'd come back full of energy and excitement to keep moving forward. And have fun throughout the process!
What was your biggest success story (or biggest failure) in the production of this film? Favorite scenes?
BJ: Being able to work with all of the incredible professional surfers / ocean activists - folks who truly inspired me, and people I really look up to - was truly such an honor. Traveling the world alongside Ciggy Board Builder / Co-Producer Taylor Lane was a blast, and I wouldn't trade those travels for anything - from Ireland to Hawai'i, Fiji to the UK. We learned so much along the way and built lasting relationships with the folks in the film.
Why was it important to make THIS film at THIS time?
BJ: The film is hopeful and inspiring (and fun!) - we knew we didn't want to make another depressing documentary about the health of the ocean. Everywhere we screen the film people want to get involved in something bigger than themselves, and our film acts as a sort of blueprint for change-making. And right now, that is ever important. We highlight the importance of speaking up, speaking out, and giving back to this beautiful planet.
What do you want your audience to say or feel after watching this film?
BJ: I want people to feel fired up to take action for the planet, to know that their individual actions really do matter for the collective change we want to see.
So for our Waco folks, we highly encourage you to get involved in the community. If caring for the environment is a passion for you, we recommend Keep Waco Beautiful. Now, how can people keep track of you and the Ciggy Surfboards?
BJ: Follow our journey here: https://www.instagram.com/thecigarettesurfboard/. Thanks for reading and have a blast at Waco Indie!
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