film
Newcastle is not your typical gay movie - it’s more
like the 2003 surf documentary Step into Liquid than
the 2005 milestone film Brokeback Mountain.
But that comparison doesn’t mean there isn’t a gay
plotline involving two of the film’s characters, Fergus
(Xavier Samuel) and Andy (Kirk Jenkins); it’s just that
there is more going on underneath its surface, much
like the ocean that calls to the characters with its
siren song. What could have been pigeonholed as
a “gay surfer movie,” is at its core, a beautifully pho-
tographed story of relationships between friends
and families and the ones forged between men and
the sea. Well, boys in board shorts on the verge of
becoming men with their lives cresting to a peak that
will leave its mark on them for a lifetime. Aside from
an interesting plotline, there is a bounty of eye candy
to behold. Newcastle follows these young men on
their quests to figure out what life has to offer them.
They deal with personal issues, familial problems
and even tragedy—set against the backdrop of the
competitive world of pro surfing.
Aussie actor Jenkins who portrays Newcastle’s
resident free-spirit, Andy, chatted with The Rage
Monthly about his first movie role. Newcastle opens
in theatres on May 1.
Rage: Your character Andy has been described as bisexual –
but how would you classify him?
Kirk Jenkins: He’s only 17 years of age… he’s not
really quite sure.
But, I had in mind at the time that he’s a very free
soul, very open to sexuality and the freedom of what
you feel. So, he’s not prejudiced against anyone
Surf’S up
liking him or being comfortable with whether it’s a
With Newcastle’s Kirk Jenkins by tim parks
heterosexual person or a homosexual person. [The
film] didn’t really make it clean-cut if he’s bisexual or
he’s gay.
Rage: This film marks your screen debut – any qualms about Rage: You seem like a natural on the waves – did you surf KJ: Definitely! I don’t see it as a textbook homo-
doing your nude scene? prior to making the movie? sexual film that’s all about homosexuality and that is
KJ: No problems really, but being in front of a KJ: No, it was my first surf. I’m just joking (laughs); the main undercurrent or theme.
full cast or team of people that I didn’t know on a I’ve been surfing since I was 12 years old. And having the homosexual element thrown
personal level, it’s a little bit daunting—just getting into that, yeah, it’s supposed to be a very scary thing
comfortable with it. The weather was freezing and Rage: What does the correlation between your character because you’re pretty much going to be torn apart
the water was cold - it was definitely a character and the ocean being so closely interconnected represent? by whoever is conscious of that.
builder. KJ: For Andy, the ocean is his father-figure or Surfers are just so critical and judgmental, and sort
mother-figure, as such. of, one-track minded. It’s surfing and then it’s the
Rage: The film has an almost documentary feel – did direc- The relationship he has with his father is not really girls, the bravado and the ego.
tor Dan Castle let you improvise scenes? the typical father-and-son relationship. His father is It’s more to do with the relationships and growing
KJ: We were able to improvise to a degree. Dan his agent, so there’s no intimacy or direct love that he up and all of the things that you go through—mental
set the characters up to where we all sort of had actually feels. It’s more like a business relationship, struggles with life.
a specific friendship and relationship with each and so the ocean is his grounding and his place of It’s about who you are and what you want to think
individual character. But at the same time, he gave peace and harmony – because he doesn’t have any you don’t understand.
us the freedom to naturally let it unfold or blossom. sort of family life. I do think it’s got a nice touch of delving into what
So, whatever was felt or whatever was thought from it would be like to be a young male growing up in the
each individual just happened in its own way. Rage: Do you feel the film has crossover appeal? surfing community and struggling.
14 RAGE monthly | MAY 2009
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