Date: 5/8/03
Author: Monroe Mann

Related Items:
Wakin' A Movie Poll #1
Wakin' A Movie Discussion Topic
In the Wake of Identity Movie Poster

First draft of the In the Wake of Identity movie poster (click to enlarge)

Wakeboarding meets Hollywood? A real movie about wakeboarding? Yep, it's true! And we need your help.

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this article today. Even more so that I have the privilege of having it published on Wakeworld. And what a story it is…

I grew up on a lake in Maine, wakeboarding every summer. And every summer, I'd wonder, "When is a movie about wakeboarding coming out?" And every summer it never came. Ten years later, I'm 23 years old and in New York City, a professional actor, and still, no movie about wakeboarding.

The next thing I know, I'm 25, a screenwriter, the head of a film production company and at the Wakeboard Camp in Orlando trying to get some support for the film while learning how to land a back roll. Then I met Ben Greenwood, who introduced me to Liquid Force and here I am, writing for Wakeworld.

Who am I, you ask?

Monroe Mann (left) and Kurt Robertson at The Wakeboard Camp

My name is Monroe Mann, the CEO of Loco Dawn Films, LLC. Welcome to the first installment of "Wakin' A Movie," Wakeworld's continuing coverage of the development of LDF's feature-length film, In the Wake of Identity.

Yes, one day very soon, you're going to be sitting in a movie theatre, no matter where you are in the U.S., watching some of your favorite movie actors hit it up with some of your favorite wakeboarders in a full-length, story-driven comedic-drama set behind the sport of wakeboarding. And yeah, we've got the full support of nearly the entire wakeboarding community.

So who's on board? Well, so far, we've got Liquid Force helping out. The Wakeboard Camp is providing support. Tige boats has agreed to provide boats for the film. Justin Stephens and Cadmium Films will be doing all the 2nd Unit Sports Photography. Armand Gazarian (Son of the Beach) will be the Director of Photography. Ben Greenwood is an associate producer. Kurt Robertson and Aaron Reed have signed on as consultants. Tina Bessinger is helping out on the women's side of things. Wakeboarding Magazine listed us in the Odds & Ends section and, of course, Wakeworld is obviously supporting us too.

Now, although we have all the support of those folks above, we need your help and support as well. Why? Well, we want and need your opinions. We want this film to launch wakeboarding into the limelight it deserves, and we want it to be a movie you, as a wakeboarder, can be proud of and excited to see.

So tell us what you think! We'll be running polls right here on WakeWorld to get your feedback on different ideas pertaining to the film. Who do you want in the movie? Where should it be filmed? What music should be in the soundtrack? What is your vision of the perfect wakeboarding movie? We'll also look for your feedback in the special Wakin' A Movie discussion topic that will be solely dedicated to your input throughout the production of this film.

I can't tell you enough how excited I am to be bringing this film to life. Finally, the movie about wakeboarding that I always wanted to see is being made. Funny, though, that I had to end up doing it myself!

Loco Dawn Films, LLC proudly presents, in association with Cadmium Films, In the Wake of Identity - Only If You Risk It All Can You Ever Hope To Have It All.

I think I can speak for wakeboarders the world over when I say, "It's About Time!"

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