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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Stacie Perry

Aired August 17, 2002 - 12:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well if you thought surfer movies went out with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funacello, well guess what? A new summer film could prove you were all wet.
CNN's David Matthews reports on "Blue Crush" and its expected box office draw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTHEWS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Surf's up at the box office with the movie "Blue Crush" crashing ashore at theaters across the country.

This innovative movie is Hollywood's first serious attempt in years at an authentic surfing film. With it's never-before-seen close up views of surfing scenes, in Hawaii's infamous Pipeline, the world's most dangerous waves.

SANOE LAKE, SURFER: The audience is really going to get to see what it's like to be out at Pipe. And they'll get to see the perspective of what it looks like, from a surfer's view, to be inside of the barrel. And I -- that's something that most people will never see in their entire life.

MATTHEWS: Real-life surfers like Sanoe Lake were listed to make their big screen debuts to ensure the authenticity of the film, which was important to former "Beautiful Mind" producer, Brian Grazer, and director, John Stockwell, who both hang 10 a little bit themselves.

LAKE: It was just great that they are surfers, so they really wanted to just stay true to the sport and portray it in a way that, like, if surfers went to the film, they'd watch it and be like, you know what, wow, Hollywood actually pulled it off.

MATTHEWS: Unlike most of her peers in the film, lead actress and Boston native, Kate Bosworth, had to sink or swim, literally, in her role, and learn to surf from scratch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BLUE CRUSH")

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, ACTRESS: Just go out there and have fun.

KATE BOSWORTH, ACTRESS: Fun?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOSWORTH: I was cast about two month before we started principal photography. So I had about two months to learn how to surf.

I don't know if surfing really comes easy to anybody. But I think that I was lucky enough to have a sort of a natural knack for it, I think. So, I had my crash course in it, and I think I did OK.

MATTHEWS: Bosworth plays an up and coming surfer who must overcome hear fears about an earlier accident, and try to win a surfing competition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BLUE CRUSH")

RODRIGUEZ: I would kill to be in your shoes.

BOSWORTH: I got it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEWS: However, the actresses in the film didn't mind the hard work, considering their friendships and fun on the set, and the oh-so tough working environment.

BOSWORTH: I mean, it was beautiful. Hawaii obviously is, it's like paradise. So it was like living with your girlfriends, on the beach, and getting paid just to learn how to surf and work.

MATTHEWS: Well, whether the film rides the waves to big box office bucks, or ends up a washed up wipeout, those involved with "Blue Crush" hope the film will come as no big surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BLUE CRUSH")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to surf (OFF MIKE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My ... ta-da!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEWS: David Matthews, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Do we have to see that scene?

All right, for a closer look at surfing and the growing number of women getting involved in the sport, we went to Transworld Surf Magazine, a publication for enthusiasts.

And Stacie Perry is an editor there, and has been surfing herself since 1996. Good to see you, Stacie.

STACIE PERRY, EDITOR, TRANSWORLD SURF: Good to see you, too.

WHITFIELD: All right, so fess up. How often do you cut your day short in order to try and catch a wave? PERRY: Actually, our boss pushes us to leave work early and get out in the water. So you can't argue with that.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that sounds great. Well, I have to admit, I took my first surfing lessons about four years ago. And, if only I lived closer to the waves, maybe I could, you know, really get the hang of it.

But what are you hoping that this movie, "Blue Crush," perhaps will do for the sport, particularly for women, since apparently, women are the fastest growing segment of the competitive world of surfing?

PERRY: Well, in the past, women have had a hard time getting exposure in the surf media. And I think, because this movie is being released nationwide, it's really giving a lot of exposure to women surfers. Like, every little girl who goes and sees this movie is going to know who Kiola Kennelly (ph) is, and who Ling Beachley (ph) is. It's really creating heroes out of these pro surfers for little girls.

WHITFIELD: And of course, the movie, part of the drive is a little bit of romance, and a lot of surfing here. But, on a serious note, the sporting industry of surfing, as it pertains to women, really has evolved over the years. No longer are women just kind of like the hanger-ons, you know, in these flicks or on the beaches.

But even the industry of the surf boards has changed. They're making them more lightweight. A lot of the gear that's being designed, specifically to make it a lot more friendly for women.

PERRY: Yes, well, you have to think that surf gear for women was only, only came out 10 years ago. So, in that time, for instance, Roxy, which is part of Quicksilver's industry, their sales have almost equaled the men's at this point.

WHITFIELD: And in what way are women, perhaps the female, you know, surfers, being consulted by a lot of these companies, like you mentioned Roxy, et cetera, in order to craft the best equipment so that women surfers can get exactly what they're looking for?

Well, they've actually branched out and they've begun to sponsor women surfers. So there's a lot of feedback from the women surfers on the team. They can get in touch with the team managers and -- so there's a lot of feedback on producing quality products for women now.

WHITFIELD: Oftentimes when you have a movie, whether it's about skateboarding or skiing, et cetera, you're likely to see a surge in the sport or the popularity, that's actually applied. Are you expecting, or even hoping for that when it comes to women on the surfboards?

PERRY: Yes, we've already seen a big interest increase in the sport already.

WHITFIELD: Who are some of these folks? Are they mostly very young, or are they, you know, some, you know, folks who are 20s's, 30's, and 40's and up?

PERRY: Well, I think the movie mainly is going to be reaching young, teenagers, especially the teenage girls. But, across the board, we've seen an increase. Especially in the 30 and 40-year-old's that, more older people are also getting into surfing as well.

WHITFIELD: But when it comes down to the serious competition, is it key really to start very young, you know, school-age kids who are in their single-digit age groups?

PERRY: Yes, well, not single digits, but definitely young teens definitely have the advantage.

WHITFIELD: All right. So what are your recommendations for those who, you know, perhaps they finally get to the beach or maybe they live on the coastlines. What are some of the first tips that you may want to offer to them, in terms of trying to find the right kind of instructor to get started?

PERRY: Definitely, make sure that the instructors are qualified. That they have lifeguarding, and CPR background, before you get in the water. You want to make sure you're safe, and that you have the right kind of equipment out there.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Stacie Perry of Transworld Surf Magazine. Thanks very much.

PERRY: Thanks.

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