How did you wrap your head around what youd have to do for this?
Were you even fully prepared for that?
ADAM DEMOS: No, probably not.
What was I excited about?
To work on a show thats run by John Wells because hes a legend.
To be able to work with someone of his caliber was really exciting.
Image via Fox
Thats what was exciting.
The nerves come from just wanting to see to it I look legit.
And there are levels of experience for these characters.
Youre not the new guy whos there and who can mess up because youre not sure what youre doing.
Were seasoned lifeguards, so there was no room for error there.
But luckily, we had the best training and best people around us.
Image via Fox
I think we pulled it off.
DEMOS: Im always game.
Its always good to mix it up a little bit.
There was a little bit of improvising.
Its easier to improvise when youre doing your own accent.
It takes one element of the stress away.
Did you ever have to worry about coming across a shark while you were in the water?
DEMOS: We had people looking out for us.
We had a drone watching over at all times, so they wouldnt send us out.
Set on the treacherous North Shore of O’ahu, a team of elite lifeguards confront life-threatening conditions while rescuing surfers and tourists. As they tackle dangerous ocean rescues, the team also navigates personal challenges, from romantic entanglements to grief and guilt, making each mission both physically and emotionally charged.
That makes you feel pretty safe.
We were very safe and very well looked after.
New episodes return on January 20.
This show feels very real and very intense.
What did you have to do to get yourself there, not just physically, but mentally?
And then, its pretty easy to switch into gear when youre actually out in the elements.
Theres no set and theres no water tanks.
We were far out in the ocean.
It was good to be able to have those guys right there.
Because of everything going on with this show, how do you describe it to people?
People hear lifeguard and they think of a pool or the beach.
You dont realize and dont know until you get to the North Shore that these guys are heroes.
They think about themselves last and theyre always putting other people before themselves.
You have to invest in the characters, too.
The action stuff is legit, but youll also be invested in the personal life of the characters.
Thats whats gonna keep people there.
Being a lifeguard is a high-pressure and high-stakes situation.
DEMOS: We block it beforehand on the beach.
As a cast, we just listened to those guys.
Thats why it looks pretty authentic when you watch it back.
Did that cast chemistry come pretty quickly?
We were fortunate that we all just really got along.
We all bonded over the experience and felt like we had achieved something.
We worked our butts off, and we feel proud and like we achieved something pretty special.
Were all so close now, which is very cool.
What is it like to film the ocean scenes?
They have to check when the winds are coming, and then we block it.
We had our DP in the water.
He would jump straight in there and guide you a lot.
There was a lot of blocking and a lot of rehearsal out in the water.
You cant just time the waves completely perfect.
You really do have to be in the moment.
You wouldnt want that any other way because its gritty and real, as it would be.
Its hard work, but its rewarding.
A plan only lasts so long in the ocean.
Thats why they put us through training.
Were all very capable in the water.
It also taught us how to read the ocean and really be alert.
You cant have a lapse in judgment at all out there.
Did anything ever go as planned?
DEMOS: It never really went exactly how it was supposed to.
Sometimes it was pretty as planned, but not entirely.
The wind would always change on you and youd have to think on the fly.
We were always safe and always aware, and we got it done.
What was the most challenging scene, either physically or technically, that you did during the season?
It was always easy and fun on the jet ski because youre not really burning any energy.
Its the swimming ones that really get you.
Ive probably had to do that rescue 20 times.
‘Rescue: HI-Surf’ premieres on September 22.
DEMOS: It started like that.
It definitely got you out of your head, so maybe that helped.
They were always taking care of us, so there was never any major drama.
You dont get good drama on a TV shows without some romantic tension.
We get some of that with Will and Em because of their history.
What was that like to navigate?
That was really cool about playing this role.
It wasnt just the rescues.
And then, you set that against the backdrop of high-stakes and high-adrenaline.
Theres just a lot going down and it adds a different level of dynamic.
What was it like to find that with Arielle Kebbel?
DEMOS: Shes a seasoned pro and shes just so cool.
I dont think anyone could have played that role but her.
She worked harder than all of us.
Talk about a great leader to have on set.
We all got really lucky that she was the one leading the ship for us.
What do you most enjoy about your characters journey over this first season?
Its so cool to be able to play that in that many layers.
It just keeps everyone on their toes and invested.
DEMOS: Yes, absolutely.
I took a holiday to the mountains and the closest I got to the water was a waterfall.
The ocean is cool.
On the weekends, I wasnt out surfing or anything.
I was chilling out in the air conditioning and relaxing.
By the time we get to the end of the season, is there a cliffhanger?
It will leave you going, Oh, wow, where does he go from here?
What is not knowing like for you, as the actor?
DEMOS: Its cool.
Im smart enough to know that Im not smart enough to be a writer on this show.
Whatever they give me, Ill be stoked.
Im sure whatever they will come up with is better than what my imagination can come up with.
Well wait and see.
Rescue: HI-Surfairs on Fox.
Check out this behind-the-scenes look:
