GIDGET DOCUMENTARY
A real surfer girl conquers Hollywood and inspires generations of young women to try a traditionally male-dominated sport. A 60-minute feature documentary.
Description
“Brian Gillogly's engaging film uses home movies, footage from the "Gidget" movies, the 1965 and 1984 "Gidget" TV series and interviews with everyone from Sally Field to James Darren to remind us who the original surfer girl was in the popular culture. But it also interviews the real teen who hung out with surfers and was nicknamed Gidget (short for "girl midget," the surfers recall) and then immortalized when her father wrote a book based on her surfing lifestyle and lingo. Kathy Kohner Zuckerman was that girl, and generations of female and male surfers pay tribute to her in this film about her role in surfing history.” --Roger Moore, Orlando SentinelBEST DIRECTOR NOMINATION – 2010 Feel Good Festival, Hollywood
BEST DOCUMENTARY NOMINATION – 2010 Orlando Film Festival
MOST INSPIRING NOMINATION – 2010 Orlando Film Festival
FULL HOUSE (SRO) – 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival
FULL HOUSE – 2010 Orlando Film Festival
FULL HOUSE – 2010 Noosa (Australia) Festival of Surfing
OFFICIAL SELECTION – 2010 Iowa Independent Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION – 2010 California Surf Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION – 2011 National Popular Culture (NPCA/ACA) Conference
OFFICIAL SELECTION – 2011 Honolulu Surf Film Festival
RECORD CROWD – Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (2011)
FULL HOUSE (SRO) – 2012 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival
FULL HOUSE (SRO) – 2012 Topanga Film Festival
FULL HOUSE – 2015 Long Beach Aquarium
Narrated by Jorja Fox (“CSI”), produced by Brian L. Gillogly and Robert Masters, and edited by Brian Denny, ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY explores the largely untold story of the real “Gidget” and how her account of surfing Malibu in the mid-50’s became the basis for a best-selling novel and a series of feature films and TV shows. A half century later, “Gidget” is celebrated as a slice of Americana, with considerable impact on popular culture and the sport of surfing.
In ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY, surf legends and present-day “surfer girls” set the stage and take the Gidget story full circle. Prominent actors, writers and directors, many of whom brought Gidget to the big and small screen, provide an often enlightening behind-the-scenes perspective. Some of them include:
Sally Field-Oscar winning actor (“Gidget” TV Series)
Cliff Robertson-Oscar winning actor (“Gidget”)
James Darren-Actor/Singer (“Gidget”)
Gregory Harrison-Actor (“Ed,” “North Shore”)
Caryn Richman-Actor (“The New Gidget” TV Series)
Paul Wendkos-Prolific director (“Gidget,” “Gidget Goes Hawaiian”)
Don Stroud-Actor (“Gidget’s Summer Reunion”)
Rabbit Kekai-Stunt Double (“Gidget Goes Hawaiian”)
Leah Dawson-Women’s Longboard Surf Champion
Layne Beachly-Seven-time World Surf Champion
Summer Romero-Top Longboard Surfer
Jericho Poppler Bartlow-Former US Surf Champion
Kassia Meador-Top Longboard Surfer/Roxy Model
Belen Kimble-Top Longboard Surfer
Carla Rowland-Malibu Surf Champion
Lance Carson-Surf Legend (”Endless Summer”)
Mike Doyle-Surf Legend/Former US Champion
Mickey Munoz-Surf Legend
Together with Kathy “Gidget” Zuckerman they weave an entertaining and ultimately life-affirming true account of a young girl coming of age amongst the waves at Malibu’s fabled Surfrider Beach—and how an idealized vision of that girl became a true American icon.
For more information and a trailer go to:
Facebook.com/GidgetDocumentary
I was surprised and disheartened at James Darren’s passing on Monday. The last time I saw him was just before the pandemic at the premier of the updated HD version of the doc at the Laemmle Theater in Beverly Hills. He dominated the Q&A with his sharp memory, eloquence, sense of humor and silky-smooth speaking voice. (He was an accomplished singer, after all.) He looked well, the picture of good health, and that’s the way I’ll remember him.
I first encountered James when he and his orchestra were playing a summer evening concert at Marina Del Rey circa 2003. He was the consummate showman—charming and professional. At the same time, he also exuded warmth, especially afterward when he mingled with the crowd and posed for a photo with Kathy.
Circa 2004, Lynn Wenkos, wife of “Gidget” director Paul Wendkos and a long-time friend of James, put in a good word, and he consented to an interview for the doc. What transpired was a pivotal discussion of his “Gidget” costars, Sandra Dee (“I loved her”) and Cliff Robertson (“He didn’t want to do the movie…, but he did a good job”), and riffs on the colorful surf “extras” he hung out with at Zuma beach a half century earlier, in particular Mickey Munoz (“He had no money at all”).
As our friendship grew, I tried to set him up with entertainment promoter and surf legend Gary Propper for a residency with his band in Vegas. That didn’t happen as these things often go, and there were no hard feelings.
After the Laemmle show, my wife and I proposed we meet up “soon” for a vegan meal at Gracias Madre, a favorite nearby eatery. Unfortunately, Covid reared its ugly head, and we never made it. The lesson was: grab the moment whenever you can…which I imagined was James’ philosophy of life.
Gidget Comes to Coronado | Coronado Island Film Festival
https://coronadofilmfest.com/gidget-comes-to-coronado/
Gidget Comes to Coronado | Coronado Island Film Festival The Coronado Island Film Festival presents a quintessential California nostalgic surf adventure! Join us for two exciting fundraising events in one weekend! ...
L.A. Affairs: It wasn’t Malibu Barbie who taught me about love. It was Gidget
And The Gidge rises again... Today's LA Times offers a piece about the author's warm, real-life relationship with the real Gidget. If you're able to view the post on the LA Times website, you'll see some nifty animation in the illustration, including a wink from Kathy.
L.A. Affairs: It wasn’t Malibu Barbie who taught me about love. It was Gidget I learned how to date later than almost everyone I knew. When I felt clueless, the original Gidget — who has been married since 1965 — served as my love expert.
On November 5th, 2022 a spirited Kathy "Gidget" Zuckerman was bestowed the Silver Surfer Award at the California Surf Museum annual Gala, along with board builder Bing Copeland and environmentalist Yvonn Chouinard.
Seen here, Gidget, Bing and Mickey Munoz, who covered for his friend Chouinard. Despite my personal hell week, I presented the Gidge to the rapturous crowd: "Kathy Kohner was born in Los Angeles to European emigre parents. She would be reborn as `Gidget' at Malibu’s Surfrider Beach 15 years later—and both she and surfing would never be quite the same. In essence, Kathy‘s father was her confident and she was his muse, ultimately resulting in the Gidget novel, movies and TV shows, which charmed and inspired generations. Much has been said about how this burst of attention helped grow the sport. Perhaps less appreciated is the sometimes-profound effect the Gidget story had on other women. One such person is Rachel Wegter, who grew up surfing and wrote a college thesis on Gidget as a feminist figure. As Rachel said, `She can surf with the boys in the daytime and then go out with them on a date at night, and I think that’s the perfect balance.' You didn’t know you were witnessing perfection, did you? I give you the one and only, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, aka The Real Gidget."
