With no script and no predetermined direction, James Wicks, Point Loma Nazarene University professor of media and film studies, boarded a plane and began what would become a year-and-a-half-long project: “Surfing Taiwan: Past, Present, Future.”
The roughly 19-minute documentary follows three surfers in Taiwan, offering viewers a glimpse into the place they call home and exploring what the ocean and the sport mean to them. The film draws on Wicks’ personal experiences growing up in Taiwan, the natural beauty of the country and the craft of fellow documentarians he admires.
The Point sat down with Wicks to learn more about what occurred behind the scenes when creating this film, and what you may not directly see on screen.
Title card for “Surfing Taiwan: Past, Present, Future,” a documentary directed by James Wicks, PLNU professor of media and film studies. Photo by James Wicks. 
A featured photo from the documentary of a surfer looking out at the wave. Photo by James Wicks. 
A camera set-up capturing the waves and Taiwan’s landscape. Photo by James Wicks.
The Point: What inspired you to create “Surfing Taiwan: Past, Present, Future”?
James Wicks: The inspiration came actually during COVID. There was a song called “Hindsight” by Joey Fehrenbach that I listened to repeatedly during COVID, and I just kept seeing it as the centerpiece of a documentary. That idea inspired the eventual project.
TP: Growing up in Taiwan, how did your experiences shape how you approached telling these stories?
JW: I’m approaching this story as a surfer, but also as someone who grew up in Taiwan. And so I’m really curious about how people who live next to the ocean see their culture and see their society. So, I thought it would be a pleasure to interview surfers in Taiwan and allow their voices to kind of express my personal childhood experiences.
TP: What did the early days of developing this film look like? How did the creation process change as you gained momentum?
JW: I shot the documentary over five weeks on two separate trips to Taiwan, and it took over a month alone just to watch and view all the footage and categorize it. Then I was able to slowly build the interviews and the story around the centerpiece song that I envisioned from the beginning.
TP: Was there a specific moment while filming that you felt encapsulated the message you hoped the documentary would tell?
JW: The opening montage brought together some of the highlights of creating the project. There’s a cityscape shot of Taipei. There’s a surfer I met getting barreled. There’s the ocean water washing over the camera. I think those visual ideas were really exciting to discover and see through the editing process — how they could help bring an audience into the story.
TP: What do you hope viewers take away after watching the documentary?
JW: I hope that viewers see Taiwan as a beautiful, rich and complex place, and that it opens their eyes to another just really cool part of our planet.
Although Wicks has shown “Surfing Taiwan: Past, Present, Future” in smaller on-campus showings, its upcoming screening at the San Diego Asian Film Festival marks the film’s first opportunity to receive official feedback from jurors.
The film is set to be shown on Nov. 9 at 2:40 p.m. at the UC San Diego Price Center Theater and on Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley. Tickets can be purchased on the festival’s official website.
Abby Pickett 
Isa Darisay