Surfing women are riding a wave of popularity into Hollywood studios. Hollywood rides wave
of surf filmsBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comIn addition to "Surf Girls," the $30-million Universal/Imagine picture slated to begin two months of production on Oahu Dec. 12, at least two other surfing theme films are in development. Both will feature women as leads.
Paramount officials visited Oahu in August to scout locations for possible second-unit photography for "Girl in the Curl," reportedly a romantic comedy-drama about a young woman who falls in love with surfing while trying to come to terms with the death of her brother.
The film's producer is Donald De Line who'll be working from a script reportedly written by "Legally Blonde" writer Karen Lutz and Kirsten Smith, then rewritten by "Toy Story" writers Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. Former "Party of Five" star Jennifer Love Hewitt, who co-starred in the TV series "Byrds of Paradise" has been mentioned as a possible lead.
The story is based on Andrea Gabbard's book "Girl in the Curl," published last year, which chronicled the history of women's surfing.
Then there's Warner Bros.' "Lisa Andersen Story," a film "inspired" by the life of the world champion surfer. There is no confirmation that the film will be made in Hawaii.
"Surf Girls" is the first major studio wave-riding flick out of the block. The production company based at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head is working at warp speed to complete casting, another rewrite, and finalize negotiations with either a Waikiki or Leeward resort to be featured in the film, sources said.
Three of the four main female characters have been cast. Kate Bosworth, 18, ("Remember the Titans") will play a young woman named Anne Marie who moves to Hawaii with three other girls, including Eden, who will be played by Michelle Rodriguez ("Girlfight"), and Lina, who will be played by Sanoe Lake, who was born and raised on Kauai.
Lake, a two-time winner in her age group in the Waikiki Rough Water Swim, is the only one of the three who can actually surf. She's also modeled swimwear for Elle, Shape and Seventeen magazines.
Bosworth is in Hawaii taking private surfing lessons. Before her arrival in Honolulu she was taught surfing basics in catching waves and standing up, in the cool ocean off Southern California, sources said.
The male lead reportedly is going to Matthew Davis ("Legally Blonde").
The production still must cast the character of Penny, Anne Marie's 14-year-old sister, who is described in the script as a blue-eyed blonde about 5 feet tall. Some auditions for that role may be done on the neighbor islands.
Writer/director Stockwell, a long board surfer himself, is living near Chun's Reef on the North Shore and reportedly rewriting the story to fit the recently cast female leads.
The recent storyline has the three girls living, working and surfing together on the North Shore. The trio work as house maids, trying to save money to open a store called "Surf Girls." They eventually realize that the only way for them to accumulate cash fast is for one of them to win a major surf contest.
According to sources, surfing footage will be shot at Jaws, Maui's major big wave spot. But don't expect the actors-turned-surfers to ride these monsters. Surfing stunt women will be used, most likely pro surfers Rochelle Ballard, of Kauai, Megan Abubu, Melanie Redman, and Australian big wave rider Layne Beachley who plays herself in the film.
Other surf projects planned:
>> The story of the life and death of Hawaii surfer Mark Foo at Maverick's in California is being developed by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman's Playtone Co. for Universal.
>> "In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road" is under development by Radar Pictures with Sean Penn starring and producing.
>> The popular book "Dogs of Winter" is in development at Paramount.
>> The independent surf film "Local Boys," starring Mark Harmon, features men and women wave riders and is slated to in spring.
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