pirates of the caribbean - Cannes International Film Festival

“We always like to say that if there’s an easy way and a hard way to do something,”
notes Executive Producer Barry Waldman, “we’ll choose the hard way every time. Two
days before we shot on Honopu Beach, the swells were only two feet. Of course, on the
day that we started shooting, they were five feet. But filming on Honopu Beach is one of
those things that if you do it right, adds enormous value to the film.”
Adds Executive Producer Chad Oman, “I thought it was great seeing Rob Marshall being
pulled up on a Jet Ski right up onto the beach for his first day of filming. What a great
introduction to making ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ Most of us had all been through
making three ‘Pirates’ movies, but for him it was a whole new experience, and it was
wonderful to see him bringing his
excitement and enthusiasm to the project.”
“The Garden Island,” as Kauai is rightfully
called, served up numerous landscapes well
beyond Honopu Beach for a bewildering
number of environments required for the
film, as well as a considerable number of
background players. In fact, an estimated
7,000 men turned up for open calls in both
Kauai and Oahu a month and a half before the cameras turned, many decked out in
pirate gear, including bandanas, headscarves, earrings and tattoos (mostly real).
Several were selected, but six lucky candidates living in Hawaii actually became a core
group of “Queen Anne’s Revenge” pirates, each with their own unique (if not eccentric)
personalities: Tamayo Perry, a world-class big wave surfer; Kevin Senn, who is
nicknamed “Top Hat” for the Lincoln-esque top hat he always wears; Michael Rosales, a
rap artist of Filipino descent, whose artist name is Mic3; Emerson (Malcolm) Tuitt, the
only true pirate of the Caribbean, originally
hailing from the Montserrat in the Lesser
Antilles; strikingly tall Rey Payumo, who has
delivered mail for 20 years, and Thomas
Smith, a horticulturist by trade.
Following the waterlogged and sundrenched
first day’s shoot on Honopu
Beach, the company then proceeded for a
full month of filming on numerous locations
throughout Kauai. Such locales as the grounds of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
in Lawai, Kipu Ranch, Grove Farm and Valley House Ranch provided rich landscapes for
thick jungle growth, rivers, chasms and cliffs, much of it ruggedly challenging for the cast
and crew to access and film, especially with the two-camera 3D rigs.
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