Shirtless Gerard Butler Wows Crowd at Santa Cruz Paddle-out
The star was at Pleasure Point with about 500 extras for the movie about surfer Jay Moriarity.
Photos
Hundreds of people lined the beach and hundreds of surfers took orders from directors as the movie, tentatively titled "Of Men and Mavericks," filmed Friday morning at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz.
The call was for extras to arrive at 6:30 a.m. By 10:30 the big scene hadn't yet been filmed, but hundreds of surfers were in the water and others lined up to get in.
"We love you Gerard," one woman yelled as the actor walked past.
The movie is directed by Curtis Hanson and produced by Walden Media. Butler is best known for his role in "300."
He plays Moriarity's mentor, the elder surfer, Frosty Hesson. Moriarity will be played by 22-year-old actor Jonny Weston, an accomplished surfer.
The real Moriarity, who pioneered the giant waves at Mavericks, died June 15, 2001 a day before his 23rd birthday in a diving accident in the Indian Ocean.
The scene is recreating a Paddle-out that paid tribute to the maverick surfer after his death.
Jennifer Squires
12:05 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
This was a scene at 6 a.m. when hundreds of surfers made their way to Floral Park to be extras. Middle school kids were getting dropped off by their parents, people from the neighborhood riding bikes with their surfboard. The camera boats are coming out of the harbor and there should be helicopters for the filming!
Maria Grusauskas
4:58 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
Served Gerard a slice of pizza and a caesar salad last week.
Marty
5:26 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
This was fun to watch today. Hope the film is good.
Brad Kava
6:37 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
Maria...where are the pics?? Hey, anyone can post pics of the movie shooting at patch. You just hit the add button under the picture window and upload...
Robin Rebecca Rhodes
8:02 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
Had a Blast! Did a double take when he was suddenly standing next to me on the cliffs before heading down to paddle out. He said he felt so welcome in Santa Cruz!
Maria Grusauskas
12:12 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Brad: my camera broke just a couple days before! bad timing huh. but he was busy interviewing a local guy, old friend of jay's. i would have felt wierd playing the paparazzi waitress.
Marty
1:11 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Gerard gave my dog a pat on the head! ....... Woooo Hoooo! Now I can put him on Ebay....lol. Seriously, it was a fun day to watch this filming.