Relentless extremes

While there is a strong culture of film-making in action sports it’s rare that one film can reach across genres. Inspired by the work of Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Artists is a feature-length documentary from Relentless Energy Drink, which explores the personalities of contemporary artists as they search for fulfilment across three diverse domains, pursuing their passions without compromise, and in doing so risking all to push themselves to their limits.

Frenchman Xavier De Le Rue, one of the world’s top snowboarders and World Freeride Champion has tasted success in a variety of snowboarding disciplines, but his passion lies with backcountry boarding. Despite a near death experience with an avalanche, Xavier ventures back into the remote, dangerous and untouched surroundings of Greenland to conquer the truly unthinkable.

Lives of the Artists then morphs from land to sea as surfers Tom Lowe and Fergal Smith, along with photographer Mickey Smith battle the South Pacific. On the southern tip of Tahiti to a place known as ‘Teahupoo’ which means ‘wall of skulls’, this trio take surfing to the extreme and learn there is more to fear from the ocean than Jaws. They learn that everything comes at a price, and the boys are left questioning at what cost are they prepared to pay for their art?

Lives of the Artists then hits the road with UK hardcore punk band Gallows as they tour the USA. A tortuous trek from city to city, playing in a tour where 90% of the crowd represent the most commercial and soulless aspects of commercialism, Gallows stand out like a sore and angry thumb delivering intense performances to audiences that just aren’t prepared for the onslaught. They are the real deal. Real artists.

Lives of the Artists is shaped by sharp contrasts between worlds and domains of performances, and it demonstrates the common characteristics of the personalities involved; their artistry, ambition, struggle, sacrifice, obsession and triumph that it possesses.

For more information visit www.relentlessenergy.com/livesoftheartists