Director Thomas Dyke Commentary
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35 years ago in late October 1971 we started rolling
down the highway in Northville, Michigan exposing
film. We were filmmakers. Robert, Jim King, Dennis,
Brian, Mike, Terry Kelly, Pooch, Allen, Vickey, Bill and
myself. I was 28.
The theme of the film intentionally builds on image
and stereotypes. In our film the bikers are the good
guys, though. Patriots. We wanted the film to expose
our tendencies to stereotype and pre-judge others.
Incidentally, several members of the Scorpions MC
were decorated Vietnam vets.
In order to understand where we were coming from,
you have to understand the times. In the 60s,
President Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Hippies
protesting, “ Make peace not war.” For years it
seemed, we were engaged in watching the war in
Vietnam on nightly TV news. Newspaper headlines
reflected the violence of our society. Dr Martin Luther
King was shot in Memphis. Marching in the streets.
The National Guard opened fire and kills college
students at Kent State University… We lived in
Freedom at the point of a gun… “Who’s next,” we
thought. Freedom: R.I.P., made sense to us.
We were not paranoid extremists we were
independent filmmakers influenced by the writings of
Hunter S. Thompson, Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider,”
Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch” and “Woodstock.”
Bob Dylan’s singin’, “The times they are a changing.”
And with Richie Haven’s musical mantra “Freedom”
ringing in our ears, we formed a production company:
Freedom: R.I.P. and we were off filming.
During production, there was always something
unexpected happening with the Scorpions. And it
usually happened just after we said, "Action!" We're
shooting the opening of the Picture rolling down the
road about 40, 50 miles an hour, the whole club with
their ladies. And this is a bumpy country road. All of a
sudden Waynie decides to stand up on his bike. It
makes for great cinema but it scares the hell out of
you when you're thinking, if he hits a pothole and goes
down, we're looking at some serious carnage. Look at
the face of Susie on the back of his bike. That's
acting. She's smiling, laughing and scared to death.
Perry turns around and you can see the shock on his
face and Booty shaking his head.
Scorpions Motorcycle Club Detroit
I would like to introduce and express our appreciation
to Detroit’s Scorpions Motorcycle Club established in
1966 as a riding club bound by brotherhood.
2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the Scorpions
Motorcycle Club and the 30th anniversary of their
starring role in the Picture, “Northville Cemetery
Massacre.”
We first met the Scorpions through Jim King, a
writer/actor we worked with. He knew Jeff Pritchard, a
member of the Scorpions. Jeff arranged a meeting at
his house, this was September 1971, to present the
idea of the film to the Club.
When Bill and I arrived, Harley’s were on the lawn and
the club was inside waiting for us. We’re thinkin’
ambush. Standing there face to face with 25 badass,
outlaw bikers with grisly beards, chains - wearing
colors was definitely intimidating. They had our full
attention…and we had theirs.
And it all came down to a question by Tony delivered
in a tone of voice that cut beyond his words. How do
we know you guys are any good…that you can and
will do what you’re saying you’re gonna do? And will
finish once you start. Someone shouts out, Oh well
make sure they finish! …. Ouch! What have we
started?”
Bill and I had just finished producing an educational
film for schools on drug prevention called, “Jump.” It
won a CINE Golden Eagle.
“Well, we have a 16mm projector and a film in the car
we can show you.” This was before videotape and
VHS players. The projector flickered as we watched
the picture on the wall next to the lamp in a smoke-
filled living room. A 12 ft. x 12 ft. living room packed
to a standing room crowd of 25 bikers with attitudes
that we’re inviting to be our closest friends.
“What’s it about?” they asked. I thought, “This’ll be a
hit.” “It's about drugs.” They go off, hootin’ and
hollerin’ someone says, “We don’t know nothing’
about drugs. Do you use drugs, Bobby-Do? No, I don’
t use drugs. I think I saw some refer at the Goose
Lake Rock Festival.” “Who brought the popcorn?
Shut up Lloyd!”
Years later one of the Scorpions came up to me and
said, “You know Tom the reason we decided to go
along with you and make the movie is because of that
film “Jump” you showed us. I don’t know if it was
because you had the balls to show the club the movie,
or that we just liked what we saw.”
That made me feel pretty good.
That’s right up there.
Complete Audio Commentary on the DVD
Freedom: Ride In Peace
down the highway in Northville, Michigan exposing
film. We were filmmakers. Robert, Jim King, Dennis,
Brian, Mike, Terry Kelly, Pooch, Allen, Vickey, Bill and
myself. I was 28.
The theme of the film intentionally builds on image
and stereotypes. In our film the bikers are the good
guys, though. Patriots. We wanted the film to expose
our tendencies to stereotype and pre-judge others.
Incidentally, several members of the Scorpions MC
were decorated Vietnam vets.
In order to understand where we were coming from,
you have to understand the times. In the 60s,
President Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Hippies
protesting, “ Make peace not war.” For years it
seemed, we were engaged in watching the war in
Vietnam on nightly TV news. Newspaper headlines
reflected the violence of our society. Dr Martin Luther
King was shot in Memphis. Marching in the streets.
The National Guard opened fire and kills college
students at Kent State University… We lived in
Freedom at the point of a gun… “Who’s next,” we
thought. Freedom: R.I.P., made sense to us.
We were not paranoid extremists we were
independent filmmakers influenced by the writings of
Hunter S. Thompson, Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider,”
Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch” and “Woodstock.”
Bob Dylan’s singin’, “The times they are a changing.”
And with Richie Haven’s musical mantra “Freedom”
ringing in our ears, we formed a production company:
Freedom: R.I.P. and we were off filming.
During production, there was always something
unexpected happening with the Scorpions. And it
usually happened just after we said, "Action!" We're
shooting the opening of the Picture rolling down the
road about 40, 50 miles an hour, the whole club with
their ladies. And this is a bumpy country road. All of a
sudden Waynie decides to stand up on his bike. It
makes for great cinema but it scares the hell out of
you when you're thinking, if he hits a pothole and goes
down, we're looking at some serious carnage. Look at
the face of Susie on the back of his bike. That's
acting. She's smiling, laughing and scared to death.
Perry turns around and you can see the shock on his
face and Booty shaking his head.
Scorpions Motorcycle Club Detroit
I would like to introduce and express our appreciation
to Detroit’s Scorpions Motorcycle Club established in
1966 as a riding club bound by brotherhood.
2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the Scorpions
Motorcycle Club and the 30th anniversary of their
starring role in the Picture, “Northville Cemetery
Massacre.”
We first met the Scorpions through Jim King, a
writer/actor we worked with. He knew Jeff Pritchard, a
member of the Scorpions. Jeff arranged a meeting at
his house, this was September 1971, to present the
idea of the film to the Club.
When Bill and I arrived, Harley’s were on the lawn and
the club was inside waiting for us. We’re thinkin’
ambush. Standing there face to face with 25 badass,
outlaw bikers with grisly beards, chains - wearing
colors was definitely intimidating. They had our full
attention…and we had theirs.
And it all came down to a question by Tony delivered
in a tone of voice that cut beyond his words. How do
we know you guys are any good…that you can and
will do what you’re saying you’re gonna do? And will
finish once you start. Someone shouts out, Oh well
make sure they finish! …. Ouch! What have we
started?”
Bill and I had just finished producing an educational
film for schools on drug prevention called, “Jump.” It
won a CINE Golden Eagle.
“Well, we have a 16mm projector and a film in the car
we can show you.” This was before videotape and
VHS players. The projector flickered as we watched
the picture on the wall next to the lamp in a smoke-
filled living room. A 12 ft. x 12 ft. living room packed
to a standing room crowd of 25 bikers with attitudes
that we’re inviting to be our closest friends.
“What’s it about?” they asked. I thought, “This’ll be a
hit.” “It's about drugs.” They go off, hootin’ and
hollerin’ someone says, “We don’t know nothing’
about drugs. Do you use drugs, Bobby-Do? No, I don’
t use drugs. I think I saw some refer at the Goose
Lake Rock Festival.” “Who brought the popcorn?
Shut up Lloyd!”
Years later one of the Scorpions came up to me and
said, “You know Tom the reason we decided to go
along with you and make the movie is because of that
film “Jump” you showed us. I don’t know if it was
because you had the balls to show the club the movie,
or that we just liked what we saw.”
That made me feel pretty good.
That’s right up there.
Complete Audio Commentary on the DVD
Freedom: Ride In Peace
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
| © 1974 Freedom: R.I.P. Renewed 2006 Freedom: R.I.P., All Rights Reserved. |
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