• Meet Filmmaker Finlay Patalano
    Meet Fin Patalano, a good mate of Stone&Wood and a filmmaker whose work blends captivating visuals with the vibrant energy of surf culture.
    Hailing from Cairns but now based in Newcastle, Fin’s unique approach to storytelling captures the raw beauty and in-between moments of the ocean, along with the laid-back lifestyle that surrounds it. His latest project, Solly—a short film about surfing, board design, and doing things differently—has been making waves.
    After its recent premiere, we linked up with Fin to explore his filmmaking journey, his deep connection to the ocean, and, of course, his go-to knock-off beer—a cold Pacific Ale. Read on...

    Q: Hey Fin, thanks for connecting! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from?
    A: Hey legends, I’m Fin, a filmmaker who grew up in Cairns, North QLD.
    Q: What did you love about growing up in Cairns, and what do you dig about where you live now (Newcastle)?
    A: I loved the adventurous lifestyle we lived! When the weather was good, we’d be out on the reef spearfishing, and when it wasn’t so good, we’d be hiking up secluded rainforest streams looking for waterfalls. There was always something to do!
    Q: How did you get into cinematography/content creation? What made you first pick up a camera?
    A: I always seemed to have a camera on me from a pretty young age. There was something about capturing moments and how I saw them that just fascinated me. I spent the last couple of years of high school working on a charter fishing vessel out of Cairns, then kept working at sea during my gap year because we couldn’t go too far due to Covid. I always had my camera with me while at work and soon saw an opportunity to pursue filmmaking at sea full-time.
    Q: You shoot a lot on Super 8. Do you prefer shooting film or digital, and what film stock do you like to run?
    A: I only recently got into shooting Super 8 but I am definitely obsessed already! There’s just something so special about it. No matter how hard you try, you can’t fake the look of Super 8 with other cameras. I like the entire process and the patience required to even see the footage you’ve shot. It’s very gratifying.
    Q: A lot of your work revolves around the ocean. What draws you to the water, and what elements do you seek within a frame when shooting surfing and the energy of the ocean?
    A: I guess it’s in my blood. Growing up around the ocean in a seafaring family makes it a part of who I am. I love how much the ocean is able to calm me and how quickly it can humble you. My favourite elements to capture when shooting aren’t even the hero shots or surfing but the in-between moments. The offshore winds blowing spray off the top of a wave, which, when shot from under the surface, looks like it’s raining. The bubbles that catch the morning sun. The smiles between sets. Anything that helps create a feeling and tell a story.
    Q: Your short film Solly has been generating a bit of buzz—what inspired you to create it, and how did the project come together?
    A: I’ve always wanted to piece a short surf film together but was either strapped for time or misaligned with the story I wanted to capture. I love surf films—the idea of bringing two art forms together (film and surfing) has always fascinated me. When I got introduced to the Sollys through a close friend, I knew almost straight away that they were who I wanted to film! I also fell in love with the coastline we shot at.
    Q: Is there a moment or frame from Solly that stands out as particularly noteworthy for you?
    A: I think probably the segment where the song Highway Child by a local band and good friends, Lily Anna & the Maverick Queen, is playing. It’s cool to collaborate with such talented artists and use music produced in the same place where the film was shot. It was one of those meant-to-be moments.
    Q: You screened Solly for the first time at your friend Matthew’s photo show. What was it like collaborating with friends on an event like The Island Lives?
    A: There’s a quote by Rick Rubin that goes, “Competition serves the ego, collaboration serves the highest outcome,” and that’s exactly what it was like. Bringing like-minded artists together to create something bigger than themselves. Without collaboration, an event like this would never have happened.
    Q: Can you give us a quick rundown of The Island Lives? Did you have a hand in the project or the rollout of the event?
    A: The Island Lives was a collection of prints that Matt took while over in Tahiti. This was Matt’s event, and we were just lucky enough to be invited along to screen some films on the night! I remember him and me jamming out on the idea of “art in person” vs. “art online,” and we both loved the idea of bringing an online audience into a physical space together—using art as the excuse to bring real people together. With the whole online world today being so driven by views, likes, and validation, it’s easy to forget why we even do this in the first place. So, through this event, we were able to celebrate the grassroots of art and creativity. It was pretty cool to see an idea come to life, and I can’t thank everyone involved in bringing the night together enough!
    Q: Tell us more about the evening. How was the turnout... Any highlights?
    A: It was definitely one for the books! To see around 200 people come through the doors that night was incredible. A highlight for me was just seeing everyone mingle. I don’t remember seeing anyone sitting there on their phone scrolling Instagram—just genuine, real human connection. You could walk up to anyone, whether you knew them or not, and just have a chat. That’s what these events are all about for me!
    Q: After a big day on the tools, where do you go to unwind and enjoy a sunset brew?
    A: The front deck of my house in Newy!
    Q: Favourite knock-off beer?
    A: Stone & Wood Pacific Ale—always has been, always will be!
    Q: Dream shoot—pick a subject, a location, and a camera setup. Who, where, and what are you shooting?
    A: Torren Martyn or Mikey February, an empty right-hand point break somewhere in a tropical climate. My Sony FX3 with underwater housing.
    Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received when it comes to shooting outdoor content?
    A: Shoot the things you want to see in the world, not what you think someone else wants to see.
    Q: What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you can share with us?
    A: A couple of short films lined up for next year! Can’t say too much yet, but I’m very excited for these ones!
     
    Check out Fin's work on his website https://finlaypatalano.com.au/ and give him a follow here. We're stoked to get to work with Fin as part of our ‘& Friends’ program, make sure to check out his film, Solly, above. 
    Got adventure on your mind now? This Summer, we’re giving five lucky adventurers the chance to score 1 of 5 $10,000 Aussie getaways. Simply, head here and tell us where you want to go for a chance to win. 
     
    Reading times: 2 mins

    Meet Filmmaker Finlay Patalano

    Meet Fin Patalano, a good mate of Stone&Wood and a filmmaker whose work blends captivating visuals with the vibrant energy of surf culture. Hailing from Cairns but now based in...

    Read story
  • Stone & Wood Adventure Fund: WIN 1 of 5 $10,000 Adventures

    Enter now

     

    Set Your Aussie Adventure Free. Stone & Wood is giving away $50K in Travel Grants to 5 lucky people.

    We all dream of stepping outside our comfort zone and embarking on a wild outdoor adventure that gives us bragging rights from now through retirement. 

    But too often, we file those dreams under ‘maybe one day’ and before we know it the ‘let’s go’ spirit turns into a slightly deflated ‘should have gone’ attitude.
    It was this realisation that sparked an idea amongst the Stone & Wood team:
    What if we could help give people the nudge to make that ‘maybe one day’ adventure actually happen?

    We are beyond thrilled to introduce the Stone & Wood Adventure Fund — an initiative to keep the Australian adventure spirit alive by giving five people a $10,000 grant each to chase their wildest Aussie travel dreams!

     

    Stone & Wood Adventure Fund

    Enter now

    Between 1 October 2024 - 31 January 2025 we are putting the call out and we want to hear from you. What’s your dream Australian adventure? Swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef? Sailing around the country or maybe get on a bike and ride across it? Would you go canyoning in the Blue Mountains or surfing at Snapper, or Byron Bay? It’s time to fire up your imagination and think big!

    Alongside the five $10,000 travel grants, we also have amazing prizes up for grabs, from Wildearth, Sea to Summit, Sahara and Dometic, to be won at participating venues and bottleshops.

    The Adventure Fund will run throughout the Aussie summer, from 1 October to 31 January.
    To enter, simply purchase a Stone & Wood beer at any bottle shop or venue where it’s available, and tell us where you want to go and why. It’s as easy as that.

    Five lucky winners will soon embark on an ultimate adventure, thanks to Stone & Wood, with the all-action captured and shared across the brewery’s channels.

    Head to the competition page and tell us your dream Aussie adventure to enter now!
    Grab a brew and start planning your ultimate Aussie escape.

    Reading times: 2 mins

    Stone & Wood Adventure Fund: WIN 1 of 5 $10,000...

    Adventure is calling, and we’ve got $50,000 worth of epic journeys to give away! Tell us your dream Aussie adventure for a chance to win 1 of 5 $10K trips.

    Read story
  • Set Your Wanderlust Free with Backpack West Coast IPA

    The Backpack West Coast IPA

    Knapsack rangers and rucksack jockeys, set your wanderlust free with the The Backpack West Coast IPA. This bright, tropical and sessionable brew captures the essence of coastal adventures and the spirit of collaboration. The Backpack beer is the big and juicy second instalment of our partnership with the crew at Mountain Culture. Inspired by their bold American brewing techniques and our shared origin in, and passion for, vibrant backpack towns this approachable 6% ABV tipple is brewed with Idaho, Amarillo and Galaxy hops and bursts with flavours of mango, citrus and stone fruit.

     The Backpack West Coast IPA has you covered from the mountains to the sea and is brewed with your inner nomad in mind.

    From The Mountains To The Sea – The Spirit of Collaboration

    When our brewers met DJ, the Mountain Culture head brewer it was a match made in hop-heaven. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, DJ refined his craft in Colorado before taking his love for fresh beer and crisp mountain air to the Blue Mountains of Katoomba, NSW.

    We quickly bonded over a shared passion for epic nature, good times and even better beers – and it was not long before the idea of a collab was inevitable. With both Mountain Culture and Stone & Wood hailing from quaint backpacker towns filled with colourful characters and vibrant energies, the stage was set for an epic, two-part collaboration. Our journey began with a team visit to the Blue Mountains and resulted in the mountain edition of the Backpack Ale, where the Mountain Culture brewers gave us their beautiful twist on the Original Pacific Ale.

    A few short months later, it was our turn to bring the MC team from the peaks to the sea with our own creation – The Backpack Westcoast IPA. We spent a few stunning days together finding waves and swapping brewing tales while blending American and Australian hops into this beautiful spin on their big, delicious IPAs. 

     

    Being our first-ever brewery collab, we could not be more honoured and excited to team up with the amazingly skilled and epically awesome crew at Mountain Culture.

    With their influence and our shared passion for great brewing, we think this beer is nothing short of extraordinary. Enjoy!

    Shop Backpack West Coast IPA here

     

    Reading times: 2 mins

    Set Your Wanderlust Free with Backpack West Coa...

    A Stone & Wood x Mountain Culture Backpack Collaboration series. Introducing Backpack West Coast IPA

    Read story
1 of 3