Photos courtesy of Annie Graziano
Graziano grew up with the beauty of Palos Verdes as her backdrop and the Pacific guiding her creative spirit. A proud PV native, she credits the natural beauty and close-knit community for igniting her passion for storytelling. “Anyone who lives here and has a creative bone in their body feels it,” she says. “It’s impossible not to.”
By the time Annie met Greg’s son, Parker Browning, she was already an experienced MMA videographer— skilled behind the camera but new to the world of surf filming. After spending countless mornings waking up at dawn to film with Parker at the beach, she finally crossed paths with his father, Greg Browning. Greg is a Hermosa-bred surfing and filming legend, and what began as a casual introduction quickly became a defining connection. “Greg pulled me aside and asked how serious I was about surf filming,” Annie recalls. “I told him I was all in. And if you knew Greg, you know ‘all in’ was his favorite thing.”
From that moment on, Greg opened doors and shared everything he knew. He gave his time, his trust, and his full heart. “He pushed me hard,” Annie says. “But only because he believed in me—sometimes even more than I believed in myself. He taught me that effort is everything.
If you gave 110%, he was proud. If you were cut- ting corners, he’d call you out. That was caring in Greg’s language—tough, honest, and real.” The late filmmaker, whose work helped define surf cinematography and whose spirit continues to ripple through the global surf community, be- came more than just a mentor to her; he was a second father, a relentless coach, and the reason she now sports signature blonde hair. “He told me, ‘You don’t have to surf, but you should look like you do.’ So I got highlights the next day,”she laughs.
That was Greg—always dropping little pieces of advice that stuck with you. He had a way of encouraging you to show up fully, without ever making it feel forced.”
Graziano now works as the lead editor and camera operator at Dincaboutit Productions. She’s been behind the camera for events like the BeachLife Music Festival, producing same-day edits and moving at the pace Greg trained her for: fast, precise, and uncompromising.
Her second surf film, Carpool Caravan, is a reflection of everything Browning instilled in her: tight storytelling, coastal soul, and the ability to find humor and heart in the journey. It’s brimming with the very “Gregness” so many strive for. “It’s almost like he knew our time might be short,” Graziano says of their eight-year friendship. “So he packed a lifetime of lessons into every conversation, every edit session. He wanted me to succeed, and he gave me the best tools.”
Browning passed away in April, but the widespread paddle outs from the South Bay to Hawaii showed just how deeply he impacted the surf community. “I was blown away,” Graziano says. “So many people were in the water and on shore. Everyone kept saying, ‘Strive for Gregness.’ That’s what we’re all doing now, trying to make him proud.” Her journey from local PV kid to rising surf filmmaker is one of grit, gratitude, and a whole lot of guidance from a man who never settled for good enough.
“Greg gave everything he had to everyone he met. He showed up fully—
with his time, his energy, and his heart—and made you feel like you truly mattered.
That’s why so many people around the world called him their best friend.
He touched lives not just with his talent, but with his kindness and the way he
believed in people, deeply and completely.”
Watch Annie Graziano’s surf film Carpool Caravan here: 
