Interview with Erich Weiss, director Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry documentary

“A film is never done, its just finished.” Erich Weiss’ “Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry” untangles the story of American tattoo subculture and the heroic pirates that have kept its legacy alive. In an era where paper bagging the to-be-tattooed was a method of concealing artist identity, Sailor Jerry (born Norman Keith Collins) was an man driven by passion and the desire to bring innovation to pirate solidarity.

“I probably could have filmed making the movie itself. It became more about the adventure of getting interviews than anything else.  With some of the guys, it took me a year and half just to find them.”

Today, a corporate brand but once a single man influenced by Hawaiian culture and a stint in the marines, “Jerry left specific instructions that Ed Hardy, Mike Malone and Zeke Owen take over the shop after he died.” And since his death, these men have developed a brand of rum and clothing line, and his artwork has been licensed to Converse.

“Through the years they’d worked together these men became three parodical sons.  They all had a different take on everything, and it was interesting to be able to capture that on film.”

North American tattooing has evolving from discrete Pacific war momenttos and through the “Lyle Tuttle rock and roll” years.  And roaming through Sailor Jerry’s “gold water conservative” stance on ink has revived the “inundated” reality TV era, according to Weiss. “I understand it’s about people making a living but the ones who started in this business did it because they loved it and now a lot of people come up to me and tell me they have a new faith in tattooing.”

Forget industry prowess or artistic integrity,  Hori Smoku conquers hipster tank tops and the tragic fermentation of kanji.  Erich Weiss, Sailor Jerry and the full battalion of his pirates have finally landed gracefully behind the glass of wild history and have enriched a culture wanted dead.

Born in Philadelphia, Weiss started directing film in 2003.  He’s mastered visuals for John Legend, and has worked with Kanye, Eagles of Death Metal, Spank Rock, and The Buzzcocks. He’s now taking on his second full length documentary about the roots of fonts and design. Modestly, he calls the project ‘stoic’, but in copy there is always more than meets the eye.