Triumph Films
Shane Dorian, above, doing what he does best
in this $6 million surf movie.
Passion soothes
the savage soul
Let's talk about sex,
By Tim Ryan
surf and discipline, all one and
the same 'In God's Hands'
Star-BulletinTHE road to Hollywood fame and fortune is not been paved with films about surfing.
Even the '60's classic "The Endless Summer" was an anomaly geared first to the surfing set before mainstream America became seduced by the endless quest for the proverbial perfect wave.
But producer-director Zalman King (who directed the lusty "91/2 Weeks" starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Bassinger, "Wild Orchid" with Rourke and Carrie Otis, and "Red Shoe Diaries") isn't concerned with film earning history. His latest celluloid adventure "In God's Hands" is a 90-minute diary that follows surfer-actors Shane Dorian, Matt George and Matty Liu on their quest to ride the world's largest waves. (King also directed the NBC pilot "Wind on Water on the Big Island last month
So why the departure from sex to surf?
"It's really not different," King says in a telephone interview from his San Fernando Valley production offices. "'In God's Hands' is all about passion. This is the sexiest film I've ever done. It's about passion of the soul, passion of discipline, passion of dedication."
What captured King's attention when TriStar approached him to do the film was "the cost of freedom."
"The myth is that surfers are totally free and pretty much undisciplined, but to be totally free you have to be totally disciplined," he said. "What it takes to buy this kind of freedom I found quite heroic."
King, a former SCUBA diver and champion swimmer, decided to pursue the myth. But since he doesn't surf and one of the tenants of successful writing is to know your subject, he recruited an expert.
Haleiwa-born Matty Liu introduced King to surfer-writer Matt George who became the director's "guide through the surfing culture." George is a senior editor at Surfing magazine and has been a sports commentator for professional surfing competitions. The duo collaborated on the script.
"Matty Liu and Matt were my guide to credibility," King said. "If the story is full of it's not because the surfing community wasn't involved."
Triumph Films
Director Zalman King is flanked by star
and co-screenwriter Matt George.
"In God's Hands," which cost about $6 million, is about three young surfers who are also best friends -- Shane Dorian as Shane; Matt George as Mickey; and Matt Liu as Keoni -- on a roller coaster action tour of the world's most exotic and dangerous surf spots that include Madagascar, Mexico, Bali and Hawaii. In Hawaii, the trio surf the North Shore's Backdoor Pipeline, and on Maui, Honolua Bay, and Jaws.When Mickey (George) dies attempting to surf a monster wave at Jaws, Shane (Dorian) travels to Mexico to ride the same swell that killed his friend. It's here he learns first hand that surfing 40-foot waves puts you "In God's Hands."
What impressed King as much as the athletic ability of surfers was "the deep friendships" they have with one another.
"It's a kind of tribal respect," he said. "I've never seen that before. These people know very well who each other are, where everyone stands on the ladder. It's like a gunfighter sort of awe."
In an odd coincidence, the main character was called Shane as an homage to Alan Ladd from the legendary 1953 western "Shane," even before Dorian was cast as "Shane."
But doesn't the fascination with surfing exist only along coastlines, not among the landlocked? King believes the film may be more successful in Michigan than Malibu.
"Lots of people everywhere ride jet skis or have access to lakes," King said. "Some of the most landlocked areas have the biggest surf shops."
Using surfers as actors who perform their own stunts -- a move TriStar opposed -- wasn't done to save money but for authenticity, King said.
"This was the only way the film could have real value," King said.
Early on, King thought he lost his star, Shane Dorian. The production was filming huge waves at Maui's Jaws, a spot Dorian had never ridden before.
"I was scared to death just sitting (in the boat) watching," King said. "Here I am putting the star right into the pit."
Dorian rode the first few waves successfully then wiped out horribly on a wave King said may be the biggest wipeout ever at spot.
Dorian was unhurt, the production captured it on film, and the surfer never talked about it.
King hopes viewers enjoy the film but isn't going to lose sleep if they don't.
"I'm into the process of filmmaking and not result oriented. What I really hope is that it doesn't disappoint the kids who are in it."
Premiere benefit
What: Hawaii premiere of 'In God's Hands' to benefit the Hawaii Lifeguard Association's Junior Lifeguard Program
