I didn’t think I’d have to write that. But there it is. The morning of the premiere and I still haven’t seen the damn thing. After a week in the desert, followed by an even more dehydrated stint in the lizard den known as the What Youth editing bay, Kai and Blake are still the only people to see it. Yesterday they emerged from the den with puffy eyes and strange beards and have immediately vanished. They’re probably in Hollywood. Or back in Bali. Or Australia or New Zealand. Or the Ace Hotel pool bar (I hope). Probably sunning themselves on rocks and lounge chairs, reenergizing for the coming days and more premieres after tonight’s big debut. But I do hope they emerge for this evening’s first public showing.

When we started What Youth one of the main ideas was to give a very inside look at the making of Kai’s movies. The travel, the antics, the girls, the drinks, the rad shit, the airs and everything going along with those airs. And whether it was from Lizards of Summer, one of the issues we’ve put out (What Youth issue 10 is more or less the scrapbook script to Cluster), our Instagram or wherever you drink up what we pour, we hope you feel connected and a part of it. Because that’s how we feel. We’re all in this shit show together. And today I sit here on the day of the World Premiere, impatiently sitting with you, completely in the dark, not knowing what sort of wild pictures will appear inside the far-too beautiful theatre at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles before our peers and friends and surfers and skaters and whoever else may show. I have heard some loud music emanating from the edit bay that I liked. I’ve seen bits and pieces. I’ve seen photos. I know what’s possible. But just like you, I’m as excited as I’ll ever be to watch a surf video once again. And that’s the best part of this whole mess. There’s a rad new surf vid coming out.

And in one more effort to hangout, if you want to join us at the premiere, but can’t make it tonight, keep an eye on the What Youth Scrapbook page, we’ll be posting far too many photos live from the event so you can hang as well. Thanks for everything, and we’re coming to your town soon and we’ll bring Cluster with us. If it’s any good. —Travis