Stars set to be born!
Santa Cruz, California, some hour-plus from San Francisco, has a surfing heritage that is second to none. The Sport of Kings was introduced to the redwood’d land in 1885 as Hawaiians David Kawananakoa, Edward Keli’iahonui and Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole came to glide the chill. Surfing took deep root in the 1950s, Jack O’Neill inventing the wetsuit etc. and soon the town and its wave riding were one and the same.
Oh there have been some ups and downs. Methamphetamine, in particular, took deep root just like surfing and infected the scene for along time, famous names like Shawn “Barney” Barron, Vince Collier, Daryl “Flea” Virostko steering their ships dangerously close to the shoal while heeding her siren song.
Flea’s story, thankfully, did not end in tragedy. He cleaned up, launched recovery program FleaHab and now a film is being made involving elements from his life but not just any film. A film by the Academy Award winning team of Joshua James Richards and Chloé Zhao.
Per Look Out West:
Shhhhh. No one is supposed to talk about a movie-in-the-making.
But could this finally be the definitive surf-culture film Santa Cruz deserves?
“You don’t want to jinx it,” said Darryl Virostko.
Better known as “Flea” in the Santa Cruz surfing world, Virostko is the main person involved in what many are hoping is the cinematic representation surfing — and Santa Cruz surf culture — have long yearned for.
Filming of the yet-unnamed movie is set to begin in the spring, though the script is still being finalized. But the involvement of Joshua James Richards and Chloé Zhao — most famous for the cinematography and direction of 2021 Best Picture-winner “Nomadland” — have locals in the cinematic know excited despite a lack of firm details.
While (Flea) believes his real-life persona will play a central part in the movie, and is working with a young surfer who figures to play a primary acting role, Virostko remains circumspect about the plot lines as the script shifts through other hands.
“It touches a lot about life’s struggles,” he said. “But these guys are legit. The filmmakers have a really good feel for what they want to do.”
Exciting.
But did you see Nomadland? It was a fine, if depressing, depiction of workers struggling in America. Richards and Zhao have a unique filmmaking flair in that they cast both actors and everyday folk to star.
Almost vérité.
The possibility for an Academy Award winning film about surfing, in any case, is something to get giddy about. Giddy enough, even, to chase the hideous taste of Chasing Mavericks from the palate.
Back to Flea, though. Many years ago, I interviewed famed-methamphetamine dealer/surfer Anthony Ruffo in the Virostko home. It was my first profile for Stab and I described the surroundings as a “dingy meth den” or some such.
Flea, if I recall, was not please.
I imagine that scene will be left on the cutting room floor.
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.
Worlds most insecure surf fake journalist cries again
Well it is a great surf town. And a deep history with characters.
And factor that Chasing Maverick’s came out well this could be the one.
“dingy meth den” might be the only truly accurate surf journaling you’ve ever done.
Don’t have an opinion about this/don’t really care, but i just need to say,
Fleahab is such a good name. Honestly.
Fleahab.
Wow, I thought this article was a surf adjacent clicker about RHCP…
Was the dingy meth den like TC’s?
Nah mate, TC’s den was clad in Pat Rawsons, Byrne’s, Pipe Masters trophies, cover shots from the mags his bro edited…
help! no commercials or laugh tracx
need freedom to produce…love & mercy/SMILE
Olive oil Daiz!
Nomadland was quite good and so was Breath for surf genre..
Flea, heading up to Mavs from SC, Doc Renneker heading down from SF, surfing together in the earlier days. If that’s part of the pic, could be fun.
Ultra Dingy Meth Candy
Who will play the part of Chas in the interview scene? If Jonah Hill can fill the role there’s less chance it’ll finish on the cutting room
The actor who places Ryan McPoyle in it’s always Sunny in Philadelphia!
Ha!
Most important question, will they get the wetsuit neck tan line right or not?
aka shit-head
I’d say more importantly, will they nail the complete fucking asshole factor off the Westside? Not a good group to try to surf around in the 90’s. A lot like brazzos, travel in a pack, be a dick, nobody does anything because there’s too many of you. The attitudes would change once they drove north.
Chasing Methenamine
Hedonists gotta Hedon.
Here’s the problem, much like Sea of Darkness (especially the new Martin edit) and every other film that has been made about surfing’s link to drugs, addiction, smuggling, etc, it’s not going to disclose the juiciest details that involve the names you want to hear about. It will be another movie where the storyline can only involve those who agree to be part of the film. Should be a good story, but it won’t be the whole story and it won’t be completely accurate.
So, a bit like a Chas article? But with a decent story.
Picking a Rotten tomato score of 23%
For your comment, yes. But what do you think the movie will get?
Needed a drum roll before yours then. Hey. hows Singapore treating you?
Hah! Been a bit since I teased you. Going good–safe adn clean, but expensive. Nice to be out of the States for a bit, tbh. May get 10 days on Simeulue over spring break, and 3 days to Medewi or Balian.
Though will it capture the quality and cutting-edge feel of that famous 1987 exposé of the Santa Cruz lifestyle, ‘The Lost Boys’ ?
An impossible task.
can you place this secret spot on a map? north or south of the dirtiest city? jeebus help us if this place is down-wind and down-stream…
didn’t Flea do a sidewinder down a cliff on a bender on his way to…
Chasing Cowells?
I’m here to say, loud and proud, that I found Chasing Mavericks enjoyable.
Elisabeth Shue…big fan! but found Leaving Las Vegas more my style. Fold both movies together and there’s the plot for The Flea Movie.
Elizabeth Shue is a goddess.
loved her long time…we both got an industrial disease. threesome with Banks & Berkeley…Reno Ab high five~GOD-like.
https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….
No Gisele or Emily interjections in the article makes me sad and hopeful for an IG post about their latest surfing exploits.
I posted an old lathe pic that I thought was the origin of Beard Oil. Wrong, maybe…Wax oil?
Let’s go with wax oil!
Oily days…