Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free entry to a screening of your choice.]. Hank Worden for some reason took a small role as a guy that pushed a shopping cart around. So wed gone from death threats in 76 to having them protect us in the water the following winter. The picture was screened at various film festivals, including: the Davao City Film Festival, Philippines; the Turin Film Festival, Italy; and others. Here hes getting pulled behind a boat, probably just killing time between takes. This is one of Terrys favorite shots. [8], "Because I surfed, I'm the only director in the world who could have made his picture," said Milius. Aaberg says there were about 50 extras used for the scenes shot at Cojo. Another luminary brought in for this film was none other than Gerry Lopez. We were outlaws, juvenile delinquents, anarchists and rascals. Over the last 40 years, John Milius surf cult movie, Big Wednesday (1978), has made a mark on global popular culture. 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 pitched up at Sunzal, which happens to be where theyre holding the ISA World Games this week. Ahead of the release, Hollywood was abuzz with talk of Big Wednesdays impending success. Free Delivery on all Orders Over 80. Above is Peter Townend, with a classic arch stance. The board I was riding was an 86, so it wasnt really a longboard, but it worked kind of fun. He had a lot of innovative ideas that changed surfing, and he created them. There was no one living there and you had to come in by boat, even until today its really uncrowded. It was only with the films home video release in the early 80s that it began to acquire a cult following, gaining more credibility and adulation with each year that passed. In the late 1950s, Milius surfed regularly in Malibu, where he met Denny Aaberg, the brother of surf legend Kemp Aaberg and the future co-writer of Big Wednesday. Web Development by Phi Web Studio. IC: Well, it was pretty horrible in 76. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Which by contrast seem to contain the frustration of filmmaking."[25]. All Rights Reserved. The three make the difficult transition to adulthood with parties, surf trips, marriage, and the war. It was a central experience in our lives. Buy $9.99. [24], Milius later said the film was "sort of a numb spot in my life. Nineteen seventy-six was a big year for innovation. Big Wednesday is American writer-director John Milius' attempt to use surfing as a metaphor for life. Monster waves swept into Cape Town this week, with surfers jumping at the chance to experience the unforgettable huge surf. "[7], "A lot of things [in the film] happened to me," said Milius. From left, Gary Busey, Jan-Michael Vincent and William Katt in Big Wednesday. This is reminiscent of Dennys brother Kemp Aabergs famous pose, captured in an iconic photo taken by John Severson, below. Our best coup was stashing our boards in the bushes the night before a swell was supposed to hit. "I don't want to put it off any further but I don't want to work on it until its ready either. The picture stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, and Gary Busey as California surfers facing life and the Vietnam War against the backdrop of their love of surfing . An 8' 6" BEAR Surfboard single fin made for Big Wednesday. IC: Yeah, we were all there hanging at Sunset. Nature enthusiast Dean Bannatyne captured this epic video footage In 1978 surfer and filmmaker John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn) set out to make a feature length film for the big screen based on his youth surfing and growing up in Malibu Ca., it would become the iconic film of the 70's "Big Wednesday". It took an awful long time to write the script. The talent behind the lens for the surfing sequences was equally prolific, with George Greenough (fresh off the back of Crystal Voyager), legendary stills photog turned filmmaker Dan Merkel and surf movie pioneer Bud Browne all overseen by Five Summer Stories co-creator Greg MacGillivray. Director Bruce Brown Writers Bruce Brown Dana Brown Stars Patrick O'Connell The cult success lay in its ability to combine the accurate observation of real people and events, the reproduction of believable stunts and performances, and a supercharged sense of the mythic. While Milius has been forgotten by most contemporary viewers and critics, the legacy of Big Wednesday continues to live on. All of a sudden he realised hey theres a lot of shit going on out there in the water. 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. The first week was fairly fraught, beset by illness, bad waves and a standoff with a gun-toting local militia. "[7], Aaberg says "it took about a year to write" the script. Similarly, the ocean and the American west coast symbolise the possibility of a return to the frontier, the physical and symbolical home of the authentic American character. He was the double for William Katt in the film. We never got a Big Wednesday day down there, and I was always just saying to Milius, dude, you should have just gone to Western Australia. Actors - Big Wednesday (1978) Returning Jan-Michael Vincent played troubled surfer Matt Johnson. Company Credits Here well present a miscellany of facts, trivia and anecdotes from behind the scenes on Big Wednesday. That experience working on Big Wednesday was kind of how I hoped pro surfing would be. Denny can be seen above in the green shorts and thats Ian Cairns in the yellow trunks. However, while Star Wars (Lucas) and Close Encounters (Spielberg) would haul in hundreds of millions of dollars, Big Wednesday was a major critical and popular wipe-out, at least initially. 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. Frank McRae played a tough Army Sergeant at the induction center. We were allowed to be out surfing all the time and Cojo is pretty nice its a bit like Little Rincon at Bells. Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free entry to a screening of your choice.]. Ian Cairns, shown above, was the surf double for Gary Busey. 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. Forty years after its release the passion and lyricism of the film are even more compelling. Terry didnt bother with all that, she was already at the beach. The surfing scenes used in the finale to Big Wednesday were not filmed in California, where the film is set, but at Sunset Beach in Pupukea, Hawaii. Except for Big Wednesday, none of the Milius-directed films have a satisfying conclusion. So anyway one Sunday we took him out surfing at Sunzal, it was about 3 feet, and he got smashed and almost drowned and had to be rescued and brought in. Initially, Milus and Aaberg set out to write a novel that combined some of Malibus real characters with a grander narrative around surfings mythology. Next day, the cars had new (old) license plates. The points were aggregated and surfers were informed of their standing and which competitions would constitute the second half of the tour. 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. [13], The leads were played by Jan Michael Vincent, Gary Busey and William Katt. 2022 Goleta Surfing. It's based on the lives of three friends ten years ago. While the studio had high hopes for the success of Big Wednesday, it flopped, and was out of the theaters in a month. With this reunion, the transition in their lives becomes the end point of what the 1960s meant to so many as they see that the times have changed, and what was a time of innocence is gone forever. This thing would be wrapped up in two weeks. "It was the most personal film I'd done," said Katt. When he comes home from Vietnam he is an Army Green Beret. Photo from the front cover of his biography: Kanga The Trials and Triumphs of Ian Cairns. Seversons title referenced a popular myth that posited all great surf days fall on Wednesdays. Send her a message via her facebook page if youd like to go. The friends include Matt Johnson, a self-destructive type who has a devil-may-care attitude; Jack Barlow, the calm and responsible one of the bunch; and Leroy "The Masochist" Smith, whose nickname tells a lot about his personality. The Novel Before the Movie. It was a full circus going on at all times, recalls Art Brewer, who didnt have an official role, but was often invited to hang out on the set. Nineteen seventy-six was a big year for innovation. The seemingly paradoxical juxtaposition between an ordinary day (Wednesday) and epic adjective (Big) also matched Milius double ambition to provide both a realistic account of surfing subculture and to create a long-lasting surf mythology. Business boomed with the late 80s surfwear explosion as Bear expanded its line, replacing fishing as his main source of income. Too bad the movie sucked, the premiere at the Arlington was pretty exciting anyway.. 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]. Most importantly, upon its release, Big Wednesdays premise that passion for surfing had an expiration date was unthinkable. A 20th Anniversary screening (which included cast and crewmembers) took place at the Newport Film Festival in 1998. Surf star Gerry Lopez, who would. "[23], The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a 67% approval rating, based on 12 reviews, with a weighted average of 6.50/10. And just like the legendary surfing movie Big Wednesday, the massive swell pulled in on a Wednesday (19 January 2022). Official Sites 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. 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. Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free entry to a screening of your choice.]. Most of the shots of Gary Busey paddling out are me, so I kind of have a lot of those stunt double pieces. His success was shortlived, as Milius sued for patent rights. Senior Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. It's about their friendship, and the value of friendship. WL: Of course, that was right in the middle of the whole Bustin Down The Door saga. Together with percussionist Sam Adams, they are the Saltwater Cowboys and play gigs on a regular basis. Along the way we see many of the people and locales Bruce visited during the filming of Endless Summer (1966). In addition, two-time Pipeline Masters champion Gerry Lopez, who served as one of the six surfing masters in the production of the film, also appears in a cameo as himself during the final surfing section of the film. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; I was the number one money winner in 76, I earned $8000 prize money. | On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Working on big Wednesday in 77, we earned 50 grand. I tore up your lawn with my '40 Ford Matt Johnson: Took my pants off in front of your friends Matt Johnson: And I even passed out in your closet, but I never, and I don't know who could have if I didn't, but I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron. Apparently, therefore, Big Wednesday is a 100% Hollywood movie. Directed by John Milius.Written by John Milius and Denny Aaberg, loosely based on their own experiences at Malibu and a short story Aaberg had published in a 1974 Surfer Magazine entitled "No Pants Lance." See production, box office & company info, WHAT IS THE SONG AT THE ARMY INDUCTION CENTER ? So, PT told Milius, hey, Ive got a bronzed Aussie buddy who could replace him. He flew to Hollywood and headed straight for Warner Brothers studios, where he happened to pull up a chair alongside another of the films stars, Billy Kat. Shop Now , Home Behind The Scenes On Big Wednesday: Tales & Trivia From The Making Of A Cult Classic, [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. Milius described the film in a 1976 interview: It's a surfing HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY: the loss of an aristocracy, the end of an era, the passing of a more innocent time to a more corrupt and complex one-all growing up is the passing of innocence. So anyway one Sunday we took him out surfing at Sunzal, it was about 3 feet, and he got smashed and almost drowned and had to be rescued and brought in. 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. 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. Every morning wed meet at Earl Warren and get on a bus for the ride up, going through the Jalama entrance to Bixby. The new Point Break is hitting the theaters Dec. 25 and the movie required some death-defying stunts that have never happened before. Milius and his friends George Lucas and Steven Spielberg famously agreed to exchange a percentage point of Big Wednesday, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind prior to the release of the three films throughout 1977-1978. It was the golden era of surfing in the region, a time when surf historian Matt Warshaw says just about everything that was progressive [in surfing] was taking place on that one beautiful beach, without a crowd..