YI-WO
October 30, 2025
I was fortunate to be in California when Thomas Campbell premiered his latest film, YI-WO. I have loved TC’s work since discovering it in 2004 via Sprout, one of his earlier films. That film served as a sort of creative compass and inspired me in so many ways. So when I saw that he was premiering it in Laguna Beach, I was there.
I’m hesitant to call YI-WO a surf film because it’s so much more than that. Yes, there is a lot of surfing, images of boards, water, waves, etc, but the real value that this film offers is as a transcendent experience of truly unique artistic expression. There were so many new things to hear and see in this film that fully captured and absorbed my entire attention and being.
Like surfing a really good wave, time slows or stops, and while you are transported physically over water from A to B, there is a special place of wonder and awe between those physical locations that is outside reality, that defies description. This film took me to that place more than anything I’ve seen in a long time.
Considering TC worked on this film for over 10 years, I’m not surprised at its power and purity. Campbell has been making art most of his life — he is tapped in. The film is entirely self funded. There are no sponsors. There are no surfers names or geographical locations called out (during the film at least, you need to read the credits for that). The music is almost all original (made or selected by TC and his close friends) and is not available to stream anywhere. The edit is lush and layered and ranges from tight and intense to loose and wild and way, way out there. At 81 minutes, it’s longer than most surf films, but I could watch stuff like this for days.
When Thomas got up to introduce YI-WO at the premiere, I really appreciated what he said, which was along the lines of “Here is something that I worked on for a long time, something I feel deeply. Something I made exactly the way I want. And now it’s time for you to deal with it.”
I like the idea of art as an inner experience to be managed, to be dealt with. The best art takes time to understand, to absorb and integrate into ourselves. It takes work. Months later I am still “dealing” with YI-WO, and enjoying every minute of it.
Hear TC talk about the making of the film on the Looking Sideways Podcast here.