Jeff Santo Director Movie "Dead in 5 Heartbeats" by Sonny Barger

I would first like to say it is an honor to have this opportunity, not only to speak to you, but to hear about your close work with Sonny Barger as you created his book "Dead in 5 heartbeats " into a real portrait of what Motorcycle Club life is, and also to be able to express some of it to Eugene and Springfield Oregon.

 

I also have to say; I have not read this one of Sonny Barger's books but I have seen the movie, "Dead in 5 Heart Beats"

 

 

THOR:

 

Q. 1 I caught a few lines in this movie that really impressed me, that lay true to how business is handled in Club life. Dialog, you said yourself in an interview, that was often posed by Club Members, lending scenes even more authenticity. I think I got one or two of those discussions, the one over Chess, where concepts like those displayed in "SunTzu" Art of War, and the Bench Press scene had that "The real," feel that let you know you are dealing with Men practiced in the Art of "A Street Code" a "Respect," that was not just given but earned over time.   

 

Did I get those right? and If not which such lines were worked into the script by Club Members beyond the "No Biker, would say that.." ?  

 

 

Jeff:

 

The Chess game dialogue between Patch and Rollie came straight from the book. Rollie was played by Anthony "Matrix" Anderson who is a real club member of the Rollin Knights. He's their president now. And Jeff Black, who played Patch, has been riding a bike for over 25 years, hanging out in the culture. I knew Jeff for sometime now, we're both from Chicago, and when I cast him for the lead character of Patch Kinkade, I knew he had a certain natural charisma about him and an innate street confidence.  Most of the actors were real club members or guys that I had a feeling could exist within the MC culture.  There might not have been an abundance of acting experience on the set but there sure was plenty of MC experience and a ton of heart to portray it correctly. I don't think any of this film would have its authenticity without the guys who played the parts and the words and stories that came from the legend himself, Sonny Barger.

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 2. Tell us about working with Sonny Barger, of the  Hells Angels  who is the Father of the Chopper Culture, and listening to the wisdom of a Living Legend. Can you give us a piece of that wisdom as a "Leader" that maybe you picked up while working with him on or off the set, a look into Sonny Barger shall we say?

 

 

Jeff:

 

All you need to do is watch the Making Of Documentary, Independence & Guts, that comes with the 2 disc DVD collectable set. It's all there... why and how this extremely unique film was made. Two words... Sonny Barger. You can't bring that many Motorcycle Clubs together, for 24 days, in the dead of summer in Arizona, and actual succeed in making a movie, without the leadership of Sonny Barger putting the word out there. I have a lot of years of experience in the independent film world. It's almost impossible today for an independent movie to succeed on a creative level and financial level. There's just not enough support within the film industry to make it happen. We had over 250 bikers participate in our film, we shot in over 45 different locations, and we filmed in real clubhouses. Real Motorcycle Clubs played themselves and the main fictional club in the movie, the Infidelz, ninety percent of them were played by real Red & White Club Members. We made a movie that people in the culture are enjoying, and a lot of people are saying they've watched it multiple times. We made this film and are distributing this film 100% on our own and we are succeeding. The wisdom I have been fortunate to absorb from Sonny and all the MC Members has been life changing. I am wiser and tougher for making this film. I've been a filmmaker for 20 years... and I'm a biker now, too!

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 3. Here comes  a bad word," FucKIn HOLLYWOOD", I got to know what is the deal? I mean I got "respect" on how you are distributing this movie, and all and the how of the grass roots work you do to get a project like this off the ground,  I even know how Clubs internationally have backed this movie and releases even when running into confrontations. But I ask, has anyone called Sonny Barger and showed respect and offered to help in this project or more so endorse it? and would Sonny accept a word from Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones who they worked with long ago, or Television Actors from the big hit show 'Son of Anarchy' or Movies Stars even?

I don't see Sonny and Mick Jagger talking anytime soon. To answer your question, "Have we had any Film or TV Industry Folks offer to help get our film out there?" The answer is NO. Sonny's not the kind of person who's going to call someone up in the Industry and ask for help, it's not his style. Frankly, it's not our style. Anytime you ask for help, in the Industry, on something like our film... it's usually half-ass shit. Our film is like an alien project to Critics and Industry people. They don't care to take the time to really look at what this is or want to understand it. I had one "so-called legitimate Critic" watch the film and his reply was, "when I watch an Independent Film that I don't take to, I'd rather not review it so it doesn't hurt the film". Bottom line, the guy was scared to give it any kind of review. If it was a bad review, he was probably afraid that someone in the culture would get on him, If he gave a good review, he was probably afraid a bunch of his peers would get on him. On the bright side of that, we're probably the number one Independent Film selling on DVD... I'm not talking about the Independent Films that call themselves Independent and they're made and sold by Industry Production Companies. I'm talking about the 100% Independent Film that was made and sold by people like us, outside the system. I don't think there's another film out there like us. And if there is, RIGHT ON, give us a call so we can band together and help each other out. We're succeeding because of our audience. The motorcycle culture has embraced our film for the truth in it. Would we accept someone's help in the Industry? Absolutely, as long as it's real and fair. But we're not waiting on anybody. We're in the process now of having seven different languages put to our DVD and we're going to be doing downloads & streaming on iTunes in the next month. Plus we shot it in 3D, that's still to come.

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 4.  I see something in the quiet lines, and the no dialogue, times where action was subtle, yet powerful, like with the Sgt Infidel & weed, not a word was said, that was real, and if you weren't watching understanding brotherhood of these men, the end scene, "He went fishing."  Not to ruin the movie on either account, but these quiet scenes, expressive powerful, made the movie. Is that what you and Sonny worked on because you said it was different in the book, and is that what you wanted it to say?

Jeff:

We really stayed true to the book as much as we could. Certain elements in the story had to change because the scope of the book was too big for the size of the independent production we were putting together.  Anything that I would change I would discuss with Sonny first. Nothing was changed unless it was approved by him. He gave me some great creative freedom and really liked the subtle adaptations I came up with. Most of the stuff that changed came from what I experienced around Sonny and the Club anyway. For example: Sonny set up a time for me to meet Robert "Chico" Mora, who played Ahab in the film. Sonny thought Chico(Phoenix Red & White) would be great for the part... and HE WAS GREAT. I was supposed to meet Chico at the Cave Creek Clubhouse at 8pm, and I had never been to a Clubhouse event before. It was my first time. And when it comes to TIME with Sonny Barger, you better always be ON TIME. I wasn't, this particular night. I was late. I was waiting on this film crew guy that was late meeting me before we went to the clubhouse. When I showed up to the clubhouse, I remember it was dark and ominous. Two big guys were standing guard outside, shining little flashlights on me and my late-ass film crew associate. I felt like I was entering into a third world country. I had no idea where the fuck I was, except that I was late. I said who I was and one of the club guards(that's how I referred to them at the time) escorted me and my associate through this dark, gated parking area of bikes, and into an outdoor/indoor Clubhouse of Club Members and their Old Ladies. I was in their sacred sanctuary and felt the sacredness of it all, instantly. Sonny came up to me and said "you're late".  I had no answer except, "I know, I'm sorry, it won't happen again". And it never happened again! That night I felt the heaviness of what I was taking on, this world was intense, and I better be ready to make this film.  I learned a valuable lesson to never wait on someone when your meeting Sonny or a Club Member. I also came up with a very cool scene about time(from that night) and wrote it into the movie -- with the Bosnians.    

 

 THOR:

 

Q 5. I see this movie as a huge step into what the Club life is and reality of a code of ethics that Club members carry, where they live and die for it and each other, decide in honest what is the best course of action in a bad situation, and stand for it in their communities as really the Brothers, Bikers, 1%rs, and Men not Outlaws as seen by the general population. Do you see this as a beginning of something big? I do.

 

Jeff:

 

I look at this film, Dead In 5 Heartbeats, as an allegorical story for the culture. Something that may never happen again, and probably won't.  Motorcycle Clubs coming together, on the street literally, making this film for the culture itself, from the culture itself. Not knowing if it's going to work, not caring what the so-called public will think of it, but caring about what they'll think about it. Taking a risk to portray themselves as themselves. "Meaning" that connects to the culture but also universally, to all independents, when explored closely. It's a story within a story, and anytime you create two stories out of portraying one, you've got something worth watching for everyone. Biker or Non Biker. So yes, I do... over time.

 

THOR:

 

Q6. What is your next project like with Sonny, for I heard you are doing his life story, from another of his books? (That I read, studied would be a better word.)

Jeff:

 

Yes, I'm co-writing his life story, Hell's Angel, with Rob Weiss(Entourage) for Fox 2000. All I can say about this project right now is, that, I'm honored to be a part of it and hope the Biker Gods are with us. This is a story that needs to be told for many reasons that connect us to our independent roots as a nation.

 

THOR:

 

Q7. Are You coming to Eugene/Springfield Oregon for a Showing of 'Dead in 5 Heartbeats' ?

 

Jeff:

 

We toured the film last summer but you never know... we shot this in 3D and hope to do a theatrical tour again. This time in 3D. I think it will be very cool. We'll put Eugene on the list. It probably won't be for a year or so... but I do see it happening.

 

THOR:

 

I won't even ask if Sonny would come..  or did I?

 

Jeff:

 

You never know...

 

THOR:

 

I would love to get shook out my seat by some Bikes on and off the screen.

 

Jeff:

 

In 3D you definitely will!

 

THOR:

 

I like to say to all the Clubs that honored Sonny Barger in this way that you got deep respect from me, and like your brothers around you, with THOR, that goes a long way.

 

I am honored by this Q & A with Jeff Santo Director of Sonny Barger's Dead in 5 Heartbeats

www.deadin5heartbeats.com

 

THOR from The Eye of THOR