Mavericks Movie Hits Santa Cruz Shores

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.

"Of Men and Mavericks" is a film about the well known and late surfer Jay Moriarity, who mastered the surf break as a teen. Mavericks is located less than a mile past just outside Half Moon Bay.

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 was recreating a paddle-out that paid tribute to the Santa Cruz native and Mavericks surfer after his death.

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