American Samoa is the location of a film by a German production company, Iconoclast Production, which documents an international event in the two Samoas.
In July the film company requested assistance from the American Samoa Search & Rescue Agency to help with safety operations for a film about a wind surfer crossing from American Samoa to Samoa.
The team, led by Producer Sarah Hawkins and Director Stefan Jose, was in American Samoa preparing for the crossing from August 9-15, 2022.
Acting Director of the Search and Rescue Agency Sinauli Faamasino Galoia told KHJ News that on August 15, Olivia Jenkins, professional, world-record holding kite surfer successfully crossed the ocean between American Samoa and Samoa. She is the first kite surfer ever to cross the dateline.
A press release from Iconoclast said,”This story about science, weather and water sports will allow a global audience to engage with Samoa leading to a different and quite likely enthralled perspective of the islands.
“In addition by stunning the general audience with the unique beauty and engaging open water conditions of the Samoas this project will specifically be putting the islands on the map for the global kite surfing community.”
Iconoclast wanted to “create a set of films that will make the whole world hold their breath, in awe at the stunning and incredible beauty of the Samoan islands and the determination of the human spirit to achieve a better tomorrow. This story can only be told here: the place where two gorgeous islands are separated by mere 72 kilometers and the international date line.”
American Samoa Search and Rescue was the contact team in American Samoa helping with logistics and coordination for the Iconoclast film project. The Marine Patrol Division assisted with safety operations on the ocean and escorted the film crew and production company across the dateline into Samoa.
On August 15, Marine Patrol Chief Ina Ulberg and his crew safely led the teams from the launch site in Vatia Harbor, to Samoa and back.
Other safety and first aid equipment was provided by EMS, another division of the Search and Rescue Agency.
Also assisting the Marine Patrol team and the Iconoclast production company on their journey was nurse Sandra Ho Ching from the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.
