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A Documentary

Orange County, CA – Birthplace to the Surf and Skate Culture

How could a small county nuzzled in between Los Angeles and San Diego counties, with just six cities touching the Pacific Ocean, be the birthplace to the surf and skate culture we know today? How did it come to be that almost ALL of the iconic surf brands started here? From Hobie in the 1950’s to Hang Ten, Vans, and Clark Foam in the 60’s to Gotcha and Hurley in the 70’s to Lost, Etnies, Element, Volcom and RVCA in the 80’s and 90’s to newer brands the likes of Florence, Disorder Skateboards, Von Zipper and Vissla – they were all birthed in Orange County.

This documentary focuses on interviews with the Orange County surf and skate innovators and entrepreneurs and how they literally defined the surf culture – the music, the fashion, the equipment, the language and the sports we know worldwide. We visit with the stars of today and the future of the business through their eyes. Although surfing and skateboarding certainly didn’t start in Orange County, the culture definitely did.

Creativity. Risk. Rebellion. Freedom. Self-expression. All words to describe the sports of surf and skateboarding but also the mind-set of the founders, creators, and world-class athletes who shaped the lifestyle.

What is in the water in Orange County? Let’s find out.

Surf and Skate Brands Birthed in Orange County

Producers

Scott Hays, Producer

Scott Hays has been the executive producer of short documentaries for several non-profit organizations, and recently won a 2023 Los Angeles “Golden Mike” Award for his documentary “Hope Dies Last – Alzheimer’s: A Journey of Lost Memories.” Scott has Masters’ Degrees in English Literature and Communications, and he teaches part-time at southern California colleges. Scott co-produced the PBS SoCal public affairs program “Inside OC” with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff. He also produced and hosted the radio-cable show “OC Caravan” for KX 93.5 FM and Cox Channel 3-TV. Over the course of his career, Scott has published a dozen, mostly non-fiction books for major publishing companies such as Warner Books, Gotham, and Rodale Press, and he worked as an editor/writer for a number of publishing companies. Scott grew up and still lives in Orange County.

Terry Corwin, Producer

Terry Corwin is the founder of Lion’s Heart, a national non-profit teen volunteer and leadership platform created in 2004. She has been featured on the Katie Couric Show as a “Women Who Should Be Famous” and on “48 Hours” on a program involving the murder of her childhood classmate. Terry has also been interviewed many times on local news programs and radio programs discussing public school matters and Lion’s Heart. She has received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the President’s Volunteer Service Award program, “Twenty Women to Watch” from OC Metro Magazine, two PTA “Honorary Service Awards,” “Point of Light Award” by the national Points of Light organization, and was the Grand Marshal for her community’s July 4th Parade. Terry grew up and still lives in Orange County.

Current Status

The OC Effect is currently in production.

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