Soul Surfer (2011)

Director:

Sean McNamara

Writers (WGA):

Sean McNamara (screenplay) &
Deborah Schwartz (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 April 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

When you come back from a loss, beat the odds, and never say never, you find a champion.

Plot:

A teenage surfer girl summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack.

Plot Keywords:

Shark | Surfer | Shark Attack | Hospital | Surfing

Awards:

1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

AnnaSophia Robb	...	Bethany Hamilton
Helen Hunt	...	Cheri Hamilton
Dennis Quaid	...	Tom Hamilton
Lorraine Nicholson	...	Alana Blanchard
Kevin Sorbo	...	Holt Blanchard
Carrie Underwood	...	Sarah Hill
Ross Thomas	...	Noah Hamilton
Chris Brochu	...	Timmy Hamilton
Sonya Balmores	...	Malina Birch (as Sonya Balmores Chung)
Jeremy Sumpter	...	Byron
Craig T. Nelson	...	Dr. David Rovinksy
Branscombe Richmond	...	Ben Aipa
Cody Gomes	...	Keoki
Titus Kinimaka	...	Titus
John Philbin	...	Fuel T.V. reporter #2
Tahini Bartolome	...	Girl at Foodland
Bridget Tully	...	Mother at Foodland
Tiffany Hofstetter	...	Rosemary
Kelly Crean	...	Vicky / Front Yard News Reporter
Dylan Slater	...	Turtle Bay Open Announcer
Sean McNamara	...	Rip Curl Executive (as Sean Patrick McNamara)
Yasmin Dar	...	Transworld Surf Reporter #1
Christie Brooke	...	National Surf Bethany Fan #1
Cayla Moore	...	Surfer Girl #1
Moon Otteman	...	Surfer Girl #2
David Tice	...	Contest Official
Wesley Mann	...	Calvin
Patrick Richwood	...	Todd
Kimberly-Rose Wolter	...	Nurse
Kaleo Relator	...	Boom
Irie Driscoll	...	Ukulele Girl #1
Faith Fay	...	Media Gnat Lani Lane
David Chokachi	...	Paramedic #1
David Stanfield	...	Nationals Lead Surf Announcer
Beau Hodge	...	Nationals Surf Announcer #2
Dutch Hofstetter	...	Brandon
Michael Coots	...	Photoshoot Photograher
Kaipo Guerrero	...	H.I. Regionals Surf Announcer #1
Rocky Canon	...	H.I. Regionals Surf Announcer #2
Mark Kubr	...	ESPN Reporter
Kim Morgan Greene	...	Patsy Lee Brown
Shelley Trotter	...	Nurse #2
Arlene Newman-Van Asperen	...	Cydney Blanchard
Bailey Nagy	...	Surfer Olivia Jenner
Leilani Gryde	...	Surfer Zoe Madsen
Kristen Steiner	...	Surfer Kaila Kahani
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Massi Furlan	...	(voice)
Lauren Beach	...	Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
Alana Blanchard	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Anderson Cooper	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Davo Coria	...	Photographer #2 (uncredited)
Christian Franklin	...	Keoki's Friend (uncredited)
Bethany Hamilton	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cherilyn Hamilton	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Noah Hamilton	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Timothy Hamilton	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sean Douglas Hoban	...	Photographer Assistant (uncredited)
Eric James	...	Keoki's Friend (uncredited)
Jordan Kirkwood	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Troy Manandic	...	Youth (uncredited)
Josh Margulies	...	Halloween Party Surfer (uncredited)
Stephen Meyers	...	Youth Group (uncredited)
Ingrid Seid	...	Surfer Fan (uncredited)
Christopher Simms	...	News Photographer (uncredited)
John Stossel	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe Toro	...	Paramedic #2 (uncredited)
Roy Vongtama	...	Voice Artist (uncredited)
Joseph Wilson	...	Kauai Local (uncredited)

Directed by
Sean McNamara

Writing credits (WGA)
Sean McNamara		(screenplay) &
Deborah Schwartz		(screenplay) &
Douglas Schwartz		(screenplay) &
Michael Berk		(screenplay)
Sean McNamara		(screen story) &
Deborah Schwartz		(screen story) &
Douglas Schwartz		(screen story) &
Michael Berk		(screen story) and
Matt Allen		(screen story) (as Matt R. Allen) &
Caleb Wilson		(screen story) &
Brad Gann		(screen story)
Bethany Hamilton		(book "Soul Surfer") and
Sheryl Berk		(book "Soul Surfer") and
Rick Bundschuh		(book "Soul Surfer")

Produced by
Ronald Bass	....	co-producer
David Brookwell	....	producer
Rob Deege	....	associate producer
Ricardo S. Galindez	....	co-executive producer
Becky Hamilton	....	co-producer
Noah Hamilton	....	co-producer
Dutch Hofstetter	....	producer
Tiffany Hofstetter	....	associate producer
Dominic Ianno	....	executive producer
Joey Paul Jensen	....	co-producer
Laurie Koris	....	associate producer
Christina Lambert	....	co-producer
Sean McNamara	....	producer
Corey Schwartz	....	co-producer
Douglas Schwartz	....	producer
Susie Singer Carter	....	co-producer
Jennifer Smolka	....	co-producer
David Tice	....	executive producer
Roy Tjioe	....	co-executive producer
Shelley Trotter	....	co-producer
Bess Wiley	....	producer
David Zelon	....	producer

Original Music by
Marco Beltrami

Cinematography by
John R. Leonetti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Canavan

Casting by
Joey Paul Jensen
Niner Parikh

Production Design by
Rusty Smith

Art Direction by
Rosario Provenza

Set Decoration by
Julie Smith

Costume Design by
Kathe James

Makeup Department
Mahealani Diego	....	makeup artist
Mark Garbarino	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Norma Lee	....	key hair stylist
Clayton Martinez	....	makeup effects technician
Sharleen Rassi	....	hair stylist: Kauai unit
Kendal Shannon	....	makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	hair department head

Production Management
Kenneth Burke	....	unit production manager
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Christina Lambert	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gregory J. Barnett	....	second unit director
Hope Garrison	....	second assistant director
Jeffrey F. January	....	first assistant director
Brian L. Keaulana	....	second unit director
Gavin Kleintop	....	second second assistant director
John Lind	....	first assistant director: second unit
Lon Takiguchi	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Makiko Braxton	....	art department production assistant
Alvin S. Cabrinha Jr.	....	property master
Damon Darchuck	....	carpenter
Scott Ejercito	....	assistant property master
Everett A. Galisa	....	set dresser
Jason Gregg	....	set dresser
Michael J. Gregg	....	propmaker
Cynthia La Jeunesse	....	leadperson
Gary Nakano	....	graphic designer
Isaia Robins	....	greens foreman
Christopher Stanback	....	art department coordinator
Darrell Tachibana	....	greens foreman
Kelly Westmiller	....	construction coordinator
Connie Williamson	....	art department production assistant
Liloa Wong	....	greens coordinator

Sound Department
Brian Calhoon	....	adr recordist
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	sound co-supervisor
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound effects editor
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	assistant sound editor
Daniel R. Garab	....	utility sound
Tony Hugar	....	adr mixer
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Larry Kemp	....	adr editor
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisa J. Levine	....	ADR Supervisor
Richard Linke	....	boom operator
Daniel Pagan	....	supervising sound editor
Fred Paragano	....	adr mixer
Fred Peck III	....	re-recordist
John Reynolds	....	production sound mixer
John M. Reynolds	....	production sound mixer
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	foley supervisor
Thomas Visser	....	assistant adr mixer
Sarah Vorhees	....	adr assistant
David Williams	....	dialogue editor

Visual Effects by
Mandy Arnold	....	digital restoration artist
Michael Ashton	....	digital compositor
Mathieu Burri	....	visual effects producer
Michael Caplan	....	visual effects producer
Jack Cloud	....	visual effects artist
Johnathon Cormier	....	digital artist: Saints LA VFX (as Johnathon Cormier)
Padraic Culham	....	digital compositor
Valerie Delahaye	....	visual effect producer: make inc
Justin Denton	....	previs artist
Mary Dowd	....	visual effects artist
John Egli	....	digital compositor
Eric Evans	....	digital compositor
Gordon Fales	....	digital compositor
Jody Fedele	....	visual effects editor
Eric Heavens	....	digital compositor
Pei-Zhi Huang	....	effects technical director
Pency Kinnard	....	digital compositor
Sean Kinnear	....	matchmove artist
Zachary Kinney	....	visual effects artist
Mark Larranaga	....	digital compositor
Steven Lloyd	....	visual effects
John R. McConnell	....	digital compositor
Jesse Morrow	....	visual effects artist
Danielle Norgate	....	digital compositor
Dave Piedra	....	matte painter
Dave Piedra	....	visual effects artist
Michael Roderick	....	digital compositor
Dan Schmit	....	visual effects supervisor
Den Serras	....	visual effects artist
Jane Sharvina	....	digital compositor: Lumeni Productions
Wayne A. Shepherd	....	digital compositor: Engine Room
Ian Shulman	....	visual effects editor
Adam Simpson	....	visual effects editor
David Summers	....	visual effects artist
Anthony Vingas	....	digital effects artist

Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunt coordinator
Jeffrey G. Barnett	....	stunts
Michael H. Barnett	....	stunts
Bonnie Campanella	....	stunt double
Craig H. Davidson	....	utility stunts
Lance Gilbert	....	stunts
Brian L. Keaulana	....	stunt coordinator (as Brian Keaulana)
Mark Kubr	....	stunt double: Kevin Sorbo
Brad Martin	....	stunts
Katie Wright Pere	....	stunts
Marcus Young	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Norman Akau	....	grip
Paul Atkins	....	camera operator
Shawn Booth	....	loader
Richard J. Brock	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert 'Boceno' Campbell	....	second assistant camera: b camera
Michael Patrick Cronin	....	grip
Bill Draheim	....	set electric
Eric Dvorsky	....	first assistant camera: aerial unit
Henry Fordham	....	best boy grip
Noah Hamilton	....	still photographer
Douglas S. Holgate	....	aerial director of photography
Zachary Kim	....	electrician
Don King	....	b camera operator
Don King	....	second unit director of photography
Tim Marshall	....	gaffer
Mark Meyers	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Mark Meyers	....	steadicam operator
Mario Perez	....	still photographer
Dan Reilly	....	key grip
Michael Romano	....	electrician
Mark Santoni	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Kimberly Bennink	....	casting assistant
Laurie Foi	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Josephine Simmons	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
George Chavez	....	color timer
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer
Brian Gee	....	dailies assistant
David W. Hagar	....	additional editor
Gregory Hobson	....	additional editor
Jacob Holcomb	....	assistant editor
Trent Johnson	....	digital film colorist
Derek Lindes	....	post-production assistant
Casey O'Connor	....	post-production assistant
Jason Saulog	....	digital intermediate conform editor
Morning Star Schott	....	digital intermediate producer (as Morning Star)
David Townsend	....	post production supervisor
Salvatore Valone	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	executive in charge of music
Mike Barnett	....	assistant to composer
Dominick Certo	....	music editor: temp score
Tim Davis	....	vocal contractor/conductor
Paul Di Franco	....	additional music supervision
Sierra Drucker	....	additional music supervisor
John Kurlander	....	music recording engineer
John Kurlander	....	score mixer
Kier Lehman	....	music department
Julia Michels	....	music supervisor
Victor Pesavento	....	music preparation
Buck Sanders	....	score produced by
Jim Schultz	....	music editor
Andrew Silver	....	music editor: temp score
Scott Stambler	....	temp music editor
Andrew Synowiec	....	musician
Marcus Trumpp	....	composer: additional music
Jorge Velasco	....	scoring pro tools engineer

Transportation Department
Kelly Loo	....	transportation co-captain
John Reed	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Eddie Abubo	....	production consultant
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	post production accountant
Steve Berman	....	completion bond
John Brady	....	craft service
Timmy Chinn	....	location manager
Christian Franklin	....	personal assistant
Stani Franklin	....	production assistant
Mick Gallagher	....	production assistant
Adam Haracz	....	production assistant
Ron Hofmann	....	unit publicist
Sarah-Jayne Johnston	....	production assistant
Leah Kaina	....	production assistant
Xanadu Kekuewa	....	key craft service
Laurie Koris	....	associate producer
Mele K.T. Locey	....	payroll accountant
Brad Dirk Martin	....	boat captain
Dana Ledoux Miller	....	production assistant
Carlotta Montanari	....	voice dubbing
Nicole Nakamoto	....	first assistant accountant
Shannon Pickett	....	assistant travel coordinator
Stockton David Porter	....	production assistant
Ken Rose	....	product placement
Amira Soliman	....	assistant production coordinator
Chris Specht	....	production resources
Michael Teixeira	....	production assistant
Spencer Turley	....	production assistant
Salvatore Valone	....	production coordinator
Kealohilani Wallace	....	assistant to script supervisor
Jordan Watts	....	production assistant
Benjamin Benedetti	....	post facilities manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Chris Mirosevic	....	thanks
Kealohilani Wallace	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Enticing Entertainment (presents)
• Island Film Group (presents)
• Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment
• Life's a Beach Entertainment
• Mandalay Vision

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Affirm Films (2011) (USA) (all media)
• FilmDistrict (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Forum Cinemas (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures (2011) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Studios (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• HBO Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2011) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Baked FX
• Engine Room

Other Companies

• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Hawaii Media  grip and lighting equipment
• Klass Security and Investigations  anti-piracy security
• Madison Gate Records  score album
• Paragon Studios  post-production sound services
• Pictorvision  Eclipse aerial camera system
• Rhino Records  soundtrack
• Sony ColorWorks  Digital Intermediate
• UPP Entertainment Marketing  production resources

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material

Runtime:

USA:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #46372) | Malaysia:U | Australia:PG | Ireland:12A | South Korea:All | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Germany:6 | Sweden:11 | Japan:G | Mexico:A

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

Enticing Entertainment

Trivia:

Bethany Hamilton and some of her family members had cameos in the movie. In the church scene her parents are behind Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt and her sister in law sings in the worship band. In Thailand while the mission crew are serving food, Bethany walks across the screen holding a large box.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In one of the later surfing scenes you can clearly see, for just a moment, the stunt-double for AnnaSophia Robb drag her left hand into the wave behind her.

Quotes:

Bethany Hamilton:Love is bigger than any tidal wave or fear.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Estrenos Críticos: ¡...con Phineas & Ferb! (#1.15)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

The Unknown

A wonderful story for the whole family

When a film is based upon such a widely known story it's a real challenge for film makers to do justice to both the original story and to an audience who expect to be entertained. I feel they delivered on both counts. So, thank you.

Of course, the core of the story is the terrible shark attack that happened to Bethany Hamilton. That kind of thing is universally thought to be so horrific that merely surviving at all would be a triumph of human will. But Bethany Hamilton transcended that by leaps and bounds to become an international icon for what it means to be courageous in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. Her courage, strength, perseverance, dedication, work ethic, professionalism and just plain bare faith have become a model for success to a large number of people all over the world. She has justly earned every accolade, every compliment and every success that I feel sure she feels privileged to have received. Oh, and she's gorgeous too.

With that incredible young woman's story as the fodder for the film it was a walk in the park for the film makers. All they had to do was tell the truth and let the facts speak for themselves. But that is something Hollywood has a lot of trouble doing. But this simple formula seems to be what they did, and did masterfully. The setting for the film is one of the most breathtaking on earth, so that was easy to enjoy. The cinematography was excellent as was, of course, the special CGI effects. Makeup and costuming didn't have much of a stretch, letting the beauty of the islands, its people and the athleticism, beauty and youth of the principal actors deliver what artificiality never could.

The cast was well chosen with the petite AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany Hamilton and Lorraine Nicholson as Bethany's lifelong friend Alana Blanchard. Much of the story centered on these two girls so it was a lot for them to carry. I can imagine how it must have been difficult for Robb to try to give credence to a part depicting someone who is so genuinely bigger than life - even legendary. I think she did a terrific job. I was taken in by watching her nuances of emotion throughout the film. She's no rookie but this was a real challenge that she met with talent and grace.

Nicholson was a perfect fit as Hamilton's friend; adding a few smiles to the tension we all certainly felt watching the story unfold. Real friendships should never be underplayed and she came across as a solid, loving friend to Bethany. Then Helen Hunt as Bethany's mother Cheri Hamilton and Dennis Quaid as her father Tom Hamilton both did outstanding work, but that's what I've come to expect from them. I think I'd be genuinely shocked if either of them ever did poorly in any role. They were ably backed by Kevin Sorbo as Alana's father Holt Blanchard and Craig T. Nelson as Dr. Rovinksy, Bethany's attending physician. All of them made the film that much better and I enjoyed every minute each was on screen. Perhaps the most interesting to me is watching Quaid. He's become quite a versatile and talented actor.

Last but not least was Carrie Underwood as Sarah Hill. This is the first time I've seen her do any acting and I can say she did a terrific job. I really liked her playing the part of someone who was so important to Bethany's success and she did so with genuine warmth and friendliness.

I was very well entertained as was everyone who attended the screening with me. I left the theater with the thought that I wish much success to the film - it's a masterful character tale for all young people the world over - and ever increasing success to Bethany Hamilton herself. She deserves no less.

By Bruce L. Jones http://webpages.charter.net/bruce.jones1/