Skimboarding For Unity

Last weekend I went out to the Skimboarding for Unity contest at East Coast Park.  It was sponsored by Billabong, Bigfoot Industries, and a couple of others.  The contest flew in pro skimboarders from all over Asia to compete for prizes.  Many of the surfers I've come to know in Singapore were hanging out at this contest, and we went for a big yummy Vietnamese meal afterwards (YUM! Thanks Kalani and Cheryl!!).  Here are some photos of the contest, and a few of the riders who have agreed to be in my movie.  

Location: UBIN LODGE

Finally, a break!  

Pulau Ubin - the wild jungle where tigers and elephants swim over from Malaysia... the great granite outcrop colored with exotic (but perilous?!) plant life ...  a haunted island filled with Danger... and Mystery!  (okay... hmm... maybe if it was up to the Singapore Paranormal Investigators...)

Ghosts, tigers, or giardia berries - it's where we're filming Kindred Spirit.  

Despite the treacherous 10-minute bumboat ride across the picturesquely serene Serangoon Bay, this little jewel has (unfortunately?) made the wild accessible for sometimes nature-handicapped Singaporeans. 

Still, it's lovely.  It's quiet.  It's all in one place.  And its not too far away.  (It's also available during December school holidays and Hari Raya).  We here like to think it's a pretty good excuse for a vacation... ahem!  I mean... my Highly Important 2nd Year Production. 

For those of you out there who are still wondering why a 2nd year is shooting at a spot like this... or why a person would go to an island for a week instead of a perfectly normal and safe Sound Stage, Tonight Is Your Answer.   

From Natasha, aka: "Samantha"

Just wanted to put this out on the front page.  :)  

Hi,

My name is Natasha Capol and I am one of the candidates who have been to this casting call with Erin.  

Erin assembled this sort of "casting call" audition to meet up with this other actress she mentioned as Eunice.  

And as usual, I come in a huff and puff, running a bit late, and meet Eunice.  

At first I looked at her and I thought, "Boy, she's a stunning one!"  Didn't think much of it and introduced myself to her.  And being as straight-forward and blunt as I usually am, said, "Ya know... You look like some famous person that I don't know the name of.  But you really do.  You're not famous are y?"  And she just giggled.  

From my perspective, we immediately clicked, Eunice and I.  She seemed pretty downt o earth and not too legendary from what I was about to find out.  

So we went along with the audition.  And just as we ended and Eunice had to shoot off, it suddenly clicked in my incredibly slow brain, that this woman, sitting opposite me, was THE Eunice Olsen.  And of course, being the clumsy character that I am, bursted out with the "Holy chumbawuma!  You are the Eunice Olsen!"  

Yes that was quite an embarassing realisation, especially from what I had said earlier.  

To Erin's credit, she's had to put up with a lot of my spontaneities and this was definiately one of them.  I must say, she seemed to quite enjoy that encounter.  :)  

What I liked most about the plot of this film is what the character's stories had to portray. There is this universal theme that each character portrays the despair and the desire to live and to love, to be accepted as an individual in the society we live in today.  And to me, this is a very important aspect in our own modern world, especially with what is happening in the world as we speak - in terms of humanity, acceptance, choice, needs, and so on.   Not only that, but in each of the characters stories, there's a real power and journey they all have to go through.  

And hopefully most of you out there will get a chance to see what is to become of this film! 

Casting!

We're doing auditions now for KINDRED SPIRIT at NYU Tisch Asia. Here are the casting breakdowns. If you know anyone who might be interested in these parts, please have them contact director Erin Galey at EG1124@NYU.EDU to schedule a time to audition.

Thanks!
Erin Galey
(Writer/Director)

KINDRED SPIRIT is a story about the funeral of a fun-loving "Peter Pan Forever" surfer whose two girlfriends (yep) are confronted with each other for the first time at his funeral. The tense and comedic situation builds to a fistfight at the beach service, and is vaguely resolved only by their fond memory of the surfer. This film will be shot on super 16mm film by DP Shivani Khattar and production design by Laetitia Gangotena. Director Erin Galey has worked with The Flaming Lips, Woodshed Entertainment (producing John Krasinski's latest film Brief Interviews with Hideous Men), ESPN.com, the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls, and a talented group of directors at Tisch. She is currently a 2nd year studying Directing and Cinematography at NYU Tisch Asia in Singapore.

Seeking dynamic, confident actors for the following roles:

SAMANTHA (25-30. Any ethnicity. Athletic)
A previous surfer turned student, Samantha is a bit of a tomboy. She is sensitive, generous, and polite, but can become competitive when threatened (and once she snaps, her sting is fierce!). Samantha seeks redemption from a betrayal that's cast her as an outsider.

BRIDGET (25-30, any ethnicity)
Bridget is a bit of a dreamer. She wants to get married and travel the world, forget about money and live off the land, and write beautiful songs on her guitar by the campfire. She easily drifts between fantasy and reality.

ROSE (25-35, any ethnicity, possibly athletic)
Rose is a responsible, straightforward woman who wants to take care of problems. She is a compassionate caretaker who rules with tough love. She is stronger than she looks.

CAROLINE (45-70, any ethnicity)
Caroline can't cope with the death of her son. She avoids thinking about it, convinced the funeral is a pleasant party and her son will show up any minute. This is a VERY dynamic role for an older woman.

ANDY (25-40, any ethnicity).
A surf shop business owner, Andy is a free spirit turned boy scout. Albeit in a laid-back surfer kind of way, Andy is a strong, goal-oriented, creative problem solver. He’s the guy you want on your team when you don’t have the answer, and who says what no one else is willing to say. He’s a natural leader.

DALE (25-40, any ethnicity)
Dale is the quintessential surfer bum. He’s loyal to his crew, doesn’t have a job, and follows the waves. He steers clear of conflict (bad vibes dude!), and his main goal is to find the perfect/next wave.

The Crew

Producer/UPM/AD - Eric Elofson 

Director of Photography - Shivani Khattar

Production Design, Wardrobe, Makeup - Laetitia Gangotena

Gaffer/Assistant Camera - Han West

Assistant Camera/Grip - Kyle Haskett

Script Supervisor/2nd AD/Set Documentary/Utility - JC Crump

Sound Mixer - Uta Arning

Set Photographer - Ronnie

PA's - Angelo Perrino, Alice Ho, Hui Min

Editor - Eric Elofson 

Director/Writer/Producer - Erin Galey 

Lets welcome the crew to the good ship Lucky Harrrrrrrm, arrrrrr!  Now lets go find some treasure.  

Welcome! It's pre-production...

Hello Friends, Fans, Investors - welcome to the blog of KINDRED SPIRIT.  We'll be shooting December 8-15th, 2008 with a crew of students from NYU Tisch Asia and local Singaporeans.  

This blog is your way to stay updated and keep track of pre-production, principle photography, and post-production.   Look forward to photos, insights, a behind-the-scenes look at the film, and film production in South East Asia.  

We're heavy into pre-production here in sunny, hot, and humid Singapore.  

This weekend my producer Eric and I had auditions.  He got a bunch of local surfers to come in, who are regulars on the waves in Desaru and Chetaring, Malaysia, as well as Bali, Sri Lanka, and even a chick from the North Shore of Hawaii.  These surfers are so diverse, and really cool.  They're all excited to participate in the film, and have offered their time and gear to help our production.

So far, Eric has managed to come up with:

-- free surfboards

-- a possible Volkswagen Bus (which on the island of Singapore is incredible considering cars older than 5 years must be disposed of or destroyed)

-- forty capable surfers, including our friends at Bigfoot Industries who sponsor pro surfers in and around Southeast Asia, and host international skim-boarding and surfing competitions.

-- a surfing actor who was in TIN CUP, worked in Houston and LA, and is an avid photographer.

-- Good vibes duuuuude! 

Not bad for a week or two of work!   

The surfing culture in Singapore is small but strong.  Most of the locals live here for work and as there's no waves here, they travel to nearby locations.  Bigfoot Industries has offered to sponsor surfboards, and maybe some wardrobe and transportation for the film. I also auditioned the local rep for Billabong who expressed interest in sponsoring the film and outfitting our entire cast! Keep your fingers crossed! 

Today I am going location scouting at Changi Beach and Kusu Island, where I'm seeking exterior beach locations for the surfer funeral and girl fight scene.  The problem with shooting at a beach in Singapore is the small city of oil tankers, refineries, and cargo ships just off the shore.  During the day it looks kind of polluted, and at night there are so many lights it reads as another city.  For this reason we may have to head up to Malaysia in search of a more naturalistic beach.

Stay tuned for photo updates, posts from the producer, actors and more.  

All the best! 

Erin Galey

Writer/Director