February 2011 1 - Magic Wave

Catch of the Month
Mornig Session @ Scar Reef in B&W by Komang BSP
Surfer : Unidentified
Monica Kuhon
Movie Producer / Director; Part time Surfer & Body Boarder
Monica ; Photo by Chris Little Child
Bulan february ini, catch of the month kita
adalah Monica Kuhon. Wanita manis berdarah
Menado ini sudah bergaul dengan dunia surfing
sejak lama. Dengan latar belakang pendidikan
di dunia film, Monica banyak mengerjakan
proyek proyek iklan, film, video clipping untuk
production house atau shooting shooting yang
diadakan di Bali.
Salah satu proyek yang besar dan juga
memberikannya peran di dunia layar lebar,
adalah film In God’s Hand. Sebagai surfer
Indonesia, wajib hukumnya nonton ini film. Ini
adalah salah satu film bertema surfing yang
pertama kali diproduksi oleh Holywood. Jauh
sebelum Blue Crush, Point Break, dll. Juga film
Holywood pertama yang mengambil lokasi
shooting di Bali – Indonesia.
Film In God’s Hand, diporuksi tahun 1997,
menggambarakan perjalanan 3 orang surfer
dari Amerika mencari ombak terbesar di
dunia. Ketiga surfer ini deperankan oleh
surfer sungguhan yang pada waktu itu sangat
diperhitungkan di dunia surfing. Mereka adalah
Shane Dorian, Matty Liu dan Matt George.
Shane Dorian sempat menempati urutan ke 4
di ASP World Surfing Championship 2000, dan
tetap berada di 24 besar di ASP sirkuit selama
era 1993 - 2004. Berhenti dari pro surfing,
Shane Dorian akhirnya menjadi surfer spesialis
ombak besar dan tetap bersama sponsornya
Billabong. Di dunia surfing nyata, Shane Dorian
pernah diklaim sebagai surfer yang pernah
paddle in dan riding ombak terbesar di dunia
( Bukan tow in pake jet ski ). Coba cek aja di
Google dan youtube.
Monica pada awalnya merupakan Bali Associate
Producer dan Talent Casting Coordinator dalam
proyek film ini. Tetapi sutradara In God’s Hand
yaitu Mr Zalman King, meyakinkannya untuk
mengambil peran sebagai Lily, istrinya Wyatt
( dimainkan oleh Shaun Tomson; juara dunia
surfing ISP 1977). Monica yang pada awalnya
ragu ragu, akhirnya setuju. Bahkan dia juga
mengajak bayinya (Joey, waktu itu 3 tahun)
untuk pemain extra, yaitu sebagai anaknya
dengan Wyatt dalam film itu. Menurutnya,
pekerjaan sebagai extra di film In God’s hand,
adalah sesuatu yang sangat mengesankan.
Karena dia juga mendapatkan fasilitas sama
seperti bintang lainnya di film itu. Termasuk
caravan, kamar hotel di Bali Cliff, baby sitter
untuk bayinya, dan yang jelas uangnya pasti
bagus…. He he he.
Film ini memang diproduksi dengan standar
Hollywood. Baik dari segi peralatan,
pemain, teknisi dan lain lain. Bahkan mereka
mendatangkan para surfer dari Hawaii sebagai
stuntman dan konsultan. Tidak kurang seperi
Darick Doerner ( Waimea bay Lifeguard dan
Big Wave surfer), Brock Little (Big wave rider),
Brian Keaulana dikontrak untuk film ini. Dan film
ini adalah film bertema surfing yang mampu
masuk dalam film Box Office. Menurut Monica,
In God’s Hand juga melibatkan masyarkat lokal,
baik sebagai extra, tenaga kebersihan dan lain
lain. Selama 4 minggu produksi di Bali, film ini
mendapatkan hasil yang sangta baik. Bahkan
90% adegan di air dan ombak dalam film itu,
diambil di Bali. Pada tahun 1997 itu keadaan di
daerah Bukit Ungasan mungkin bisa disamakan
dengan keadaan Ubud waktu Julia Robert
shooting Eat Pray and Love ( 2009) … he he
he.
Saat ini Monica tinggal di Canggu, dan sudah
jarang main surfing. Menurutnya dia lebih
menikmati Body Boarding. Selain itu, factor
pekerjaan juga membuatnya jarang bisa
berada di air laut. Monica yang memang punya
latar belakang pendidikan di film & rumah
produksi ini, sekarang ini sibuk sebagai Producer
& Sutradara buat Katena Films. Ketika Magic
Wave minta ijin untuk memakai foto surfing
nya yang di facebook, dia bilang belum bisa,
karena harus minta ijin dulu dari fotografer nya.
Jadi kalo mau liat foto fotonya dia surfing dan
kegiatan Monika Kuhon, coba aja cek namanya
di facebook kamu.
(English Text )
----------- e ------------
February’s catch of the month is Monica Kuhon. A
lovely lady from Menado, North Sulawesi whose
long been in the surfing world. Her educational
background in filming industry has led her to many
projects involving advertising, film, video clipping
for production house or any other type of moving
picture shootings in Bali.
One of her biggest project, and one that gave
her the opportunity to play a role in the big
screen was the film “In God’s Hand”. This movie
is a must-see for surfers. This is one of the first
surfing themed movie that was produced by
Hollywood. Long before Blue Crush, Point Breaks
and the whole lot. It was also Hollywood’s first
ever shoot that took place in Bali – Indonesia.
The film was produced in 1997, telling the story
of 3 surfers from America searching for the
biggest wave in the world. They were played by
3 real renowned surfers of those years. To name
Shane Dorian, Matt Liu and Matt George. Shane
Dorian once took 4th at the ASP World Surfing
Championship and stayed in the top 24 in the ASP
circuit between 1993 – 2004. In his real surfing
life, he also once claimed as the surfer who ride
the biggest wave in the world. Paddle in. Not
towed in. You can check it in Google & Youtube.
At that time, Monica was a Bali Associate
Producer & Talent Casting Coordinator for the
project. But Mr. Zalman King, the director of
In God’s Hand convinced her instead to take on
the role as Lily, Wyatt’s wife (played by Shaun
Tomson, ISPWorld Surfing Champion 1977).
Hesitating at the beginning, she then agreed to
take up the challenge. She even brought along
her baby (Joey) to play the extra, as Wyatt’s
daughter.
Playing as the extra in In God’s Hand, was such
an amazing experience for Monica. She got to
enjoy all the same great treatments like any other
stars in the movie; a caravan, room to stay at the
Bali Cliff, a baby sitter for her baby and not to
mention the cash that comes afterward...hehehe...
This movie was made to the standard of
Hollywood. From the props, artists, technician, the
whole lot. They even flew in Hawaiian surfers as
stuntmans & consultants. To say the least; Darick
Doerner (Waimea Bay Lifeguard & Big wave
surfer). And this surfing themed movie even made
it to the Box Office. Monica mentioned that
the movie involved the local community as well,
whether they were used as extras, cleaning service,
or other duties. It took them 4 weeks to produce
in Bali, and the results were excellent. 90% of
the water & waves scenes in this movie were taken
in Bali. Back then in 1997, Bukit Ungasan would
probably have been something like Ubud when
Julia Roberts was shooting Eat Pray Love (2009)...
hehehe
Today, Monica lives in Canggu and seldom does
surfing much. She feel more enjoyable Body
Boarding nowadays. Besides that, her line of
work gives her little time to go out to the sea.
Nowadays, Monica is pretty much more occupied
with her works as a producer/directors for Katena
Films.
When MagicWave asked her permission to use
some of her surf photos in her facebook, she said
that she would have to ask the photographer’s
permission first for that. So, if you want to see
her surf photos and want to know more on what
Monica Kuhon has been busy with lately, check out
her name through your facebook.
Photos are private collection of Monica.
Photos of In God’s hand from www.imdb.com
Monica, Joey & Shaun Tomson
One of the scene in the movie
DVD cover
Shane Dorian , Matt George & Matty Liu
Big cinema poster
Darrick Doerner. The Big Wave Legend
Lim@ Mawui
Photo by Kimen Surf Photgraphy
Producing & Directing for TV Programe We’re jammin ..... Bop cuwa waw Clipping from the In God’s Hand
14 _February 2011 http://www.facebook.com/magicwave http://www.magicwave.org
_February 2011 15