Can't play on this device. by Information Press, Behind The Scenes On Big Wednesday: Tales From The Set With Stunt Double Ian Cairns Wavelength Surf Magazine, Alan Nafzger's Los Angeles Surfing Drama - VERITY'S SURFING MOVIE, Kanga The Trials and Triumphs of Ian Cairns, Historic San Augustine is Set for This Weekends Heritage Days, Judge Revives Lunada Bay Lawsuit: Localism Is Illegal and Cities TheInertia.com, From Hawaii to South Africa: Top 10 surfing destinations around the world, Matthew McConaugheys dashing young son collects , Architect Ed Niles Designed This Massive Geometrical Manse on the Malibu Coast. Several surf legends Peter Townend, Ian Cairns, Jay Riddle and Bill Hamilton were involved in the making of the film as stunt coordinators or doubles. Click here to buy a ticket, or subscribe now for free entry. We all knew it was special, we knew it wouldn't last. Published by at June 22, 2022. The prevailing wind is offshore, summertime theres swells. Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free entry to a screening of your choice.]. That completely changed his mind, because here was a day when the surf was barely breaking and he almost dies, and were out there on big days. Youlll see in the movie Jean and Billy paddling out, pushing under and catching a couple of waves and then youll see the stunt doubles come in. According to surf journalist Paul Gross, hard-core surfers found the film too cheesy. big wednesday stunt surfers big wednesday stunt surfers. There was perfect longboard waves coming through, a little groomed south swell at Cojo Point, and while the surfers managed to get out and score a few waves, it was the extras who had to suffer. They formed their own company, The A Team. In early 77, the points were counted and Peter Townend emerged as the first-ever winner, with fellow Bronzed Aussie Ian Cairns taking the runner up spot. The fictional Bear surfboards logo and t-shirts, originally created by the filmmaker as props for the film, went on to become a popular surf trademark owned by Milius himself. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. And Denny should know, he co-wrote the film with the director John Milius! Once you select Rent you'll have 14 days to start watching the movie and 48 hours to finish it. "Surfing was a brand new sport with its own aristocracy. The opening and closing sequences of Big Wednesday feature the three protagonists walking through the ruins of a decaying portico like kings of an ancient civilisation where traditional values such as heroism, courage and loyalty are still upheld. The Los Angeles Times reported that it was one of the very few to really capture the surfing life., Surf journalist Paul Gross concurred, writing in The Surfers Journal on the films 25th anniversary that even its harshest critics had to acknowledge that Big Wednesday remains true to the sport., While Surfer Magazine went one further in their modern appraisal bestowing what may be the ultimate compliment, declaring simply that Big Wednesday makes you proud to be a surfer.. Then in 77, they were getting paid, so we were cordial. When we saw these photos, we contacted surf legend Denny Aaberg to give us some more insight. Also notice all the longboards. Without going to Hawaii it would have fallen flat, but those big wave sequences at the end of the movie are pretty amazing. He was a very popular surfer at the time, but now is best known for being the father of Laird Hamilton. He didnt really surf, where as Jean Micheal and Billy were reasonable surfers, so they were down there to have fun, hang out and shoot as many scenes as possible. [The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema is back for 2021, bringing you a range of surf cinema, cult classics and family favourites from the clifftops of Cornwall, kicking off with Surf's Up and Big Wednesday on Friday 16th July. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Ahead of our upcoming screening, we dived deep into some of the backstories behind the production, exploring the writers, actors, surfers and lensmen who brought it to life. Unlike any other film that has been made about surfing, in this one the characters and not the waves are the most important. Big Wednesday is American writer-director John Milius' attempt to use surfing as a metaphor for life. Te Herenga WakaVictoria University of Wellington provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. While working on the script, Milius and Aaberg used Samurai stories, the Arthurian saga and Herman Melvilles Moby Dick as sources of inspiration. Other filming locations included El Paso, Texas; Hollister Ranch near Santa Barbara; Surfrider Beach (in Malibu); Ventura, California; and La Libertad, El Salvador. relative viscosity of nylon 6; predictive index cognitive assessment answers; why do baseball players spit so much; Hello world! WL: Tell me about the filming of the final sequence? A truck followed behind with our surfboards. Wed have certain times where wed be shooting scenes and the rest of the time we were just hanging out on the film set watching shit happen. He features prominently in two documentaries about surfing: Hollywood Dont Surf and Between the Lines: Surfers during the Vietnam War. This was their first production. I said of course, who wouldnt! Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent), Jack (William Katt) and The Masochist (Gary Busey) are three buddies who are the local surfing champions of Malibu in the early 1960's. The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s. So, PT told Milius, hey, Ive got a bronzed Aussie buddy who could replace him. "Big Wednesday" (1978) is a film that was made for baby boomers. When we saw these photos, we contacted surf legend Denny Aaberg to give us some more insight. Denny Aaberg continues his life long passion for playing music. I have fond memories of being one of the extras. Business boomed with the late 80s surfwear explosion as Bear expanded its line, replacing fishing as his main source of income. He looked at these little skinny surfer idiots and he thought these guys are total pussys! Recently, we called him up at home in Laguna Beach to see what he could remember from his time working on the film. Back then they built the whole Hollywood wall set and we were staying in this country town called Lompoc, which is just north of the Ranch, in the middle of farmland, with all the actors and crew. IC: Well, it was pretty horrible in 76. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; That experience working on Big Wednesday was kind of how I hoped pro surfing would be. This is a great shot of Jan Michael Vincent, one of the actors that actually could surf. The extras got paid $60 a day, plus a catered lunch and a bus ride up from Santa Barbara everyday. Some say the best surf movie Hollywood has made yet! All the main characters were inspired by real people, in particular surf legends Lance Carson and Kemp Aaberg and surfboard makers Hap Jacob and Dale Velzy. P.S. Theyre riding prop boards, made for the movie, and no wetsuits, since this was supposed to the early sixties Malibu. Press release, August 6, 2008. We were allowed to be out surfing all the time and Cojo is pretty nice its a bit like Little Rincon at Bells. Click Here to hear the song and see some stills from the film. So's John. What a way to make a living, eh? We got alot of emails regarding this page from folks that were extras. A day will come that is like no other. Seversons title referenced a popular myth that posited all great surf days fall on Wednesdays. Actors - Big Wednesday (1978) Returning Jan-Michael Vincent played troubled surfer Matt Johnson. Terry Remick is now heavily involved with the marketing of vintage rail trips along the central coast. WL: So it was year two of the new IPS tour, and you were defending a runner up spot, did all that filming not get in the way of competing? [10] In August Milius announced Big Wednesday would be postponed because the script was not ready and he would instead make Extreme Prejudice. And thats what the movie is. Official Sites Los Angeles Times 21 August 1977: n7. A lot of them died in Vietnam and OD'd on dope. But then it just reverted back to normal from there on, it wasnt like wed bought a lifetime membership into the Hui. Similarly, most of the sequences of the film, including the iconic Vietnam draft dodging scene and the trip to Mexico, were based on the filmmakers own real-life experiences. Big Wednesday is a movie that follows the Hollywood cinema canons, filmed by a well-known director who embodies the surfer's spirit. He was the double for William Katt in the film. "He was going to do another gun and guts macho fight film but he decided to do this; he decided he needed this in his life. Unlike many Holywood surf flicks, Big Wednesday had real surfers' fingerprints all over it. The $11 million PG-rated Big Wednesday was the only Hollywood movie of its kind in the '70s. His presence had been specifically requested by one of the films starring trio, Jean Michelle Vincent, who happened to be a personal friends of Townends after the pair had met half a decade earlier surfing at Californias Hollister Ranch. There was no one living there and you had to come in by boat, even until today its really uncrowded. Above and below are Peter Townend. Director Bruce Brown Writers Bruce Brown Dana Brown Stars Patrick O'Connell They said, Hey, its Warner Brothers, do you want to come to El Salvador?. to hear the song and see some stills from the film. So much so in fact, that Milius friends Steven Spielberg and George Lucas famously agreed to trade profit percentage points on their forthcoming films Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars with the movies box office takings. The teen, whose name . Apparently, therefore, Big Wednesday is a 100% Hollywood movie. (1) The central trio heading out for the final showdown. Alfio Leotta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Surf star Gerry Lopez, who would later appear as an actor in other films directed by Milius, played himself in the last sequence of the film. Remick says this was typical Greenough attire; barefoot, jeans, sweatshirt and self cut hair. When Milius saw them sat next to each other, he couldnt believe the likeness, immediately switching PTs role to that of Kats double instead. (1) Peter Townend and actor William Katt. ), For starters, it was only decided that the tour was a tour halfway through the year, with a few events from the dozens of surfing comps that had already taken place around the world chosen retrospectively as the opening leg. Theories behind the failure are wide-ranging; the scars of Vietnam were still too raw, there was too much fighting, too much binge drinking and, with the transition brought on by the shortboard revolution complete, the surfing audience viewed the longboard-centric surf scenes as pass. Jean Micheal Vincent and Billy Kat were there but the Masochist wasnt. We have found an absolute gem of a surfboard packed with provenance. The brand morphed into an actual successful company after the release of the movie, producing hundreds of boards, and is still active today, with various people producing Bear-branded boards in different countries. You know theyve got craft services there so you can go to the catering truck and order anything you want. To date Milius last major film-making credit is as creator of the acclaimed HBO TV show Rome in 2005. Hank Worden for some reason took a small role as a guy that pushed a shopping cart around. [The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema is back for 2021, bringing you a range of surf cinema, cult classics and family favourites from the clifftops of Cornwall, kicking off with Surf's Up and Big Wednesday on Friday 16th July. And just when they were finally convinced, out of the water comes one of our surfers, Dan Merkel, with his skin suit on and a knife strapped to his leg. WL: Are there any other memories from that trip that particularly stand out? Although not a veteran himself, Milius is a war and weapons enthusiast, serving for six years on the board of gun advocacy group the NRA. We know these are freesurfing shots because hes riding a late 70s shortboard. 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Big Wednesday, and she had a front row seat. Raised in Southern California, Milius made Big Wednesday as an homage to the time he spent in Malibu during his youth. They were depicted as both titanic figures who embody physical perfection and barbarians who refuse to conform to the rules of civilised society. Its the artful portrayal of these hardy perennials that allows Big Wednesday to still resonate so thoroughly with wave riders over forty years on. The story went through many iterations, including a short article by Aaberg entitled No-Pants Mance, published in Surfer Magazine in 74, before forming into the Big Wednesday we know today. Spielberg in particular was certain that Big Wednesday was going to be a box office hit, opining it was like "American Graffiti meets Jaws", two of the decade's most successful films.[2]. The surfers and stunt doubles with director John Milius. What was amazing was to see how many waves went by without anyone surfing them, recalls Art Brewer. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Surf star Gerry Lopez, who would. And just like the legendary surfing movie Big Wednesday, the massive swell pulled in on a Wednesday (19 January 2022). "William Katt: New Golden Boy of Tile Romantic Lead Katt as the Golden Boy", "Big Wednesday: four decades between surfing and myth making", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Wednesday&oldid=1139114837, American coming-of-age comedy-drama films, Rotten Tomatoes template using name parameter, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 12:40. Also starring Jan-Michael Vincent ("The Winds of War"), real- life mother and son Barbara Hale . The production team would send him out on partially sawed through boards, to ensure that when he reached the trough of each set wave, the board would duly shatter beneath his feet. Hell, we offered to smoke dope in front of them just to prove we were surfers. I have fond memories of being one of the extras. His presence had been specifically requested by one of the films starring trio, Jean Michelle Vincent, who happened to be a personal friend of Townends after the pair had met half a decade earlier surfing at Californias Hollister Ranch. In particular, Milius film had a huge impact on surfing subculture, both in shaping the international perception of the sport and providing one of the most authentic depictions of Californian surfers during the 1960s and 1970s. The films authenticity was enhanced by Milius connection to the surfing world, which enabled him to bring in experienced surf documentary maker Greg MacGillivray. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', However, the rapid commodification of surfing culture that occurred during the late 1970s and 1980s made Big Wednesdays nostalgic celebration of a pure surfing culture relevant again. Apple Computers was founded, NASA unveiled its first space shuttle, Concorde took its maiden commercial flight and, of equally critical importance, surfing had its very first crack at a joined-up international contest circuit. Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free entry to a screening of your choice.]. All Rights Reserved. Great feature on Big Wednesday. IC: For about two months we were on the North Shore, filming mainly at Sunset, but also other places to get pick up shots. Photo via www.bearsurfboards.eu. "[7], Anthea Sylbert was an executive at Warners at the time. Terry Remick is now heavily involved with the marketing of vintage rail trips along the central coast. and nothing that happens after will ever be the same. Here well present a miscellany of facts, trivia and anecdotes from behind the scenes on Big Wednesday. Set in Malibu over a twelve-year period between 61 and 74, it centres on three friends Jack, Leroy and Matt following them from their hedonistic youthful days, surfing, partying and talking with their fists, through their transition to adulthood in the shadow of the Vietnam War. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So, PT told Milius, hey, Ive got a bronzed Aussie buddy who could replace him. We were paid for basically hanging out on the beach at Cojo all day. "I don't want to put it off any further but I don't want to work on it until its ready either. The film production hired the Hui to clear the water for us. The prevailing wind is offshore, summertime theres swells. Company Credits was also an Aussie surf legend and was the first professional world champion. When he comes home from Vietnam he is an Army Green Beret. It was super fun. Ahead of the release, Hollywood was abuzz with talk of Big Wednesdays impending success. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? It was a lot of money. No Hype.No Sponsors. We were outlaws, juvenile delinquents, anarchists and rascals. . Did working with them that winter help smooth things over a bit? Its pretty sweet, Ill tell you that. Terry knew him through friends at the beach and Denny knew him from surfing. Shop Now , Home Behind The Scenes On Big Wednesday: Tales From The Set With Stunt Double Ian Cairns, [The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema is back for 2021, bringing you a range of surf cinema, cult classics and family favourites from the clifftops of Cornwall, kicking off with Surfs Up and Big Wednesday on Friday 16th July. After the film came out, Bill began shaping under the Bear label depicted in the movie.
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