Not quite part of the Martha...
Not quite part of the Martha Stewart Collection, the conversations held at the SOA dinner table are much more interesting than those at your average Thanksgiving Day spread.
Arriving at the North Hollywood area Occidental Studios where several stages have been built for the SOA series, the show's publicist Dominic Pagone does the meet and greet and takes me on the tour. He and I sit down at one of the tables of the club house, prop beers and cigs still in place...about as real as it gets. There's the well-stocked bar, the stripper pole, the pool table, the meeting room, all seen on the show. But what you don't see on the screen is the wealth of detailing that adds to the reality level of the sets that make them characters themselves. The wood paneled walls are covered with all kinds of real biker photos, awards, letters, notes, paintings, you name it. The feeling is-well, it feels like home. It's got this spell going for it, a chemistry that translates onto the TV screen. Only when you look up toward the ceiling is the spell broken by a network of support frames, special lighting, and film production gear.
Relaxed in the clubhouse I ask Dominic if the SOA show got any heat from the real world, like the law, bike clubs, or the organizations represented by the Ethan Zobelle character? "No nothing like that," Dominic responded. "We did get one complaint about Jax wearing tennis shoes when he rides, but we explained that today you do see the younger guys riding with them, so that's the word on that." Then I put the question to Dominic why SOA gained such a wide and enthusiastic audience even though it's politically incorrect. "I think a lot of people enjoy living vicariously through them," Dominic said. "Someone mouths off to you and you think, I'd love to knock that guy out-well the people in this show just do it. We're not saying these are the good guys, they run guns, drugs, and shoot people, but maybe the appeal is that they protect a small town in Americana and they are intensely loyal to their extended family and the club. So call it a new spin on family values. The audience also likes the looks of Charlie Hunnam, a very charismatic lead. As for Katey Sagal, while people are used to seeing her in a comedic role, it's like wow, when they watch the dramatic character she creates. And yes a fair amount of real world bike club research went into preparing the show to keep the authenticity edge sharp. It boils down to the fact that when people first check out the show, they get drawn into it, because ultimately television is about writing, it's about characters, and this show has both."
The show's Picture Vehicle...
The show's Picture Vehicle Wrangler chief, Chris Gorden, responsible for acquiring, building and toting a few tons of precious metal.
Harleys are the other "talent" on the show. Orchestrating the transport of the bikes is Chris Gorden, the Picture Vehicle Coordinator. "Kurt writes it, then I find and build it. Kurt has an image in his mind and it's up to me and my crew to make it come to life," Chris said. Keeping the bikes running safe and sound and tuned to the max is John Landon's gig as the show's chief mechanic. "We have nine main cast members' motorcycles to keep tip top," said John. "All our cast bikes are Harley Dynas-Dyna Wide Glides, Dyna Super Glides, Dyna Lowriders from '99-07. As far as the bikes used for different episodes, we have Panheads, Knuckleheads, Sportsters, custom bikes, baggers, you name it. And we just added one of Harley's new Trikes. All our stunt bikes are real Harleys, even our crash bikes. We bought them from rental companies and private parties and they're all real-world bikes, all registered.
Clubhouse décor includes wall...
Clubhouse décor includes wall art and various trophies.
The bikes are personalized for each character, like the tank art for the club's president has the full SOA California MC patch. Jax's bike features the club's logo, a Reaper with a crystal ball, an M-16 and a scythe blade. As for riding all of the actors had previous experience on bikes, but all took instruction to prepare them for the many action sequences.
At this point, up rolls David Labrava who portrays SOA club member "Happy." His bike in the show, the "reaper of death," also happens to be his personal ride. "it's a '09 Super Glide with a 124ci engine, a .650 cam, a 61mm throttle body, lock-up clutch and a Sputhe motor kit," David said. "You just can't get a better bike than this." David, among other pursuits, is an accomplished writer, a certified Harley mechanic, and owns a tattoo shop in Oakland called Evil Ink. The passion and intensity you hear in his voice when describing his bike gives you a clue why SOA has got the juice with the ratings, the critics and the international viewing audience.
Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and girlfriend...
Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and girlfriend Tara (Maggie Siff) make the sparks fly on SOA.
That's all she wrote. Time to go check out the crew chow line. Just in case FX is looking for another character for SOA, you know where you can find me. I have a character name already-call me "Scribbler."