"A beautiful addiction, a demanding course of study, a morally dangerous pastime, a way of life."
But where are you on the book-to-film debate? A purist who believes the written word should never be polluted by celluloid? An illiterate who foregoes ink and paper, waiting for the pichures to moov? Somewhere in between?
Me?
I love when books get turned into film so much. I love when good books get turned into bad films, when bad books get turned into good films and especially, especially when an iconic writer is interpreted by an iconic director.
Which is why I was very excited to read yesterday that William Finnegan’s Pulitzer Prize winning Barbarian Days shall be written and directed by Syriana’s own Stephan Gaghan.
Oscar-winning Traffic scribe Stephen Gaghan will write and direct Barbarian Days for Amazon Studios, based on William Finnegan’s bestselling memoir Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life. The book won the Pulitzer Prize in 2016.
Gaghan will produce alongside Ted Hope, who will produce under his multi-picture deal with the studio. Finnegan will also be executive producer.
Barbarian Days tells the story of Finnegan’s lifelong love affair with surfing. He describes it as an obsession, a beautiful addiction, a demanding course of study, a morally dangerous pastime, a way of life. The tale starts when the author was an 8-year old kid who caught the surf bug.
Exciting but who do you think should play young Finnegan? What about slightly older Finnegan?
Swinging 70s G-Land Finnegan?
I think maybe James Franco.
Is he still cancelled?
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Looks like uluas in the pic. Love those tasty guys.
It’s really a great piece of art. He’s got Paukukalo, Freight trains, Launiupoko, Maalaea harbor, spinner dolphins, billfish and ulua, rainbows, rain, seabirds. Unfortunately that stretch of the west Maui mountains is now blighted by a bunch of giant, bird-killing windmills.
Thanks for the breakdown Seth, very thorough!
I think the producers should be looking your way for a consulting gig.
The idea of breaking the book up I can definitely see working. The time and expenses relative to pt:1 could be recouped then offset 2, then 3. Having different actors for the 20 or so years the book spans definitely makes sense and would mean not sacrificing continuity.
The patch, it’s in the shipping lane outside the Golden Gate Bridge. All the sand that washes down from the Sacramento River leaves sand miles to to sea. When the swell get’s big enough, huge peaks form out there. When it’s east winds and a big swell you can drive to the Marin Headlands and watch the peaks roll through . A majestic sight. Probably as big as Mavs. Sketchy as can be.
I’ve seen it and it is unbelievable. Always remember how it looked that one day.
California outer breaks used to give me nightmares, just thinking about them. Getting stuck out there, blown down the coast.
The continuity part of film making has always intrigued me. Tell me SK mise-en-scène issues aside, how much/how long would it take to get a film like this done?
Owen Wilson as Chas or is Anthony Michael Hall still alive doing cocaine?
Somehow, anyway possible, they gotta find a place for Benecio del Toro.
Production will grind to a halt waiting on Kirra to break for like.. a year.. more? also they’d have to murder the locals to get some decent kirra in the late 70’s shots, unmolested by jet ski’s, Dingo, and the Coffey’s.
I’d like to see this attempted adaptation. Interesting to see who’d play Bill’s many misso’s also.
What can sub for Kirra? Interesting question and knowing Hollywood it’ll be salt creek. .
Too easy. The Ranch of course!
Had to google SC and based on the proximity to Hollyweird I think you might be onto something.
Complete closeout but made the cover of surf mags. All about production costs, thats why I never go to So Cal one big movie set
How much are they gonna have to pay someone to get lost after sunset in large Atlantic swells pounding the Portuguese coast? If it’s faked, I’m out.
I read one article about Surftech boards by Finn in the New Yorker about 15 years ago, I hated his style, his attitude, everything is about him. Fuck him.
everything and he won an award from people who don’t surf and apparently can’t judge character either.
I can’t wait to see the part where he repeatably gets beat down by all the angry mokes at my old middle school Kaimuki Intermediate.
I went there too!!!
Did you have Mrs. Lau for Hawaiian Studies?
Hey CB I always thought you were an Aussie! Then I remember you said recently you are an expat. I know you spent a lot of time in Hawaii too. Did you grow up here?
Kumu Lake was my Hawaiiana teacher and Mr Kokubum was my shop teacher. I grew up up in Maunalani heights right next to the park. I miss the old style Kaimuki.
Born Kaiser Waikiki.
Moved around all over Oahu. Brief stint in Aus before back to HI for Jr&High school in 80’s. Then away to CCM’s neck of the woods for decades with trips back to Land O’Surf & Plate Lunch. Now in Aus w fam.
I haven’t been back in Hawaii since about 2008, sadly.
Are they choosing Stephen Gaghan cause he did Bunker77?
That wasn’t Stephen Gaghan. That was Takuji Masuda.
Damn you are dumb and don’t know shit.
If finnegan had written a memoir set in WW2 he would have stormed the beach at Normandy, driven a river barge through Stalingrad and dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, yet still have somehow made it boring.
thank you Surf Ads
Read some shitty books in my life (eg. Bill Wymans auto bio, where he made being in the rolling fucking stones sound dull)
I put Barbarian Days down 40 pages in.
Imagine a book by you
Instead of putting it down 40 pages in, id be reaching for the shotty
I’m on it. Sending you my manuscript asap.
Sorry Ric I meant to reply to Surfads there.
I’d be reaching for my dick reading one of yours no doubt.
Honest mistake
We good?
no worries, bit of a waste of a decent comeback though.
I think I’ve hit all my targets
God forbid.
BG comment section is a target rich environment.
And good sports generally
There’s a few bad eggs
You rarely don’t Bexy!
I’ve happily plagiarised it as per above
I’m on it, sending you my manuscript asap
you tell him!
I put my copy in the community library kiosk and four weeks later it had been returned twice.
Glad to see others finally speaking the truth about that book.
The reviews of this book sound less than promising to those (such as myself) who’ve never read it. Approach with caution? Think twice if I come across it at a thrift shop?
Avoid altogether?
I mean, I finished it. He’s a good writer. I just didn’t think it was overly interesting, despite his knack of somehow being present during multiple seminal moments in surf history.
We were born too late man!
I read it in a week, so I guess I liked it
I was just about to say that it will be a dull as fuck film, but you beat me to it.
In saying that, I do adore his original New Yorker piece, “Playing Doc’s Games”.
More important who going to play Terrence Wood? The lead should go to a foreigner give the character some depth. Doesn’t have to be some ultra white kid who. Maybe his mom his half Israeli.
Terence is one of my best mates. Would have to be played by someone with Occy’s low-centre-of-gravity style, Finnegan’s intellect, and a complete obsession with surfing.
Good luck on this, Bill. Hope it doesn’t turn into a CF.
Walking back from Ponta Pequena “Terrence is coming” was written by the kids of Jardim De Mar all over the steps leading back up into town. Didn’t know him yet but over the next month, he was gracious to me, my wife, and nine month old. He’d sit inside and deeper, snapped his 7’4” had it back together by the next day! Great surfer.. Somewhere I have a letter he sent me bed ridden in England…
Meeting him for drinks this arvo. Will say hi from you.
(Did we meet in Jardim? Spent about 2 months a year there ’95-’00)
Please do! I was there in late 98′ into 99′. I reached out to him years ago after finding a tribute he had written on Jardim. His email back was “Thought about you yesterday and that barrel you got riding the Mal..” Special trip for me and wonderful compliment. Hope he is well. Told my wife about this thread she reminded me of him hiking up in cliffs looking for cilantro. Another east coast yank named Timmy originally from my home town he showed up on that trip he had been traveling for solid decade and half. Heard stories of him from older crew solid charger. In the book he’s referred to Timmy from Hatteras. Small World!
Are you Eugene? (Trying to remember faces and names from a long time ago!)
No but just met Eugene two weeks ago chasing swell north of me. He was standing on the beach watching horizon with an Eaton gun laying in the sand underneath him.. Said he had it shaped for Madeira. Warm Regards- Skip
And to you – both.
We had a little toast to Jardim. Worst thing about being in NZ is the distance to Madeira.
You back from the islands LLama?
Acqui!
I tried to get to Canada, but found it difficult. Our buddy said you were up there and I should have texted, on my way…. but you didn’t invite me and the Hippy is very polite. So fuck you.
I would have taken you to Canada, btw…..
Might have to wait till next year. I can get you in the rotation! I tried to get him to go.. A photo popped up said taken by unknown. That photo was not from this year promise. Another spot had its moment pushing triple overhead. The bouys were reading 11’@ 17 sec. Good trip but not all world..
did you make it out to the island of the left?
or mainland?
Haven’t spent much time on mainland. Went up for the first swell left my boards. Came home for enough time to swap 5.3L engine into my sons truck. Back up for second swell. Good run but not epic..
I love when books get turned into film so much
I hope you get the chance to know this yourself Charlie.
Finnegan is a douche of the highest order. His book was an exercise in narcissism and he has to be the worst travel mate, boyfriend that exists.
Someday Chas, you will see your name in lights and I’d say it’s Yemen that will get you there.
I’ll keep candle lit at alter!
So fucking few genuine ideas out there man…. your book would blow up.
Now that is in a pure sense…. somehow hollywood would fuck it up so you have to produce it too…. got any cash laying around? Let me know, maybe you can light a bat signal and Ben will begin networking in Malibu for you.
He knows everyone.
On the contrary – he’s great company.
Much more interested in hearing about others’ opinions and observations. A rare Seppo that doesn’t talk about himself all the time.
You didn’t read the book obviously.
I’d watch it, but how could it compare to imagining it?
We’re basically going to get Endless Summer III
Patrick Swayze naturally …….Or his Ghost like in Ghosts … with Demi Sec or is that Moore ?
and Mike C from Stab could play , a footstool , just kidding ,and the role of an 8 year old Finnegan ….. I just hope he is not too short ?
Being nice because he finally said something nice , about my favorite surfer ( my sister‘s neighbor )
Mike surfs well and is a very nice guy, take it easy.
Ok … seeing he finally said something nice about my favorite surfer , yesterday (in an article concerning day one at south straddie ) … after 5 years . It all started when he doubted the surfer‘s ability in the pacific leg in his rookie year which really annoyed me after he had just won the QS …anyway , 4 months later he finished second at decent sized Cloudbreak to Wilko , dropped a nine and 8s at Chopes . and at Pipe he was Rookie of the year … not Ethan , Not Leo , Not Zeke , Not Frederico …
connor O is your favorite surfer?
maybe I’m too tired from 4 days of excellent surf… synapsis are not connecting your clues. it’s so rare we have fun waves in consecutive days let alone 4.
Happy Hunting Hippy .
He certainly goes under the radar compared to his countryman Kanoa
A footstool… LOL!
I watched the Beauty and the Beast with the kids last night and … as he used to be part of the furniture here I thought he deserved a place near the lounge .
That wouldn’t be the great CO’L, would it?
I can’t think of a better time for Julian Wilson to pivot careers (as long as he can hide the accent).
He missed out on cashing in on his boyish good looks in movies, way too old, they got that little Timothy geek in Hollywood now that the kids go crazy for. He was especially miss cast as Henry the fifth, laughable really, as a puny little bitch donning a suit of armor and slaying knights for fun. Julian should concentrate on Golf
We few ,
We happy few
We Band of ever so slightly balding BG Brothers …
Ha, the best part of “The King” was some arsehole in Netflix thought that that speech needed a rewrite. So arguably Shakespeare’s finest lines were ignored and rewritten by some gimp to be acted out by a gimp in their gimpy little movie.
Out with St Crispin‘s Day and replace it with an ad for crisps …
How will that book make a good movie? Seriously, it’s well written, but it was boring in large parts, and let’s be honest, it was a big disappointment compared to Playing Docs Games. And movies mostly are shit, so I’m not going to get excited. When is Welcome to Hell being made? And how much is Jonah Hill going to cost as the heroic surf journalist?
The OB chapter is going to be so cheesy in a movie, though Gary Busey would make a marvelous Doc Renneker.
Only way this works is if they go all in Point Break style. Alternating stances, bad acting, etc.
Hoping President Trump could Play as an Ex President , In December at the latest , just to make Point Break Great Again or possibly for a first time …. For Whom the Bell Tolls .?
. Oregon looks like Torquay ? Like Meryl Streps does A dingo stole my baby …
“Of note today, the president’s labs demonstrated detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG (COVID-19) antibodies from labs drawn Monday, October 5th,” Dr. Sean Conley stated.
That means that Trump’s blood can be used to help save people fighting Covid-19 utilizing his blood for convalescent plasma therapy.
I hope he can save the planet for you O2 …. You know, I would never vote for someone like him but I would vote for you 02 . Sadly I will never be able to , but sincerely , I would if I could …. I was just having a bit of fun with Pointbreak , and the ex presidents , which I know off by heart in English and French , and have now seen in German …I think I prefer the French version .
Trump is such a humanitarian… the greatest ever.
Doc was a pretty logical person not outrageous and crazy. I only knew him from standing around waiting for the waves to get better and surf shop hanging. Was always talking about getting taken by boat out the shipping channel with two leashes on his board to surf a peak that broke about five miles out to sea. this was before anybody knew about Mavericks.
He was talking about the Patch outside the Golden Gate. That said, he always struck me as being somewhat full of shit exerting quite a bit of energy telling everyone how great he is as opposed to just being great. Maybe best to leave all mentions of that fool out of the movie.
I’m not gonna talk shit about anybody from OB in the eighties. So many crazy characters and memories that I will remember forever.
As someone who was living and surfing in SF during the 80s, I agree completely.
We used to have the lady at Sam Hee Wos Chinese restaurant bring our food over to Wise surf shop when it was on Vicente. Such good times.
I remember Wise… used to get wax, leashes, and wetsuits there. Seems like ages ago. Yes, good times. I still remember those epic Indian Summer afternoon sessions at VFW.
bingo Barrelled…. that book made a dead stop when he began sucking Doc R’s cock for 5 chapters.
That wasn’t meant to be an indictment on Doc! More was just joking around the whole Point Break premise (Busey as a mentor, etc.).
Utmost respect for those guys. I surfed OB in undergrad and I still can’t even comprehend some of the stuff they’ve done.
I never met the guy, but I remember watching him surf huge Sloat solo a number of times. Legend.
He’d always be parked down there with his old brown panel van. We’d ask him what he is doing in medical school and he would say “ I clean the operating tables” big waves weren’t my thing and my friends were the best surfers at OB then. Six foot hollow days were what I lived for. Doc was just another interesting character out of dozens
they can sell anything with a board on it.. the world wants it. fuck. it is so over. I can see it now, marketed like a Nolan film. aargh.. cunts them all.
More keen on a biopic based on WiggsPaddlingStyle’s life.
Dream job for a movie production “stylist”.
Here is Wigg‘s Dick played by Clay and Patrick Swayze …
. with a rub and tug by Moore Moore (Dem) i Moore
How do you like it
How do you like it …
https://youtu.be/G5GK374guEI
Wut?! How about our very own Chas? Remember, he was cited for eating Asian Fusion on the beach during Covid19… a-and he was once slapped by Asston! Heavy shit, man… defs movie material.
Don’t quote me on it but I’m pretty sure he went to Yemen once too
Interesting and profound, although it’s hardly a destination one would associate with a surf-journalist. But who am I to judge? More grist for the mill!
A witty fat man wanking in his bedroom?
Not sure I’d be into that.
Jeff Bridges ftw