Name: Bill Ballard

Age: 38

Home base: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

What's shaking? Getting ready for a great winter of surf and pumped to get some killer segments up on the Banquet for the world to see!

Write your BNQT introduction. Who are you and what do you do? Billygoat Productions started back in 1993 on Kauai and since we've made over 25 surf films. Currently have two amazing projects in the pipe for 2007, we will let you know about those as soon as we can, just keep posted!

In two sentences describe what you're up to these days, aside from answering annoying interview questions: When I'm not filming, directing or producing I have been surfing and spending time with my wife Cara and 20-month-old daughter, Daysha.
Top five things in your life right now: Family, Friends, Directing/Producing quality projects, Traveling, and Being in the Ocean on a daily basis.

Have you ever heard of the phrase "pants-off dance-off" If so, explain. No, but we have these bullshit dance parties when even Daren Crawford is around and there have been a few times that clothes have come off while dancing. Living out here we don't have clubs or bars so we have to make our own parties. A few of us are into records, and we get those spinning, lights down low, cocktails flowing and basically it's on!

Favorite pro to watch on film/in person: Luke Egan

Top three names people should know in your sport that they might not: Mason Ho, Mark Healy and Cole Christenson

Favorite movie(s) you've made? These Are Better Days

Favorite one made by someone else? September Sessions

Favorite guys to watch on film? Andy, Bruce, Occy, Luke, Kalani, Kelly, Dane, Joel, Gavin, Dean, Mick, Bobby, and Cory.

Favorite places/set-ups/people to ride? Pipeline and Teahupoo, absolutely amazing to watch the best go big at these two waves, and both places put the camera man right there!

Have you ever appeared in a courtroom? no

Avoiding cliches, give some advice to the up-and-comers, the guys that would love to do what you're doing: Intern first, learn from the best, plan on not making money for at least five years, expect brutally long hours and do it because you love it, not to be cool or make money! Be original, make the product that's in your heart.

Where do you see Billygoat going? Any big projects in the works? We have been taking a little break from making films in the last two years, filmed for The Bruce Movie and worked for Red Bull. But in 2007 we have a couple of AMAZING projects that will hit the surfing world, stay tuned!

Can you give us a rundown of a day in the life of Bill Ballard, running a billion dollar company, etc.? I live an extremely simple life here on the North Shore. Wake up early around dawn, check surf, try to surf, body surf or do some sort exercise, spend some morning time with family, film sick waves or work in office all day if the waves are bad, spend afternoons with friends and family. As simple as it is, life couldn't be better! I live one house back from beach, 5 minute bike ride to 15 world class waves, and great friends all with in walking distance.

How did you hear of Banquet? Thru the man, Rudd Davis. World beware, this shit is going to erupt.

Do you think there's any truth to the rumor they sold nuclear weapons components to Iran? Not only that, but supposedly Bin Laden has been interning in the janitorial deptartment [Ed note. He was fired for the generally low quality of his work]

How do you feel knowing that Pluto is no longer a planet? I always preferred the cartoon character anyway.

If you were forced to drive either the Pontiac Aztec or the Plymouth PT Cruiser, which would you choose and why? Not really a car snob, if it gets me there I'll cruise most any ride.

What's the longest you've ever made it on a date without telling the girl you make surf movies for a living? GIRLS, what are those???

Give the kids some good musical tid-bits, what's on your dial right now? Willie Nelson, AC/DC and The Bee Gee's

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, except Paraguay, where would you go? New Zealand and Russia

Pick the Funnier word: shrubbery or woodchipper? You said wood……

Droopy or smock? FUBAR

Better name for a band? "Intimate Secretary" or "The Springtime Snowblowers," "Cummerbund Smock," or "Dudes and Vans?" You guys have been in the office way tooooo long!

Can you top those? Late night inner thigh lickers

If you were stuck on a deserted island with an unlimited water supply and no food supply other than 50 pounds of corn flakes and 50 chickens would you:
a.) Feed the corn flakes to the chickens to fatten them up and then eat the chickens
b.) Eat the chickens without feeding them and then eat the corn flakes
c.) Combine the cornflakes and chickens into some kind of stew.
(If C., what would you call the stew?)
Corn flakes for breakfast and chicken for dinner, it's too easy

Final shoutouts/thank-yous/god-tidings/general musings: Big shout outs to my working friends Rob Bruce, Daren Crawford, Ross Haines, all those people out there doing good deeds to better the world, the men and women down in IRAQ, IRAN, AFGHANASTAN, busting their asses for our messed up govt.. Also any surfers in the world globe trotting to their own beat finding their own waves, keeping it real, I know you're enjoying some sick empty waves with your bros right now as we read this, enjoy while it lasts!!!! Lovers keep on Lovin' and Haters wake up~!