A film about resilience of spirit, power of love
Viva International Pictures presents
Adrift, an incredible true story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love. The film is based on the book by Tami Oldham.
Two young lovers, Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp, sail across the ocean together. Filled with romance and excitement, they never anticipated to be sailing directly into a hurricane that whips up 40-ft. waves and 140-knot winds, making it one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.
In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to a dilapidated boat, with Richard nowhere in sight. Panic-stricken, she tries to radio for help and puts the boat back in order. By some miracle, she finds Richard in the waters, badly injured. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the man she can’t see herself living without.
Taking the role of Tami is Shailene Woodley (The Fault in our Stars and
Divergent), while Richard is played by Sam Claflin (Me Before You and The Hunger Games). Aaron Kandell (Moana), one of the movie’s screenwriters, revealed that he and his twin brother Jordan wrote the story with Woodley in mind. When they visited Oldham in her home in the San Juan Islands, they instantly saw her strength and free spirit, and she reminded them so much of Woodley whom they’ve known since her role in The Descendants.
“So as soon as we finished (the script), she was the first person we sent it to,” Jordan said.
Woodley, for her part, said, “I was so captivated by it, by who Tami is and the love story. I really felt the energy of the divine soulmate connection between Tami and her fiancée, Richard.”
A swimmer, but not at all a pro in sailing, the actress spent about a month before production in Hawaii learning how to sail on all different types of boats.
Claflin, on the other hand, bagged his role after a phone call with the acclaimed director Baltasar Kormakur (Everest) convinced him that he was “totally right for the role.”
Woodley and Claflin rehearsed together for two weeks in Fiji prior to principal photography.
“It was so helpful… We really just clicked,” said Woodley about her co-star, whom she further described as “hands down, the hardest-working, most generous, compassionate individual” she’s ever worked with. “The elements that we were working in were not easy, shooting on a boat in open water for 14 hours. Never once did he complain.”
Oldham herself visited set, making the cast feel that she truly embraced the film. “It was amazing to meet her finally but also, I was hyperaware of how emotional this experience must be for her, the
trauma of being stuck out at sea. My prayer is that she has found healing as well through this experience,” Woodley said.
Adrift was filmed for 49 days, primarily on location in Fiji and a few weeks in New Zealand. It opens nationwide tomorrow, June 27.