March 7, 2010
I shot some more of the EPK today. Sean (the director) and I got to host a tour of the house set. I just adore Sean and love being around him. He’s easy to talk with and a fun guy to be around! So it was fun, he and I just walking around, showing where Dennis drives over the bush; showing “my dad’s” work shed, where he makes up the handle for my board; my bedroom, my kitchen. The set is at a house being rented as the Hamilton family house. It’s not our real-life home (phew!) because my mom would freak.
March 9, 2010
I had to leave three weeks before they finished filming, which was kind of a bummer. Leaving the movie and all the actors and crew I had become friends with was a little bittersweet. We had all become good friends and just had a special bond as they are now a major part of my life. But I just really want to continue my goals in surfing . . . so back to business and bye-bye Hollywood for now!
March 10, 2010
I am headed to Australia, and today Hana finally made her debut as an actor in the movie! Hana’s my dog and she’s playing the role as my late dog, Ginger, so I was kind of sad that I missed that. But I got to see a video of her. And she’s so cute! I don’t know if she’s got that full natural talent, but she’s beautiful and I’m so glad that she got to be in the movie.
March 19, 2010
Today is the last day of filming. Though thousands of miles and an ocean away, I am just thinking about it and I really hope that they got everything they need. The movie now goes into the editing process back in Los Angeles, California. Though the filming is done, there’s still a huge part of the filmmaking left. This is where the story really comes together. Scenes may change, reorganize, or even be removed. Music is added, sound effects, visual effects, and lots of other things I don’t even know about!
April 21, 2010
Becky and I are on our way to Europe for a few surf competitions. We stopped over in California to visit the editing room and see the progress that is being made on Soul Surfer. They just have a few scenes cut together at this point. Sean, the director, met up with us and showed us a few scenes—which was really cool to see—and we had lunch on the Sony lot with a few of the executives overseeing the project. I wanted to make it very clear to them how important the movie is to me and my family—especially that the surfing is realistic and really impressive, and that my faith in God is apparent. Also, that the Hawaiian culture and lifestyle is captured and respected. They seemed to hear my points, but we’ll see!
June 19, 2010
I took a break from my surf trip in Tahiti and flew to California to watch an early cut of Soul Surfer. I was really nervous to see it. I wasn’t sure that the movie could be all that I’d hoped it could be. So I said a little prayer . . .
My mom and I met up with Sean and sat down in a private theater to watch it. As I watched it, I experienced many different emotions. I laughed, I cried, I got annoyed; I felt defeat, frustration, determination, victory.
I loved the relationship that my dad and I share throughout the film! I loved seeing my dog Hana star as my late dog Ginger—she’s adorable! Also Dennis and Helen did some of their own stunt surfing in the movie and they were quite impressive! AnnaSophia was definitely the star of the film. She did great, and I am so grateful to have her play me.
The emotions I felt on a more personal level were different. It’s hard to truly share them all. I guess I have some pretty huge expectations! I want this movie to show the power and love that Jesus had and has for me—that same power and love that He has for anyone. The movie has a great story and is very entertaining, but above all I want it to inspire people. I told Sean how I feel, and he gets it. It’s just the first cut, and there’s more work to do.
The surfing was also discouraging for me. Surfing is the essence of my life. So it’s obviously really important to have good surfing in the movie. From the first cut, I could tell the surfing needs work. There is not much surfing done by me. I’m hoping to improve that by going to Tahiti with the movie crew next month! I know as the Soul Surfer team continues to work every day, it will only get better! It’s exciting to see the process of a movie being made. So many details, tons of planning, and a great deal of patience and perseverance. It’s one mega family!
I’m ever so grateful to my family and of course to the Soul Surfer team for all their hard work! Most of all grateful to Jesus Christ! Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
July 26, 2010
I’m in Tahiti right now with the director and a few surf cinematographers. We came down with a small crew for five days, hoping to get some really good beautiful surf. We got a little nervous in the beginning because the forecast looked a little sketchy. Plus there were passing squalls. But every day the conditions have cleaned up and we’ve gotten really good surf! Thank God! Our family had been praying and hoping for this. I hope you enjoy the surfing in the movie!
October 12, 2010
On my way home from a surf competition in Portugal, I got a call from Sean that I needed to come over to California immediately to view the final cut of the picture before it gets “locked.” So we changed my flights, and stopped over before going home. My dad, my brother Noah, and my manager Thayer all watched the movie, and submitted a few notes and concerns we have. Overall we all really liked how it came together and think it’s going to be a very moving film. The producers/filmmakers seem to be open to making a few changes based on our notes. It’s really awesome that they are allowing us to be involved and share our opinions. We obviously want to be able to take pride in the movie, and they recognize that.
The main phases left now in the making of the movie are the sound (music, sound effects, and mixing), the visual effects, and the color correction. Music is really important to me. I want the movie to be filled with positive music with a good message—no bad lyrics or immoral themes. Hopefully my family will get to help them with that. Then I think the final product gets put back onto film, and reproduced and sent to your local theater! It still has several months to go, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the final product!
18
even a surfer can
survive Hollywood!
So now, I can truly say, “There’s a movie made about my life.” It’s been quite a ride, filled with ups and downs, pumps and stalls, maybe even a few wipeouts. But in the end, it’s something I am incredibly proud of. One thing I was really impressed with—and grateful for—was how passionate and motivated the whole team was to make a good story and movie. They may not have always agreed or shared the same feelings or faith, but they allowed my family to tell our story in a way that was truthful and inspiring. It was a really fun experience, but often stressful as well, so I’m quite honestly glad that it’s wrapped (that’s movie talk for “finished”!). It’s such an amazing movie to see. I really hope audiences watch it not only with their eyes but with their hearts. I thank God for the opportunity and for getting my family through it. I can’t wait to see what impact Soul Surfer has on moviegoers who may not have read my book or heard of me. I’m excited to see people discover their faith, and I’m excited to spread God’s message in such a big, bold, beautiful way!
final thoughts . . .
the most frustrating thing about making a movie
One thing that honestly was a bit annoying for me—’cause I don’t have much patience—is that they seriously spend a half a day or more on just one scene! I was like, “Come on! Let’s just get this over with!” I got bored a lot; I usually couldn’t last more than two hours on the set!
the most surprising thing about making a movie
One of the craziest things that I learned about shooting a movie is that it’s shot totally out of order. Like in Soul Surfer, the first scene we shot was a one-arm scene with AnnaSophia. So obviously it’s like way out of order—if we were actually following the way things happened, she woul
dn’t have lost her arm yet! Then right after that, they shot a scene that happens earlier in the movie. So that was kind of weird. But then when you see the movie all come together, it’s seamless. That’s the magic of moviemaking, I guess!
shooting a surfing scene—pressure’s on
Shooting the surfing scenes for the movie is quite challenging, mainly due to the fact that you have to kind of be “on hold” for the ocean. Sometimes, the weather and waves just refuse to cooperate! We did a lot of standing around, hoping the waves would get good for shooting. But once the waves were good, we had a good crew, so we girls just had to surf! Which was fun, but then the pressure is on.
inside scoop on the actors
Honestly. I guess everyone who starred as my family is kind of how I expected them to be. Our family is really laid-back. My brothers and I were born and raised in Kauai, so we’re more kind of on cruise control. The actors are definitely different than us. But they all did a really good job acting—doing their job, becoming something they’re not. So I was really blessed to have each and every one of those actors portray our family.
Dennis Quaid as my dad . . . I think he’s perfect for the part. He’s really into golf, so he and my dad went golfing a few times throughout the film. Thanks to Soul Surfer he got bitten by the surfing bug! He’s pretty much out there every day! He even goes on his own now. I surfed with him a few times, and he’s a natural. He’s got that little surfer touch. He’s pretty funny, and quite the entertainer. At the occasional crew get-together he would play a song on the piano or guitar. One important thing is that he really wants what our family wanted for the film. So he’s really helpful in just figuring out what was true to the story, and how my dad truly is.
Having Helen Hunt be a part of the movie was such a blessing. She’s such a great person and so talented. Getting to know her throughout the filming of the movie was really fun. She’s a surfer. We got to go surfing together a few times. And she took my mom surfing—my mom hasn’t surfed in years, so that was such a breakthrough! It just put the spark right back in my mom’s eyes. It was something I haven’t seen in a while. I am so thankful to Helen for getting my mom back in the water! Helen’s an incredible actress. She’s quiet, real down-to-earth. We have a lot of similarities: for example, we like to live healthy. So it’s been cool getting to know her. She’s kind of just the loving, comforting one in the movie. And she really just brought that motherly touch.
Lorraine Nicholson is playing my good friend Alana Blanchard. Alana and Lorraine—seeing them hang out was pretty hilarious. They look a lot alike, especially after Lorraine gets ready to actually play her role. They’re both pretty cruise and mellow. Lorraine and AnnaSophia also really connected, so they were able to portray that deep friendship that Alana and I have. Lorraine is really funny, and she has a hilarious, dramatic perspective on life. One day during filming there was a tsunami threat for Hawaii that was generated from an earthquake in Chile. Shooting the movie was cancelled for that day and everyone fled to high ground. Lorraine has the funniest story from her experience that day! And she’ll have you rolling on the floor while she’s telling it.
And finally, there’s AnnaSophia. I really trusted her to be true to who I am, and she didn’t disappoint. We’re good friends now, and I feel really blessed to have her in my life.
AnnaSophia Robb
Just the facts!
Birthdate: December 8, 1993
Hails from: Denver, Colorado
Starting out: AnnaSophia began her career on a local church stage at age five in front of 500 people. She studied acting at age eight, and at age nine she and her mom drove to L.A., where after more than forty auditions, she landed a Bratz doll commercial!
Her big roles: In 2005, AnnaSophia was cast in the lead role of Opal opposite Jeff Daniels in Because of Winn-Dixie. She’s also starred in An American Girl Holiday, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia, and 2009’s Race to Witch Mountain.
Upcoming projects: She is currently working on Disney’s Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods. She is the voice of Periwinkle, the winter fairy. AnnaSophia costars with Mae Whitman, Kristin Chenoweth, Raven-Symone, Lucy Liu, and America Ferrera. She also recently completed filming The Space Between with director Travis Fine, costarring Melissa Leo.
playing Bethany: an interview with AnnaSophia Robb
before this movie, had you ever surfed?
No! I didn’t know how to surf at all, which is pretty funny considering I am playing Bethany Hamilton, one of the greatest surfers of all time, right? I went out to Zuma Beach in California and tried with my dad to surf. It was really fun and two weeks before I went to Hawaii, I was doing four hours a day of training, trying to get my muscles ready for paddling. I had my work cut out for me.
did Bethany teach you a thing or two?
We had three weeks of prep where I would just surf everyday and Bethany would always come out with me, show me how to get up on the board, wait for the right wave . . . . I love it now. But for her, well, it’s part of her. She doesn’t have to think out there on the waves. I on the other hand . . .
did you and Bethany bond?
When we talked we became close, really good friends. It was a role that I wanted to play from the time I heard about it, so I idealized who I thought she was. I mean, what she went through, how she survived, her incredible strength, courage, belief in God . . . . Then I got to know her as a person and as a friend. I wanted to be as truthful to what she would have thought. I felt like I was the bridge between Hollywood and what she wanted. We would talk a lot, and if I ever had a question I tried to get her mentality down, so I could make the emotion as true to her as possible. I felt like it was an incredible honor to play her, and I knew she put her trust in me to do it right.
what do you think of Bethany’s faith?
Bethany and I are both Christians so that gives us a lot of common ground and belief. Faith is what Bethany is really about—trusting in the Lord and having that faith and that serenity that comes with her. Bethany’s just chill. She never gets worked up. She knows someone has her back and there is a bigger picture. I’m kind of in awe. . . .
how is she as an athlete?
She’s a serious athlete! She has this mentality that I have never experienced before. She doesn’t ever think, “I’m going to go out and risk my life!” She doesn’t think about it like that because she loves it so much—but it’s a hard-core competitive mentality. When she’s in that competition mode and when she sees a wave, she doesn’t ever go halfhearted. I focused on that determination when I was playing her. It’s really primal and also spiritual.
do you think this role changed you?
Every role I do I feel like it changes me in some way. But just to be able to have a relationship with Bethany, and just seeing her faith shine through in everything she’s done, it helps soothe me and help me not worry about the next job. That’s something I will now carry with me always.
what was it like getting to know the Hamilton family?
They all wanted to be there, supporting us the whole way through. Helen and Cheri went out surfing a bunch of times. I have never been on a film where it’s so connected with a real family. They’d come on set and we’d all be so excited! It gave it so much more meaning. I’d like to think I’m an honorary member of the family now!
Sean McNamara
Just the facts!
Birthdate: May 9, 1962
Nickname: Big Mac
Hails from: Burbank, California
Career highlights: Writer, director, producer. He has worked on numerous feature films and TV shows (including Raise Your Voice, Race to Space, Even Stevens, That’s So Raven, Beyond the Break) and with stars including Jessica Alba, Shia LaBeouf, Christy Carlson Romano, Hillary Duff, and Raven.
Family man: Three beautiful boys; Mark, Dylan, and Seamus
Proud moment: Ran the L.A. Marathon and finished!
Q&A with director Sean McNamara
&nb
sp; how did you decide on AnnaSophia to play Bethany?
When I first asked Bethany whom she wanted to play her, she said AnnaSophia Robb. She told me, “Go rent Bridge to Terabithia.” So I did, and when I saw her on screen, I knew she was 100 percent right.
how did you come to direct Soul Surfer?
Our casting director came to me with the book. I’m a surfer, so I knew about Bethany and what had been reported in the media. The book sat on my shelf for a while. Then when I read it, I saw there was incredible potential for a movie. But I also I felt like there was something missing, namely the feeling that Bethany had struggled greatly with what had happened. It was really just brushing the surface of the emotions I knew were there. I knew that a movie would need to dig deeper. Unless you see her struggling and overcoming adversity, you don’t understand or connect with her. So we met with her agent at the time, Roy Hofstetter—and he sold me. I told him we needed a script. They had one, but it wasn’t ready to be a movie. What drew it to me was simply her story and her passion.
so how did you begin working on the new script?
I went and interviewed the Hamilton family for starters. I spent weeks interviewing each of them separately. I used the book for the facts as a guide. But it was the people, the conversations, that gave it more meaning. Talking to Bethany, I could get the crux of what she was feeling. And I also think she’s older now, has had more time to cope with it. She realizes more now than she did when she was going through it. And it makes for a really powerful story.
did you have to fictionalize some of what happened to Bethany to make the movie more dramatic?
I tried to stay very true to her story, but yes, we had to put some elements together. For example, we had a little Hawaiian girl who sees Bethany and points and says to her mom, “What happened to her arm?” That didn’t happen, but similar things did. So I put all those things together into the mouth of the little girl.
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board Page 12