Triumph Films
Shane Dorian, left, Matt George, and Matthew Stephen Liu,
real-life surfers who play surfers in "In God's Hands,"
premiering Tuesday to benefit Hawaii's Junior
Lifeguard Program.

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Passion soothes
the savage soul

Isles inspire
'Wind on Water' pilot

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin<

FILMING the motion picture "In God's Hands" in Hawaii inspired producer-director Zalman King to do a television pilot here as well.

"Wind on Water", the $4-million NBC pilot starring Bo Derek, completed filming on the Big Island last month . Network executives soon will see the pilot then determine if the show will be part of the Peacock network's fall schedule. The story is a historical saga of two 100-year ranching families, NBC officials said.

"If it gets on the air I think people in Hawaii will be very happy because it shows exquisitely the lush landscape, the paniolos and the surf," King said in a telephone interview from his Los Angeles production offices.

Zalman said his goal with "Wind on Water" was to represent "a real Hawaii rather than a fantasy island." To do that he used numerous Hawaiians in the cast in "culturally rich" rather than stereotypical roles, he said.

"The great thing about doing 'In God's Hands' and 'Wind on Water' in Hawaii was meeting so many Hawaiian people...who all enriched my life," King said. "I was able to get into the culture in a way that I could not have without them. Their influence helped me connect quickly with the culture. And it was quite medicinal to learn that these sort of values and beliefs exist somewhere in the world."

King was especially intrigued by Hawaii's paniolo history.

"I know it sounds pretentious, but the surfer is sort of a modern day cowboy; the connection between the surfer and paniola is quite comparable," he said. "What interested me about doing 'Wind on Water' is that families like the Parkers and the Richards who came to the Big Island early on are still there. These are haole families who blended into the culture without taking it over."

King said logistically there were no problems filming the television pilot on the Big Island.

"I found it very freeing," he said. "Once you've built a bit of infrastructure you're set. There's no traffic and since it's an outdoor show I didn't need sound stages."

"Wind on Water" will remain an outdoor program if it goes to series, and would be the Big Island's first, King said. The production would return to the Big Island in June to begin filming episodes for a late September debut.

LOCAL BOYS "IN GOD'S HANDS" Patrick Shane Dorian: Born in Kona, Dorian is the number two ranked professional surfer in the world. This is his first motion picture performance. Matthew Stephen Liu: A five-time Hawaiian Surfing Champion, Liu was born in Haleiwa. He has been pursuing an acting career for three years and now lives in Santa Monica. Brian Keaulana: Brian is the world's premier ocean rescue specialist. He revolutionized lifeguarding worldwide by developing rescue techniques that involve use of jet skis in the surf. He lives in Makaha. Derrick Doerner: Award-winning lifeguard, ocean rescue specialist and surfing, sailboarding and snowboarding champion, Doerner comes from Sunset Beach. Doerner was the first one to attempt riding open ocean waves. Pete Cabrinha: A sailboarding champion, Cabrinha pioneered strap surfing, a method of securing the feet to the board in order to maintain stability and maneuverability in large surf. Cabrinha is married and lives on Maui. Rush Randle: This Maui resident and sailboarding champion is considered the premier strap (foot straps are attached to the board) surfer. The 24-year-old father lives in Maui's Piahe Valley.