There was a moment last night when it finally hit  Rabbit.

The credits for the movie Bustin’ Down the Door – which premiered last night at Bella Terra – were rolling, and his name scrolled onto the big screen.
“Inspired by a story written by Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew.”

He flinched back thinking about that moment this morning, like it was in that little line that his life’s journey all came together to make sense.

More than 30 years ago, in 1976, he wrote a story about a group of surfers from Australia and South Africa who ventured to Hawaii with big dreams of being on a pro circuit. Problem was - there really wasn’t one that existed.

“We were on a virtual pro tour – in our own minds,” Bartholomew said.

I had the pleasure this morning of chatting with filmmaker Shaun Tomson and Bartholomew about how the documentary, or “docudrama” as Tomson calls it, spawned from Bartholomew’s story that graced the cover of Surfing Magazine decades ago.

“This article had a massive impact on the sport. It created a firestorm,” Tomson said.

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 Tomson said he came up with the idea about three years ago, and the film took about 18 months to make.

“We’ve had amazing response,” Tomson said. “It was a labor of love.”

Variety magazine Wednesday came out with a raving review. Here’s a glimpse of what writer Robert Koehler had to say about it:

   “With verve, style, and a fine sense of the human side of surf culture, Jeremy Gosch makes a terrific splash with his debut doc, “Bustin’ Down the Door.” Pic is certain to rank alongside “Step Into Liquid,” “Riding Giants” and “Five Summer Stories” in the primo category of surf movies that rip onscreen and tell a great story. This yarn, about how a group of Aussie and South African surfers took Oahu by storm in the mid-’70s, may be the best of the bunch, and looks to pick up solid rides in summer release… “ Read the rest here.

Hottie Edward Norton (also a surfer) narrates the film, and in addition to Tomson and  Bartholomew, it also features Peter “PT” Townend (OC resident and super nice guy) & Ian Cairns.   

If you missed the film, don’t worry … it’s playing at Lido Friday night and will show there for a few weeks. And the public will have the rare opportunity to do a Q and A with people in the film.
 

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