Andrew Dominik, director
I spent seven years eager about Mark “Chopper” Read. A violent legal, Mark was infamous in Australia in a minor manner – till he revealed a collection of autobiographies, which is how I heard about him. I consider the primary one is essentially the most stolen e book in Australian publishing historical past.
I see it this manner: if violence is an issue, that you must perceive the violent particular person, not the sufferer. The factor about Mark was his stance of regretting nothing, however then he would describe goals the place he noticed his victims. Clearly, there was a disconnect between what he claimed and who he actually was. I’m keen on that private mythology, the best way some folks don’t see the broader world, simply themselves – as a result of I believe that’s my very own downside.
It wasn’t till I truly met Mark that the script took form. I received a way of what he was like. He was all feeling. He had just a few guidelines: he didn’t wish to be portrayed taking any medicine, 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 offer him the script whereas he was nonetheless in jail, so he might blow his prime after which settle down. 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 wish to play psycho killers. Eric Bana didn’t look like 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 truly occurred. You possibly can sit with all of the accoutrements of film-making, however in the event you remind actors that that is the room the place the stabbing occurred, you get a chill you’ll be able to benefit from.
As a first-time director, I discovered it fairly scary. The primary week, we shot the worst and in addition the most effective shit. By the weekend, I had one movie that appeared like a Jean-Pierre Melville movie and one other that appeared 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 assumed 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 it from the skin, watching some man do what he did, he realised he was improper. 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 loved 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 essentially the most infamous legal in Australia. I don’t assume it turned him right into a hero, however appeal goes a great distance.
Eric Bana, actor
I grew up in Melbourne, so I knew about Mark and what he’d completed. Chopper was a very 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 might be actual ramifications if issues didn’t go effectively. 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 using a motorbike up a hill, whereas the second half was like skateboarding again down it. Lots of the criminals and screws have been performed by individuals who had served time in that jail. Being there in the course of winter had an actual darkish power.
I at all times joked with Andrew that there was by no means a scene once I simply requested: “Can I’ve a pie, please?” All the things was loaded and had deep that means. Throughout tough 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 type of violence porn.
It took two to 3 hours to prepare daily. I might shave my head myself to make the prosthetics for my hacked-off ears simpler to connect 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 relating to 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, perhaps out of respect. I by no means pretended Mark and I have been going to finish up greatest mates.
