Luke Seven
Back in the 1980s, while President Ronald Reagan was reviving the economy and the success of the Brat Pack was booming, a young boy by the name of Luke Seven (known as Seven) was riding his Honda minibike in the backyard of his parent's house in Littleton, Colorado. Disregarded by adults, Seven and his older brother Robby would find their refuge in a sport and an art form that would transform their lives for years to come.
At the time, George Lucas was the biggest name around. Movies like American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars (1977) would impact the boys in ways they never thought possible. Robby began emulating Lucas with his 8mm camera, while Seven would find his inspiration from a nontraditional group of men, the Honda factory riders of the era. Together the boys spent endless hours letting their souls express through the magic of movie making and dirt bikes.
In his youth, Seven credits certain events that created an everlasting imprint on his psyche. The unforgettable 1984 and 1985 Carlsbad Grand Prix captured the essence of glory and helped the brothers redefine their definition of victory. David Bailey, Ron Lechien and Danny Chandler (Team Honda 1984) uplifted their spirits as they watched those infamous motos on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Seven's self esteem would not be molded by parents or teachers, but by the men who wore white gear, raced red motorcycles and earned the title factory rider.
By the late 80s, Luke Seven and his brother Robby had made the transition from 8mm film to state-of-the-art VHS. School ranked a solid 4th place behind movies, motocross and cars. The boys shot one short film after another often including their dirt bikes in their films. It was later during their teenage years that Seven would discover his brother's dark dependency on alcohol. Ironically, it was an addiction that also haunted Seven's favorite actor, Patrick Swayze.
Sadly in their 20s, the two siblings would go in separate directions. Seven's parents openly encouraged his brother's movie making, while steering him in a more traditional academic direction, a family decision that brought resentment between the two brothers. While in college, Luke Seven was fascinated by what made people tick and studied sociology and politics. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado, the young entrepreneur entered real estate and politics. In 2000, after losing an election for the Colorado House of Representatives, Seven vowed to return to acting and filmmaking.
In 2003, the brothers reconciled their differences and worked together to complete the award winning short film, Honor and Defeat (2003). Robby would go on to direct numerous short films, while Seven moved to California to craft his filmmaking. While living in Los Angeles, Seven was educated by two major Hollywood heavyweights. Marc Scott Zicree, writer and producer of Sliders and Deep Space Nine, fine tuned his writing and producing talents, while Dov S-S Simens (Hollywood Film Institute) shaped his business and directing skills.
With a resume that spans well over a decade, Luke Seven highlights several jobs with gratitude. When the actor appeared in a McDonald's commercial, it gave him the reassurance that he was capable of performing in large scale advertisements. Companies like Hyatt Regency, Furniture Row, and Swedish Match embraced the entertainer and placed him in their print advertisements. His last national television appearance was in 2015 in a commercial for Edward Jones. However, nothing outshines the recognition he received in the movie, The Westminster Wife Show. A role that he credits for starting his friendship with writer Joey Curtis (Blue Valentine (2010) ).
In 2011, Seven's darkest chapter would arrive when his brother would pay the ultimate price for his alcohol addiction. While bedridden and surrounded by family, Robby's health deteriorated due to cirrhosis of the liver. The brother's last conversation consisted of movies and motocross. On his death bed, the paling director referenced riding motocross again, just like Ronnie Lechien. An unforgettable remark that implied time spent in the afterlife. In the early morning of July 29, 2011, Robert Cabrera died immediately after watching his favorite movie, American Graffiti.
Today, Luke Seven continues his saga as an actor, writer and filmmaker. As the owner of Father Sky Films, he is dedicated to producing heartfelt dramas that touch hearts and transform lives.