Save Sonny Miller's reels
Sonny Miller's film, video and photo archive captures a legendary body of work, and much of it is deteriorating with every year that passes. Help us scan the rest before it's lost.
Tax-deductible · Nalu Film Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 39-3511964
Above: Tom Curren, Pipeline · Photo: Sonny Miller
Every gift saves
the next reel
Right now, hundreds of thousands of feet of raw 16mm and 35mm film, plus thousands of prints and slides, are still waiting to be scanned. Analog film doesn't wait.
Done so far, self-funded and volunteer
- Digitized thousands of videotapes in various formats
- Scanned over 350,000 feet of 16mm film
- Scanned thousands of slides and prints
What's left
- An estimated 200–400 reels of raw 16mm and 35mm film
- Thousands more prints and slides
Why your gift goes further
A commercial film lab charges $400 or more to scan a single 1,000-foot reel. Because we scan in-house on our own equipment, $250 scans an entire reel. $20,000 scans 80 full reels and stores everything safely on archival drives.
You'll complete your tax-deductible donation securely through Zeffy and receive a receipt by email.
The filmmaker who
defined an era
Sonny Miller was a legendary surf filmmaker whose work captured the raw beauty of surfing and the ocean, channeling the restless spirit of adventure and the pull of the unknown.
Among his most notable contributions was his work in the 1990s on Rip Curl's Search film series, including the award-winning Searching for Tom Curren (1996). His influence rippled far beyond his own films, inspiring a generation of filmmakers and shaping the creative direction of the surf industry for decades.
What your gift saves
Sonny Miller Archives
Four ways to keep the legacy alive
Share
Pass this campaign along to friends, family and your social feeds. Every share reaches someone who grew up on these films.
Volunteer
Your time and skills can make a real impact, from cataloging to identifying surfers and spots.
Give by check
Payable to Nalu Film Foundation, memo "Sonny Miller Archive". Mail to 26060 Acero, Suite 217, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, with your email or return address for your tax receipt.
Take a piece of the archive home
Every purchase supports the preservation of the Sonny Miller Archives.