Some people live in such a manner, that their exploits and attitudes define themselves, and become a part of History.

It is fortunate to be around that type of person. You learn a lot.

My fondest recollection of Jay Moriarty, is of him kick stalling in the barrel at Maverick’s, and smiling at me.

A peculiar and unsettling memory, was getting a phone call informing me that he had died by drowning. I was driving South through Half Moon Bay, and looked up to see the Radar Tower at Pillar Point.  The feeling of confusion I had felt when the call came, was identical to when, while shaping, the phone had rang with the news of Mark Foo dying at this same place.

An even more perplexing circumstance, was climbing into a boat in the Maldives and having my boat man tell me he had been worried about me. I had been on the bottom with my camera for awhile. In broken English he explained that the spot, was where Jay had died.

So now someone will capitalize the life of this man. A writer has penned and sold a screenplay about Jay. The question occurred to me: if a production company had called, would I take the job?

Probably not, I am guessing. I did turn down the opportunity to work on Blue Crush. I have standards for my self and what I will engage, that do not allow me much wiggle room.

I had helped the writer a bit with the Jay story, (assuming that it is the same one). I have it here somewhere. But I avoid the person for my own reasons. I hope the film turns out well. But I am glad that I do not need to engage it myself. I would feel sort of dirty.

Will I go see it? Probably. I did watch Blue Crush, and was pleasantly surprised at the difference between script and screen. John Stockwell as director, with Brian Grazer producing and the remarkable water work of Don King, transformed the weak storyline I had read. That is the fickle nature of production.

Some people become history by their life stance. Others write themselves into it.

I appreciate the former.

Jay went.

I shot this image in the Maldives as an illustration of hope. It is about rescue. Hannah Fraser and Bobby Friedman helped me to create it. Some people continue to inspire long after they are gone. I hope that Jay would like it.