RIP-OFF ARTIST NEARLY HARSHED JIMBEAU ANDREWS’ MELLOW

Jimbeau Andrews, the writer/producer of the new surfing documentary Nihi, grew up in Orange County, graduated from Saddleback High and was a lifeguard for the city of Laguna Beach for 12 years. His Aloha Films offices are located in Laguna Beach. His film looks at Hawaiian surfing legend Titus Nihi Kinimaka as well as the more spiritual side of surfing.

Filmfestivals.com: How did you first encounter Titus Nihi Kinimaka?

Jimbeau Andrews: He and I met when I interviewed him for a Tow In film titled Strapped. We kept in touch after that, and I continued to visit him when I returned to the Islands. Our friendship grew, and in 2001, I became his business manager.

Filmfestivals.com: I’m sorry . . . a "tow in" film?

Jimbeau Andrews: Strapped is the name of a Tow In surfing movie I produced. "Tow in" is when a surfer is towed into a wave by a jet ski.

Filmfestivals.com: While I can appreciate the aesthetics of surfing, I can’t understand why anybody would actually want to risk his life splashing around in the ocean like that. I simply do not get it. How do you explain the appeal?

Jimbeau Andrews: As an avid surfer, I can understand Titus’ devotion to surfing, and I have a sense for what drives him to risk his life in pursuit of his sport. The dedication that he has applied to his sport reflects the choices he has made in his life. I feel individuals like Titus thrive off the penultimate experiences in their sporting lives. And to a certain extent, the more capable they become, the more pressure they feel to push the limits of their skills.

Filmfestivals.com: Were there any mishaps in the production of the film, either in the ocean or out of it?

Jimbeau Andrews: When I went looking for production funds for Nihi, I was told repeatedly that the investment in a surf film was too risky. The crucial ingredient is cash, and when I found our angel financiers in Gregg Gaynor, Jonas Price and Aaron Egger, I couldn’t have been happier. Unfortunately, we had another partner at the time who misappropriated these funds and set back our production plan by three months. I thought it was all over then, but the money came back just in time, and we jumped into production. But then our finances snagged, we ended up getting one-third less than we planned, and we ran out of money to finish the edit.

Filmfestivals.com: Jeez, that sounds like a terrible scramble.

Jimbeau Andrews: It was May 1. We had arranged for a premiere at the Playboy Mansion for May 15, and we didn’t have the money to finish the edit. Enter angel No. 4, Dr. Mark Fortune, whose contributions saved the day. But we needed the days and all the nights to finish. I remember being stuck in Lakers’ NBA Finals traffic at 5 p.m. on the 10 freeway, and the premiere [was scheduled] at the mansion at 6. The sound engineer called to say that my company credit card didn’t process, and he couldn’t release the master he had just finished. That hole in my stomach didn’t fill until a courier handed me the master at Hef’s gate with less than a half-hour to screening. We had so many angels help out in this production that I truly feel this film was destined to be made, with or without me.

Nihi screens at Edwards Island, 999 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach. April 17, 1:30 p.m.; and at the Orange County Museum Of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach. April 17, 3:30 p.m.