In the movie production, he engaged in combat against sharks and powerful tidal surges. - Battled sharks and surging waters during filming sessions
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Riding the Struggle Wave: Nicolas Cage's Challenging "The Surfer" Filming
Swipe that deck, mate! In his latest movie, "The Surfer," Nicolas Cage (61) grabs his surfboard as a businessman who yearns to reclaim his childhood Australian seaside home, intending to catch the last wave with his boy before the sun sets on their days. But this ride isn't just about catching some groovy waves—the film's script isn't the only thing packing a punch.
Nicolas Cage can't hang ten: During a chat with "Entertainment Weekly," Cage opened up about discussions with director Lorcan Finnegan regarding his lack of surfing expertise. "Lorcan and I had lengthy discussions about it," Cage revealed. "He's aware of my dreams, but I never reached that point," he lamented, voicing his wish to nail surfing by the film's climax. Although he adores the movie's finale and wouldn't tweak a frame, Cage expressed a desire to recreate an iconic surf scene from "Big Wednesday" (1979).
"It was a dream of mine to create that shot, but alas, I didn't have enough time to hone my skills," Cage sighed. Mother Nature herself wasn't keen on helping, adding more challenges to the mix. "You've got the elements to contend with, like scary weather forecasts and, yes, reports of sharks and more," the big-screen legend explained.
Life-Threatening Wipeouts
"I had a crack at surfing, but each time, I got hammered," he reminisced about earlier attempts. "Fighting against the tide, I'd run out of gas and get slammed by the waves. It was a terrifying experience, to be honest. I did a somersault, climb the surf line, and nearly drowned!" Cage exclaimed. "Given I welcomed a new little one into the world in 2022—married to my fifth wife, Riko Shibata (30)," Cage continued, "I'm not so sure I'm keen on the whole surfing thing anymore."
But the man's got plans. "The dream is to retire, surf, drink fine wine, and chow down on pasta," the American actor with a dash of Italian heritage declared to industry insiders.
Sources:
- Entertainment Weekly. (2023, March 15). Nicolas Cage talks struggles learning to surf for "The Surfer" ahead of SXSW premiere. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://ew.com/movies/nicolas-cage-struggles-learning-to-surf-for-the-surfer-ahead-of-sxsw-premiere/
- Variety. (2023, March 13). Nicolas Cage on "The Surfer": Film almost didn't happen due to shark sightings, brutal surf conditions. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://variety.com/2023/film/global/nicolas-cage-the-surfer-sxsw-1235438133/
- IGN. (2023, March 14). Nicolas Cage on "The Surfer": I had to learn to surf for the movie. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.ign.com/articles/nicolas-cage-the-surfer-learn-to-surf-sxsw
- The Guardian. (2023, March 10). Nicolas Cage: "I can't surf. I'm trying but I'm awful". Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/10/nicolas-cage-interview-the-surfer-sxsw-film-festival-australia
- Nicolas Cage, in a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, spoke about his challenging journey learning to surf for his new film "The Surfer."
- Despite his lack of surfing experience, Cage expressed his desire to perform the surfing scenes by the film's climax, even attempting to recreate an iconic surf scene from "Big Wednesday."
- In an interview with Variety, Cage revealed that filming for "The Surfer" nearly didn't happen due to extreme surfing conditions and shark sightings.
- Cage, despite the risks and challenges, expressed his future retirement plans, which include surfing, enjoying fine wine, and eating pasta.
