Locals getting a taste of Hollywood action as Jay Moriarity movie begins filming

SANTA CRUZ - Filming of the new movie about surfer Jay Moriarity began this week, bringing a little taste of Hollywood to the region.
The cast and crew of "Of Men and Mavericks" will be in the Santa Cruz area for about two weeks. Filming kicked off in Santa Cruz on Monday before moving Tuesday to the Pleasure Point area, where Moriarity grew up and later lived with his wife, Kim.

The area along East Cliff Drive at the end
of 41st Avenue is transformed into a movie
set as the 'Of Men and Mavericks'
crew prepares to film a scene of the movie
about Santa Cruz surfer Jay Moriarity on Wednesday

A number of residents clustered around the set Wednesday morning, looking for glimpses of the film's stars and watching the cast and crew at work. Wednesday scenes were being filmed at the end of 41st Street, and many residents took their morning walks and bicycle rides as usual, zipping past a lot full of trailers and camera equipment.

Jennifer Young, who lives right by the beach in Pleasure Point, came over with her cousin, Kevin Dean, to watch the action.
"It's been really calm, very professional, very organized," said Young. "They've been very welcoming."
The crew was careful not to disturb the area's residents much, refraining from blocking off too much of the area and allowing people to pass by except during short periods. A small group of set assistants politely asked the onlookers to keep quiet when the cameras were rolling.

"They've really got it together," said Dean. "It's interesting to watch - everyone's been very cooperative."
Young, who used to run a weekly newspaper in the area, said she'd met the real Jay Moriarity a few years before his 2001 death and she still keeps in contact with his widow, Kim Moriarity, who is being portrayed in the film by actress Levin Ramblin.