Once given the task of writing a low-budget movie to be shot in Venice Beach, CA, writer/filmmaker James O'Brien culled inspiration from his immediate surroundings. As Gary Kohn was O'Brien's partner-in-crime, so to speak, in this venture, O'Brien modeled the character Seb after him. Kohn was willing to use every connection, favor, and technique he had learned from previous film experience to make Venice Bound a reality, so O'Brien took this never-say-die attitude and incorporated it into the persona of a fast-talking New York City hustler who always has an angle.
O'Brien wrote a part for another good friend, Eric Kopatz. The character Linus was inspired by many real attributes of Kopatz himself. Like Kopatz, Linus hails from Boston, originally worked in a financial field, and arrived in California the same day as the other main characters in Venice Bound. In reality, Kopatz and O'Brien arrived in California at roughly the same time. O'Brien used this coincidence as the basis for his story. Kopatz' natural charisma allowed O'Brien to paint Linus as an almost abstract character, mysterious and seemingly crazed, but well-showcased in several stylistic and memorable scenes.
The third character Spoon, is more fictional, but no less interesting. O'Brien met actor Jackson Price at the same time he met Gary Kohn, while casting for an ambitious earlier project. With Kohn and Price slated for the leads, Venice Bound proved a perfect opportunity to test-run the actors in a different setting. Although Price's good looks and training made him the perfect candidate for a leading man type, O'Brien wrote the Spoon character as a dazed, seemingly aimless drifter. As principal photography neared, Price had a mushroom-shaped bowl haircut, which he planned to change, but O'Brien liked the look and asked him to keep it for Spoon, who evolved into a truly off-beat character who winds up, like many of O'Brien's characters, not to be at all what he seems.
With his three leads in place, O'Brien continued to create unique characters for the world of Venice Bound. Mob boss Frank Lamone was played by Carl William Grant, a friend and local artist in Venice, who specialized in iron-wrought sculptures. Gang leader Jimmy was Stephen Bruno, known by most as Steve-O, a tattooed denizen of Venice who seemed much like his character, except for the fact that he already had great exposure as an actor in music videos and the Jim Carrey movie, The Mask. Nina Ameri played Linus' clueless girlfriend, Susan. Nina knew producer Gary Kohn through an acting class. Carol Dolan was particularly brave as Lynne, a young waitress who is charmed by Spoon and takes him home to reveal her kinky side. Bridget Muttel did double duty, not only playing waitress Megan, who gives Linus a much-needed ride to Venice, but also serving as the "nice ass" Seb points out as a distraction to a Venice local as he picks the man's pocket.
O'Brien, Kohn, and Kopatz would mine all friends, bosses, and acquaintances to play small parts and provide services for the film. One look at the finished product will make it clear that it was worth the effort, as Venice Bound captures a period frozen in time that will always be unique to mid-90's Venice Beach.