Andrew Dominik, director
I spent seven years eager about Mark “Chopper” Learn. A violent felony, Mark was infamous in Australia in a minor means – till he revealed a collection of autobiographies, which is how I heard about him. I consider the primary one is probably the most stolen guide in Australian publishing historical past.
I see it this fashion: if violence is an issue, you should perceive the violent individual, not the sufferer. The factor about Mark was his stance of regretting nothing, however then he would describe desires the place he noticed his victims. Clearly, there was a disconnect between what he claimed and who he actually was. I’m focused on that non-public mythology, the way in which some folks don’t see the broader world, simply themselves – as a result of I believe that’s my very own drawback.
It wasn’t till I really met Mark that the script took form. I received a way of what he was like. He was all feeling. He had a couple of guidelines: he didn’t need to be portrayed taking any medication, committing violence in the direction of ladies, and nor might any of his poetry be included. All of these issues are within the film. I attempted to present him the script whereas he was nonetheless in jail, so he might blow his prime after which relax. However he refused to learn it.
Each actor in Australia, together with Russell Crowe and Ben Mendelsohn, had a go at studying for the position. All of the boys need to play psycho killers. Eric Bana didn’t appear to be a good suggestion initially. He was a TV comic, on a present referred to as Full Frontal, however his audition was wonderful. Afterwards, I spent a day working with him. By the tip, it was apparent it was going to be him.
We by no means might have made the movie for A$2m (£1.1m) if Pentridge Jail, the place Mark had been held, hadn’t been decommissioned round that point. We shot all of it there, within the locations the place it really occurred. You may sit with all of the accoutrements of film-making, however should you remind actors that that is the room the place the stabbing occurred, you get a chill you may benefit from.
As a first-time director, I discovered it fairly scary. The primary week, we shot the worst and likewise one of the best shit. By the weekend, I had one movie that seemed like a Jean-Pierre Melville movie and one other that seemed like a Carry On film. I removed the Carry On stuff, then resisted the temptation to be a “good” director – one who meets his day by day schedule. I simply shot till I believed it was good.
Mark stated watching the film made him realise he did loopy issues. When he was within the second, he felt his behaviour was regular. However taking a look at it from the surface, watching some man do what he did, he realised he was mistaken. I believe it’s attention-grabbing that he didn’t return to jail after he grew to become a author. He was beginning to face himself.
Australian audiences cherished Chopper. There was a cartoon across the time of the Afghanistan invasion, with the prime minister saying: “No, I’m not sending choppers – I’m sending Chopper.” The movie made him probably the most infamous felony in Australia. I don’t assume it turned him right into a hero, however allure goes a good distance.
Eric Bana, actor
I grew up in Melbourne, so I knew about Mark and what he’d accomplished. Chopper was a extremely uncommon script – very humorous, very darkish. I used to be assured I might painting him. Spending time with Mark was priceless, however I knew there may very well be actual ramifications if issues didn’t go properly. We simply listened to him speak about jail and his theories about life and other people. I received that sense of an alpha presence and soaked it up like a sponge.
Filming the primary half felt like driving a motorbike up a hill, whereas the second half was like skateboarding again down it. Lots of the criminals and screws had been performed by individuals who had served time in that jail. Being there in the midst of winter had an actual darkish power.
I all the time joked with Andrew that there was by no means a scene once I simply requested: “Can I've a pie, please?” All the pieces was loaded and had deep which means. Throughout troublesome scenes, I fell again on two issues: what was truthful and my full belief in Andrew, that he wasn’t whoring out the topic for some sort of violence porn.
It took two to a few hours to prepare daily. I might shave my head myself to make the prosthetics for my hacked-off ears simpler to attach down. Making use of the tattoos took many hours of painstaking hand-drawn paintings and they'd solely final about two days. So we solely did them once I needed to have my shirt off.
I used to be in all probability extra fearful for Andrew than I used to be for myself concerning Mark’s response. Clearly, I hope he loved my efficiency, that it didn’t make him cringe and it felt truthful. However I by no means talked to him straight about it, possibly out of respect. I by no means pretended Mark and I had been going to finish up finest mates.
Chopper is out now in cinemas and on digital platforms to mark the twentieth anniversary of its launch.
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