Producer JD Disalvatore discusses her acclaimed new film Shelter with stars Brad Rowe and Trevor Wright

BY JD DISALVATORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM BOUSKA

When Shelter opens in theatres this March, audiences will not only get to see all forms of hot guys surf the California waves, but a surprisingly touching tale of love and family. In writer/director Jonah Markowitz's tender coming-of-age-in-the-surf-world drama, young Zach (Trevor Wright) must choose between family, his art and a new love that comes in the form of an older surf buddy, Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss). Ah, decisions, decisions.

Before I go on, let me admit that I produced this film. That being said, I love this film! Really, truly, madly, and deeply and one of the key reasons is the wonderfully complex and touching performances by our cast.

I sat down for lunch recently and reunited with the actors who play the star-crossed surfing lovers.

JD DISALVATORE: Brad, what attracted you to this film and the role of Shaun?

BRAD ROWE: It was the script. I just loved the story. The character of Shaun instantly resonated with me. He was creatively at the place I've been at before as an actor where you have to figure out where you're going next and you never know where the next bit of inspiration will pop up.

Yes, well, who wouldn't be inspired by laying around all day in bed in your beach front house with a hot lover and surfing the rest of the time? What are some of your favorite scenes in the movie?

ROWE: I like the scene where we connect after looking at his sketchbook. It's such an organic moment. When both of our feelings kinda go the way of “Oh my God, did we just cross a line we did not want to cross?” That is the kind of a tight rope without a net moment we go through in life where it just puts a lump in your throat. You don't know what's going to happen and you're not sure where you're going. That's when you discover who you are as a human being.

TREVOR WRIGHT: For me, the smile.

Ah, the smile. What I love is that your performance is so simple. It's the slightest movement on your face in this close up and yet what you're feeling and what is expressed is all this emotion that screams fireworks. The audiences always cheer in that spot.

WRIGHT: When we screen at all the festivals, people always tell me that moment was when they felt it was them in the movie. You couldn't ask for anything better.

What was the direction for that from Jonah?

WRIGHT: He told me he wanted me to be frustrated then just contemplate the night before and wonder if it was a good thing, this thing with Shaun. Because Zach never experiences anything for himself. He's always figuring out everyone else's life, so you know…this new thing…he thinks, “Fuck yeah, this is a new found thing in my life that I'm definitely enjoying.” It's the first time he actually allows himself to feel good and want something for himself.

Brad, what do you think your character Shaun sees in Zach? What's the connection?

ROWE: At first, primarily he identifies with his youth—this kid is surfing and doing his art without restriction, the way Shaun used to do his writing. Shaun sees an idealism he's lost along the way and he wants to be around that energy again. Selflessly, he wants to help this kid, but at the end it's really Zach who helps Shaun.

Trevor, how did you prepare for this role?

WRIGHT: I've been surfing and skateboarding my whole life, so that part came easy. Then with the rest, I didn't really want to do a lot of research or preparation because, you know, Zach is experiencing these things for the first time. He's never experienced this affection, this kind of love before, so as an actor it was a journey that I needed to take to make it as real and natural as possible.

Anything else you want to be quoted as saying, darlings?

ROWE: What I love about this film is it's about opportunities. There's an opportunity for a kid to have a father, a man to have a lover, and an older man to find his art. What choices are made, well that's the journey.

Trevor?

WRIGHT: See Shelter, it's amazing.

I concur!