By Annette Hinkle
When things are calm, the job looks very much like what it is — a day at the beach. But eyes are always on the sea, and when something goes wrong for a swimmer, they spring into action, sprinting to the water before anyone else even senses a problem, a red torpe over their shoulders, ropes streaming behind, jet ski at the ready.
These are the East Hampton Town Lifeguards, a well-oiled and highly trained crew — and despite their youthfulness, they’re a force to be reckoned with. They’ve been that way for generations, thanks to the efforts of a single man, John Ryan (a.k.a. Big Bad John) who, at 77, is the patriarch of East Hampton’s beach patrol.
“Waterproof: Lifeguards for Life” is a documentary in progress that offers an up-close glimpse of what East Hampton’s ocean lifeguards (and wanna be lifeguards) go through on a regular basis. Big John, who has spent decades training lifeguards (including all nine of his children and most of his 22 grandchildren) anchors the film.
But viewers will also get to know his 45-year-old son, Johnny Ryan, Jr., chief lifeguard of The Town of East Hampton, along with many of the young (and not so young) men and women who have made their way through the swim and rescue programs Big John has developed through the non-profit Hampton Lifeguard Association. In addition to the lifeguard program, they include The Hurricane Swim Team, the East Hampton Junior Lifeguard Program and the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, which assists first responders during beach and water emergencies.
For producer Maeera Mougin (of North Sea) and executive producer Laurie Wiltshire (Springs), the film is personal. Both have children who went through the lifeguard program and are impressed by the dedication, expertise and support Big John and his staff bring in training the next generation.
“What’s phenomenal is that the Ryan family started this,” says Mougin. “Big John grew up in Long Beach, he came to East Hampton and he’s been here 37 years. This is a unique program to any town in the U.S. So Laurie and I made the decision to go for it.”
The film is being made under the non-profit umbrella of LTV. The crew is all local, including director Catherine Tambini (of “Farmingville” fame) who lives in Hampton Bays. Because it’s about community in more ways than one, the filmmakers are now turning to the community to help raise the $400,000 needed to finish it.
“My credit cards are maxed out,” says Mougin. “We just kept shooting and we want to continue shooting.”
To that end, on Saturday, May 26 from 5 to 7 p.m., Guild Hall in East Hampton sponsors a fundraiser for “Waterproof-Lifeguards for Life.” At 5 p.m. Assemblyman Fred Thiele, County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson and East Hampton Village Mayor Paul Rickenbach will offer a proclamation for National Beach Safety Week (May 21-28). A 10-minute preview of the film and a Q&A with the filmmakers, Big John and Johnny Jr., and other guards follows. The film will then play on a loop for those who stop by later in the event.
The filmmakers, who are planning on a feature length film for festivals, broadcast and distribution in coastal communities, spent last summer following a group of lifeguard hopefuls. They began shooting in spring at the YMCA East Hampton RECenter pool and followed candidates to the beach in early June where they plunged into the frigid Atlantic, first with wetsuits, then bareback as it’s called.
“We witnessed two examples of hypothermia,” recalls Wiltshire. “I forbade my daughter from doing it initially because of the temperature of the water. But her boss, John McGeehan, one of the main guards, convinced me it was a great thing for development of character and a belief in self.”
“She did not pass the first week,” adds Wiltshire, “but she did pass and became an ocean guard.”
While the Ryan family is the impetus behind the documentary, the notion of perseverance is one the filmmakers are consistently finding as they edit footage of the young trainees.
“They learn to find what’s in themselves that can help them through the rest of their lives,” notes Tambini recalling footage in which 16-year-old Paloma struggles during training to bring her victim ashore.
“You see the moment where she says ‘I’m going to do this’ and she digs down deeper than ever before and you see it in her eyes,” adds Tambini. “When she’s at the end of her strength she pulls this guy to safety, and we get to witness what goes on.”
And when Paloma crosses the line in the sand, the male victim flung across her back, assistant chief lifeguard McGeehan says, “I want that one for my chairs at Ditch Plains.”
“It’s been remarkable to see the dedication, the selflessness, to see people just keep giving,” she adds. “The kids like Ace, who is special in my heart, and tries 15 times to make the program. The way the kids go through this hellacious cold water training then at the end of summer they are confident on the beach, directing rescues and keeping people safe.”
The crew is gearing up for a second summer of shooting, but what they really need at this point is money. Mougin hopes the community will support the film and the guards by stopping by Guild Hall next Saturday. While it’s easy to forget how important the East Hampton lifeguards are on a calm sunny day, in one memorable clip, Big John puts it all in context.
“I’m always worried about a pair of sandals on the beach,” he says as his eyes scan the ocean at the end of a long day.
Admission to the May 26, 2012 fundraiser at Guild Hall (158 Main Street, East Hampton) is free. Refreshments will be served. Donations can also be made to waterpfoof.lifeguardsforlife@gmail.com, or by sending a check payable to Local TV to PO box 799, Wainscott, NY 11975.
Top: Paloma races toward the water with ocean rescue equipment.
