Riding the waves
The cast and director of Surf This Love tell Dennis Chua of their initially scary but challenging encounter with the sport in Pulau Tioman and Bali
FILMS that focus on surfers are rare, and popular actors Shukri Yahaya, Cristina Suzanne Stockstill and Pekin Ibrahim are honoured to be the “pioneers” of this genre. They are the stars of Surf This Love, Malaysia’s first surfer film produced by Global Solution ResourcMohamad es and directed by Wan Hafiz Wan Hussain.
Shot over 25 days in Pantai Juara and Pulau Tioman in Pahang as well as another 14 days in Bali two years back, the movie exposes them to the extreme sport. However, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite initially being terrified of the waves.
As Shukri, who plays the protagonist Billy, says: “Being a surfer frightened me. Riding the waves was like riding a sea monster. But when I got the hang of it, I loved it!”
While Shukri and Pekin play surfers and had to conquer their fear of waves with a little help from real-life surfers, Cristina was lucky to be on the beach most of the time.
Everyone too had to brace for sudden downpours which came hand-in-hand with massive waves and the occasional uprooting of seaside trees.
None of the actors was badly hurt on the set but Shukri once experienced muscular cramps while out surfing. Fortunately, he was quickly brought to shore without any untoward incident.
HOW SKATEBOARDING HELPED
On the small screen, Shukri is often smartly-attired as an executive with hair short and neatly-cropped.
In Surf This Love, however, audiences will see him as a long-haired, rugged and outgoing Billy. His character loves the beach and dreams of becoming a great surfer like his elder brother Bobby.
In order to master the surfboard and “climb the mighty waves”, he seeks help from Jimmy, a one-time experienced surfer. Jimmy, however, is reluctant to teach him due to a sad experience in his past.
Shukri credits skateboarding with helping him to balance on the surfboard, and swimming with helping him love the sea.
“I swam a lot during my schooldays. Not for competition but for fun. Surfing takes my friendship with water to a higher level literally.”
He adds: “When I was 12, I loved to skateboard and I still do so. Initially, I thought skateboarding would prepare me for surfboarding but I was wrong.
There’s a vast difference between the two. Actually, it takes a lot of courage to surfboard.”
Billy is Shukri’s first big-screen hero, and he is thankful to Wan for casting him.
“I don’t mind playing neat and tidy guys but for my big-screen debut, I’d rather play someone memorable and Billy is truly a maverick.”
To prepare Shukri, Wan and producer Amie Zhu had seven Balinese surfers train the actor for two weeks.
Shukri says: “Since I’m familiar with rock climbing in gymnasiums, they told me to imagine surfing as such an activity. They also told me to imagine hopping on a friendly monster in Disney cartoons!”
He also prepared himself by imagining scenes from Hollywood surfing films such as Point Break.
“I got the hang of it but some minor mishaps were inevitable. Bits of coral injured my hands and legs and I also suffered cramps.”
The worst experience, he recalls, was when he got hit by a big wave in Bali.
“Luckily, the trainers and an American surfer rescued me.” Now that he has got used to surfing, Shukri has bought himself a surfboard and plans to use it in Tioman and Bali when he goes on holiday.
“I don’t aspire to be a real-life Billy. I just want to surf for fun.”
Nevertheless, he identifies with Billy. “Billy has his flaws — he can be lazy for work at the travel agency which he co-owns with his sister — but when it comes to surfing, he works hard and does not give up.”
Shukri, whose best known television series and dramas are Calon Syurga, Kereta Kita, Cik Cinderella Dan Encik Tengku and Dia Isteri Luar Biasa, is honoured to work with
Pekin.
“Despite playing moody Jimmy, Pekin is always in good spirits. We bonded well because both of us were learning to surf.”
Shukri’s on-going projects are TV3 dramas Tiada Arah Jodoh Kita, Villa Ghazara and Andainya Takdir 2.
A DREAM HOLIDAY FOR CRISTINA
Pilih Kasih Season 2 graduate Cristina first found fame winning Best Actress for her role as a “secret agent” in the 2013 romantic comedy Kil opposite Redza Minhat.
She bagged two awards for her role in the movie directed by Nik Amir Mustapha — Best Actress at Anugerah Skrin 2013 and Most Promising Actress at the Malaysian Film Festival 2014.
She describes Surf This Love as a virtual holiday since it has allowed her to visit Tioman and Bali, and rub shoulders with real-life surfers.
“While I don’t do extreme sport, I love watching it on TV. Surf This Love has brought me as close as possible to surfers and their spectacular skills,” she says.
However, Cristina says it was sometimes scary spending long hours on the beach as the weather was unpredictable.
“The sea could change from calm to violent in a flash and the waves were scary. A tree was once uprooted. Luckily none of us was hurt.”
Surf This Love is a contrast to her previous film role as Maya Karin’s long-suffering sister in Jwanita (2015).
Cristina, whose favourite surfing movies are Point Break and Surf’s Up, identifies with her Surf This Love character, travel blogger Mia (who is Billy’s love interest).
“Mia is very knowledgeable and gives Billy lots of ideas on how to become a good surfer.
“I’m very much a seaside person, too, since my hometown is Kuantan which has the wonderful Teluk Cempedak,” she adds.
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF SURFERS
Pekin, known for adrenaline-pumping
films as KL Wangan and Mat Moto: Kami Mat
Moto Bukan Mat Rempit, both of which he directed, however, admits he is not a “water person” even though he occasionally enjoys swimming near idyllic waterfalls.
“I decided to give surfing a try, as it’s an extreme sport that I’m not familiar with. I love trying out new things,” he says.
Meeting and chatting with surfers in Tioman and Bali, Pekin learnt that they are pretty cool people too.
“They have their own language which pertains to the waves, and they love nature, care for the cleanliness of beaches and protect the environment.”
He says his character Jimmy is as “eccentric as a surfer can get”, citing for instance a scene when he scolds Billy for punching a tree outside his shop.
PAIN IS POWER AND STRUGGLE IS SUCCESS
WAN Hafiz is best known for directing the horror Puaka Balai Gombak and the romantic comedy Mat Tudung. “Surf This Love may be an extreme sport adventure but it’s also a romantic comedy, a genre that’s close to my heart,” he says. While he is an extreme sport fan like Shukri, Wan Hafiz says Surf This Love was
Amie’s idea.
“Amie suggested that we make a surfing movie after watching some of them in Tioman two years ago. I thought it was a great idea as Malaysia has yet to come up with such a movie.”
Wan, who revised the script seven times, cites Point Break, Soul Surfer and
Surf’s Up as his favourite surfing movies. “They gave me a rough idea of how to film surfers in action,” he adds.
The director admits that the waves were a big challenge.
“They appear or disappear very quickly. It’s like a cat-and-mouse game for our cameramen. Big waves are intimidating as they can damage our equipment.”
Most of the surfing scenes were shot in Bali, as the Indonesian holiday destination boasts good waves.
“In Tioman, the waves were small most of the time,” says Wan Hafiz.
He credits drone technology with giving him good aerial shots of the surfers.
“It would be great to have a prequel on the adventures of Jimmy and Bobby,” he reveals. “Surf This Love may be a story about surfers, but all Malaysians can identify with its important lessons — being humble, working hard and persevering, respecting your family and friends, and always staying true to yourself,” says Wan
Hafiz.
The movie is currently showing in theatres.
dchua@nst.com.my