Emmett Molloy: It's allHappening

Tue 1st Apr, 2008 in Features

I talk to some pretty amazing, inspirational people. Often when I do, they have a specific thing to discuss, the new album or tour for example. Sometimes, if they’ve been in the game a long time, they know exactly how to deliver the sounds bites that will cleverly and concisely promote the area they want to focus on. Sometimes they have no concept of construction in a sentence and I end up with miles of transcript that focuses on nothing.

Then there’s Emmett Molloy. In a nutshell, Emmett is a film director and record label manager. Now imagine a nutshell the size of the globe and you might have some idea what a conversation with Emmett Molloy is like. This article does not even contain half of the words that Emmett rattled into my ear during our all-too-brief chat. Damn you word count, damn you.

Emmett, his brother Chris Molloy and best mate Jack Johnson formed the film collaborative Woodshed Films ten years ago. Along with Jack and his partner Kim, Emmett is one of the lynch-pins of Brushfire Records, a label established with a similar purpose to Woodshed Films: “We’ve created an environment where we can provide a platform for people to get their expressions out there. Everybody in our little group is a true friend and does believe in what we’re doing and has kept the integrity in tact.”

And the friends that play together…umm…well, what a life. As Jack kicked off his world tour in Australia, along for the ride were label buddies G.Love and Special Sauce, as well as Matt Costa. But in the spirit of their business and collaborative nature, Emmett also brought The Happening, a whirlwind of art, film and music that embraces surf and skate culture.

“It’s a great night – really the music always has the big names, but I think when people go and visit [the Happening], the art ends up stealing the show. I feel like there’s amazing talent and it’s a world that people don’t know much about so it’s cool to get there and soak that in.”

To paint a picture of the type of night that they showcased, Emmett explains: “We [featured] a film, Sliding Liberia, where [friends] went to Liberia and shot a [surfing] documentary but along the way were exposed to a real part of life. As well as previews of our upcoming surf films, and a film that I did for the White Stripes, we screen a film our friend Thomas Campbell made. He’s one of the more high profile artists and filmmakers in our group and we’ve put out soundtracks to his films.”

Having spoken to Garrett – œG.Love’ Dutton in recent weeks, I am aware of G’s relationship to John Butler and, in turn, of the community that all these guys have created. They support each other’s endeavours and music unequivocally. Emmett agrees enthusiastically.

“We feel really lucky to have the support that we do, because we all really enjoy coming here. In Australia, we’ve been here several times on every record and [Jack’s] show in Sydney is such a testament – it was an amazing thing to witness. I couldn’t believe the size of the crowd. It was a great vibe, and people were singing along – to even the new songs! Our lifestyle fits perfectly down here.”

So how have they incorporated their love of our great country into the aesthetic of The Happening?

“In Sydney we thought ahead and tried to find some local artists to have their stuff be a big part of the evening. I think that’s the real spirit of what we’re doing – bringing our culture in and blending it with what exists in the towns that we’re going into.” And as with all the work these guys immerse themselves in, there is always a nod to the homemade, a willingness to get their hands dirty. Emmett laughs. “In the case of the Bondi Pavillion, we just literally had to build plywood walls – they were doing ballerina classes in there that morning! It was a big group effort, which is the fun part of it. All the Sydney artists and our friends just got in there with drills and nails and made it happen.”

One would imagine, I muse (when I can get a word in edgeways) that the collective mentality of the businesses might seem quite laid back: all surfing holidays and guitar plucking while someone wanders around with a Super 8 camera. In reality though, does Emmett ever really knock at five and just relax? “It’s impossible,” he sighs. “I work pretty much around the clock. All my best friends are people I work with, so, in a way, it’s like you’re never working. At the same time, it’s like; man…It’s a blessing and a curse! But I say – œcurse’ with a smile on my face. We’ve taken what we were just doing [anyway] and it’s become something much bigger than we ever expected.”

But, he clarifies, “I just don’t think we’ve ever changed how we are.”

In between Woodshed and Brushfire projects, Emmett admits to taking on outside projects. These sort of to allow him more financial freedom with his own stuff, but he is hardly doing it grudgingly. With an amazing amount of acts crediting Emmett with their music videos (among them Foo Fighters and Metallica), he embraces the freedom of these projects.

“I enjoy doing those. Through Brushfire [we] do it our way, which has a certain look and aesthetic. The fun part about the other things is that they’re sort of a guilty pleasure. You get to work with one of your favourite bands, and the artistic integrity of that type of project has strengthened me as a director. You feel a lot of inspiration and step to another level. But it gets a little busy,” he chuckles.

Does he get a chance to actually go and see new films, as a punter? Not really – it’s a case of the cobbler’s children wearing no shoes. Emmett groans, “It is really an ironic situation.”

So has Australia now missed their chance to get a look at The Happening? Not at all, says Emmett. “We’re just moving along with the Jack dates. As Jack winds down his tour, we’ll do quite a few in the States and then come back here to do Melbourne, Brisbane.”

And what other projects is the Woodshed/Brushfire/Molloy/Johnson juggernaut looking forward to? Emmett affords a brief moment of pause, finally announcing, “I’d really like to do a U2 video, just to say I did one. I’d like to do a long-form film more in the spirit of a What’s Eating Gilbert Grape or a Harold and Maude. One of those offbeat comedies that I feel could showcase everything that we have, but the thing I’m most excited about is the new Mason Jennings record we’re putting out.

“To be able to shoot his video, and put his record together with him, was something I was chasing for a long time. I feel like we’re gonna have a good future together.” It seems there is always something going on in this group. As long as Emmett’s inspiration maintains this pace, there probably always will be.