The stars of Soul Surfer made use of the latest in special effects today, as they filmed on a Hawaii beach.
The biopic tells the story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack.
Rising Hollywood star Anna Sophia Robb wore a green sleeve on her arm, which will later be digitally removed for the movie.
Anna stars alongside Lorraine Nicholson, the 19-year-old daughter of actor Jack.
Lorraine plays best friend Alana Blanchard, who was with Hamilton on the day a 14ft tiger shark ripped the 13-year-old’s left arm off at her local beach in Kauai.
Sean Brosnan, actor Pierce Brosnan’s son, will play Bethany’s brother Noah.
Just three weeks after the incident, Hamilton returned to the water and went surfing again.
Now 19, Hamilton will step in to film some post-attack surfing and stunt scenes.
‘They wanted a one-armed person doing it and that’s not easy to find,’ says Hamilton, who competed in the Billabong world junior surfing championships in Sydney last month.
‘I’m excited about the role. But it will be intense seeing people playing my family and me.’

dailymail.co.uk

Ready to show off her acting skills, Carrie Underwood was spotted on the set of “Soul Surfer” in Hawaii on Friday (February 12).
The “American Idol” alum hit the beach in a casual-cute ensemble as she eagerly readied to run through the day’s scenes.
As for the film, “Soul Surfer” is an inspirational film about 19-year-old champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who made headlines when she was attacked by a shark and lost her arm, only to fully recover and return to the sport she loves so much.
Joining the movie’s stars AnnaSophia Robb and Lorraine Nicholson, Carrie will be playing a character named Sarah Hill, who happens to be a church youth group leader.

Celebrity Gossip

If you’re an actor looking for the Academy to pay attention to you, get yourself in a role that has a disability attached to an uplifting story and you’re in. That’s exactly what AnnaSophia Robb is doing here, stepping into the lead role for Soul Surfer, according to Variety.
The film chronicles the storied life of young surfer Bethany Hamilton, who at the age of 13 lost her arm to a shark attack, only to go on to win professional surfing championships with her lopsided upper body. Also starring is Dennis Quaid, coming off his critical smash Legion (/sarcasm), the always lovely Helen Hunt, and last but certainly not least, Hercules himself, Kevin Sorbo, because what’s he been doing lately? American Idol singer Carrie Underwood will appear as well.
Robb’s acting chops have yet to have been given a real test, but this could be her time to shine in a lead. Bridge to Terabithia was a solid movie that she helps carry, and she’s unforgettable as Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so this 16-year-old blonde may just be on the verge of breaking out of Dakota Fanning’s shadow. Soul Surfer is currently filming in Hawaii.

cinemablend.com

AnnaSophia Robb is set to take the lead in the upcoming Soul Surfer.
Based on the courageous events of Bethany Hamilton’s attack, the film will start production at the end of the month, according to Bethany and The Herald Sun.
Bethany says of meeting AnnaSophia, “She’s super cool. A great girl. We’ve met in Hawaii and hung out. They wanted a one-armed person doing it [the shark attack scenes] and that’s not easy to find.”
Bethany was surfing with a friend when she was 13 when a tiger shark ripped her arm off just below her shoulder. Three weeks later, Bethany was back on her board at her home break at Kauai, Hawaii. Now, she’s a pro-surfer who placed second at the Billabong tournament last year.

Read more: http://justjaredjr.buzznet.com

Did you have fun working with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson on your new movie, Race To Witch Mountain?
AnnaSophia: Definitely! Dwayne is so cool.
Alexander: He is such a professional. He’s unbelievable! He’s such a good guy – and he’s always on time.
AnnaSophia: Dwayne is very supportive, but the thing I love about him the most is the way that he really respects everybody on the set. He’s a very giving guy.

Did you get starstruck when you met him for the first time?
Alexander: It was certainly a little nerve-wracking.
AnnaSophia: Especially because Dwayne is huge! The first time I met him was on the day I flew into LA to work on the movie. We did a tour of Disneyland and there were crowds of people coming up to him, but he was so respectful. He acknowledged everybody and he was really gracious.

Did you go on the Disneyland rides with Dwayne?
Alexander: This was the funny thing… Dwayne wouldn’t get on any of the rides! He can tackle a 7-foot guy jumping on him in a wrestling ring, but he won’t go on a ride for 6-year-olds. It was really funny!

Are you saying Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is a big wuss?
Alexander: He’s a huge wuss! Oh, wait a minute… No. He’s going to kill me for saying that. It was very funny, though. He didn’t want to go near the rides!

What was it like to act alongside him for the movie?
AnnaSophia: He gives back as an actor. If you want to try a scene a different way, he’ll try it with you and he’ll be there for you.
Alexander: We got on so well because he’s such a cool guy. He came from a pretty hard background, so I find him very inspiring. He’s great to work with.

Would you like to work with him again?
Alexander: Definitely! Hopefully, if this movie does well, we might get the chance to work on a sequel. I’ve heard a rumor they’re already talking about writing one.
AnnaSophia: We don’t know if it’s going ahead, but we’re hoping and praying it does.

What’s it like to see your face on the big screen?
Alexander: It’s weird!
AnnaSophia: I don’t like watching myself at all. I love this movie and think it looks amazing, but I’m really critical of myself when I see myself on screen.
Alexander: It’s incredibly rewarding to see yourself on the screen – but it’s even more amazing when you drive past a billboard of yourself. That’s unbelievable! The adrenaline always flows when you see something like that.

Do you think you’ll ever get used to seeing your face on billboards?
Alexander: No way! I don’t think anyone ever gets used to it. I’m incredibly critical of myself, too – especially if you’re watching a movie. You always think you can do a better job. Mind you, I’m very happy with Race To Witch Mountain.

Is it true that AnnaSophia didn’t have to audition for the movie?
AnnaSophia: It is true. I was very lucky! The director liked me and decided I was right for the part, so I didn’t have to audition. The same thing happened to me with the movie, Bridge To Teribathia. I guess I’ve been lucky twice.

Did you get to decide if Alexander won the role of your brother?
AnnaSophia: It was exciting trying to figure out who my brother would be. Alan [the director] would ask me what I thought of everyone who auditioned. I was really nervous during the screen tests because I thought, ‘What happens if they don’t like me?’ They could still re-cast my role, which would’ve been awful – but luckily they stuck with me.

Do you remember the first time you saw Alexander?
AnnaSophia: We were staying at the same hotel before the screen test. I remember eating breakfast with my dad and the pool was just outside the door, where I could see Alexander swimming. I knew all of the boys who were auditioning were staying in the same hotel, so I guessed he was one of them.

What did you think of him?
AnnaSophia: He seemed like a down-to-earth kid. He was getting all pumped-up as he prepared to go swimming, which made me laugh. He seemed pretty cool, though.

So what do you get up to in your spare time?
Alexander: I love hockey, so I’m really looking forward to the Olympics – especially as I’m from Canada. If I wasn’t an actor, I would definitely be trying to get into the Olympics as a skier or something.

What about you, AnnaSophia?
AnnaSophia: I love movies and traveling. What’s my favorite film? Well, Slumdog Millionaire is one of my favorites. Plus, I went to Mumbai in India, which was amazing.

What are your future ambitions?
AnnaSophia: I love this industry. I love the way that I can tell any story I want. I want to go to university, which I think is important – but I’d love to produce later on, too. I’d love to be able to influence the world and share stories. You can do a lot when you’re an actor. Just think of the attention certain actors can bring to things they’re passionate about.

Can you give us an example?
AnnaSophia: I think Brad Pitt is a great example of that with Louisiana. I’ve shot a couple of movies down there and I think he’s been doing an amazing job helping rebuild everything.

What about you, Alexander? What do you want to do in the future?
Alexander: This business is so magical. You can be anybody in a movie, which is something I love, so this is want to do for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t feel whole if I wasn’t pursuing my dream.

Do you see yourself going to university?
Alexander: I would love to go to university and get a degree. That’s definitely one of my goals in life – but I have a passion for acting, so I really want to do this for now. I also love music, so I might get into that industry, too. I want to do everything I possibly can and follow my dreams!

Have you got any more movies lined up?
Alexander: I’ve been having meetings with a couple of amazing directors, but I’ve not got anything confirmed yet. It’s all top secret!
AnnaSophia: Right now, I’m in high school and that’s taking up a lot of my time. When I’m back home in Colorado, it’s all about schoolwork for me. I’m also looking at a couple of new movie projects, but I’m just waiting to see what happens. Fingers crossed it all works out!

Get your own copy of Race to Witch Mountain on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 4th from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment!

Las Vegas taxi driver Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) sets off on the adventure of a lifetime when two mysterious teens ask him to drive them deep into the Nevada desert. Jack agrees to take siblings Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) to Witch Mountain, a shadowy government outpost devoted to studying inexplicable phenomena - including UFO sightings. But his young passengers are no ordinary teens. With a ruthless adversary on their trail, Sara and Seth display astonishing supernatural abilities and Jack becomes a reluctant hero as he helps them evade their pursuer. As Witch Mountain reveals its long hidden secrets, Jack discovers that his passengers are the only key to saving the world!

Special Features: (Two-disc and Blu-ray only)

- Deleted Scenes - With commentary by director Andy Fickman
- Bloopers - Dwayne Johnson and the cast crack up over on-set mistakes.
- Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray™ Is Suite!
- Learn How To Take Your Favorite Movies On The Go
- BACKSTAGE DISNEY: Which Mountain? - Director Andy Fickman reveals the film’s hidden references to the original movies, Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain. (Blu-ray only)
- D-Box - Viewers equipped with a D-BOX Integrated Motion System will be able to experience a whole new dimension while watching this movie. (Blu-ray only)