My First Movie

Oklahoma City is just movie central! There is a movie currently being filmed in Oklahoma City that is titled “Heaven’s Rain.” A true story. It is based on an actual event that took place October 15, 1979 outside of Okarche, OK. A young minister and his wife were shot and killed and their son and daughter were also shot, but survived. Brooks Douglass, the couple’s son and a former Oklahoma state senator, is producing this film. A harrowing recital of those events and how he came to forgive the killers is the basic theme. It is a movie of redemption. Brooks is a strong individual, full of faith, and I don’t know how he was able to find forgiveness in his soul. There have been numerous casting calls for extras the last several weeks, but I have never applied for one. However, since my bucket list includes a speaking part in a movie, I thought I had better see how movies are made. Thursday was to be the last day of filming in Oklahoma City, and I had not quite made up my mind to apply until I was talking to my actor friend, Dorothy Shaw. She convinced me I should. I applied and was accepted as an extra.

The filming was to take place in Junior’s, a very nice restaurant in Oklahoma City. Because it is such a nice place, we were told to come dressed as we might have in the 1980’s as if we were going to dinner. I don’t know that suits were much different than now, but I had my wardrobe mistress (my wife) go to work on finding the right outfit for me to wear. She came up with the perfect suit and tie and I headed off for the restaurant. I went into the extras holding room and ran onto one of my acting friends, cute and perky Emily Ward. She was not working as an extra but she was the “extra wrangler.” That meant she was in charge of herding all of us around by telling who does what - and where. She had told me at the last Riverwind commercial filming that she had been the “prisoner extras wrangler” at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester when a scene was filmed there. The people she wrangled were actors, and fortunately, not actual prisoners.

I was sitting in the waiting room with about 25 others when Brooks Douglass and Paul Brown, the director, came in to say hello to the extras and to thank them for participating. Paul Brown has been involved in “Quantum Leap” and “The X-Files”. As they were leaving, Brooks turned and asked me to come outside into the hallway. I have known Brooks for a number of years and when he made a run for the congressional seat for Western Oklahoma, I helped him raise money.

Brooks told me he wanted me to play the part of an Oklahoma state senator. However, I wonder if it is an upgrade to go from car dealer to senator? Well, I tried to keep my grin from going ear to ear, but I was pretty excited. I left the extras room and moved into the restaurant where I met the other would-be senators. They were Joe Gilliland, Jim Hughes, Richard Phillips, and John Trebilcock. John is a current member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Richard is a past member. Jim is with the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) commission and Joe is an excellent real estate broker. All looked properly senatorial.

A makeup lady attacked us with face powder and hair spray to make sure that we were not shiny and then we took a seat at a table in the bar area of Junior’s. They placed various props around the table such as: cocktail glasses with a mixture of tea, apple juice, and water to resemble scotch or bourbon. There was a bottle of O’Doul’s beer. At least, that is what the bottle cap said. The two regular labels on the bottle had been removed and replaced with a label that had a generic name, but it certainly looked authentic. There were dirty plates on the table at several places, rumpled napkins, several ashtrays, and a martini glass with an olive in front of me. Drat, it was, unfortunately, filled with water. And to top it off, I was asked if I would mind smoking a cigar. Now, I haven’t smoked in almost 47 years. I quit when I married Joy, who never smoked, and I received my orders to report to an ammunition ship. Both happening simultaneously. Let’s see -- amo ship – fire? Not so good. I was never much of a cigar smoker anyway, but, heck!! It is all for art. I am surprised that I did not get sick or that Joy even let me into the house smelling of smoke.

Lance McDaniel, the AD (assistant director), attended to details and made sure everything was going smoothly. He was very efficient and all the crew I met and saw were very friendly. It is quite interesting to see how a scene is shot. I have seen small railroad tracks for moving cameras in various movie trailers over the years when films are being made. We had one at the bar. It probably did not go 12 feet but someone actually sat on the camera as it was moved up and down the side of our table.

The young man Mike Vogel, who played Brooks Douglass’ part, sat at the head of the table and we were to respond to him after he spoke. I can’t remember his exact line, but I know it included iguana and orgasm. I know. I know. It doesn’t make much sense so you will have to see the movie. Once he said his line we then had to laugh at what he had said and then talk to each other. The director told Richard to light a cigarette after the scene started, but to count to five and then light. As Paul Brown walked away he turned around and added, “DON’T count out loud.” I must be a seasoned actor as I already knew that!! We did the take about 10 times. Me smoking my cigar and sipping my martini, the others smoking and drinking. Reminds me of the old days when you could smoke in a restaurant. Plus, they had a smoke-making machine to add extra smoke to make the place hazy. Hmmmm, I wonder if I can receive SAG eligibility for drinking a martini, laughing and smoking?

Mike is in the movie “Cloverfield, and “She’s Out of My League” (just recently opened), and soon to be seen in “Miami Medical” on CBS beginning April 2. Amusingly, he told us he went to doctor school for a week to learn how to speak like a doctor and learn all the technology. Interesting insight I thought you might like to know. Mike is a very nice and polite person and I wish him well in the movie business. I talked to him after the scene was over and told him I was a retired automobile dealer and just beginning this journey. I told him I did not know how much call there was for someone my age. He told me I would be surprised, but at least I didn’t have to depend on this life to make a living. He has a wife and two little girls and I gather this is tough work if you have to fight through auditions all the time.

Overall, it was a blast and l look forward to the time when I have a scripted line. Thanks, Brooks. This was a lot of fun.

This was taken with my cell phone.


me, Joe Gilliland, Mike Vogel, John Trebilcock, Richard Phillips, Jim Hughes












Below is a website to find out more of Brooks Douglass' life

http://www.people.com/people/archive/
article/0,,20142085,00.html

My First Audition……..

AND I BLEW IT. Yes I really did. I had the opportunity to audition for a principal role in a Riverwind Casino commercial last week. My agent, Magna Talent, called me (you know how much fun it is to say I have an agent?) and asked me if I would be interested in auditioning for a principal in this ad. Of course, I would. I had just signed with them and immediately get a call to audition. Pretty exciting for me. I was sent the script so I would know what to expect. Yeh-Right!! (As you will find out later) I called my new acting buddy, Dorothy Shaw, and asked if she was going to the audition and she told me she was. For moral and acting support, we decided to practice together. From the script, the format was that a casino customer could win various trips around the US and each spin of the slot machine would bring you a better prize. The final spin would be the big time winner. Dorothy and I drove to Norman for the audition and stopped for lunch where we entertained the luncheon crowd with our dialogue. We sat opposite each other in a booth and went over the lines. Being a veteran, Dorothy mentioned that it was possible that they’d ask us to improvise, and we’d best create some other scenarios.

In the original spot, I was dreaming of fishing in Florida, and then WHAP! The wife is slapped upside the head with a fish. She was to respond in offense, “Eeeew, How about a SHOPPING trip to New York”. The excitement level escalated as various vacation spots were mentioned. And, that is the way the spot was to go: we were to show rising excitement as the various locales were mentioned. We had the script down cold so now we started improvising.

She slid to my side of the booth just as the waiter came up behind us. “So, are you feeling LUCKY?” she asked coyly. Where would YOU like to go?’ The waiter gave me a knowing look. I took Dorothy’s hand in mine, and I showed her how to cast. “How about fishing in Florida?”

“EEEEEEEW,” she grimaced as the waiter set food in front of her and she was simultaneously slapped in the face again with an imaginary fish. “I don’t think so.” The waiter look offended. “How about a shopping trip to New York?”

“Oh no no.” I had to explain to our confused waiter, “that was not about the food. We were just rehearsing our lines. The food looks delicious.”

During the real audition, they completely changed everything and there were/was (here we go again with that were/was thing from one of my earlier blogs. Where is Robin Garner, my cute English teacher acting friend, when I need her?) a huge bunch of people auditioning. We had not planned on that. They split us up and matched us with other partners. From the audition room, we heard loud oohing, aahing and screaming. The squeals were so orgasmic you would have thought there was a porno film next door. As people exited, we asked, “What is going on”? The script has changed. The prizes are now a trip to Mt. Rushmore, San Francisco, New York, and the final prize> OH, Be still my heart – a camping trailer with a pickup truck. At least that was WHAT I MIGHT WIN. Others may have been told differently.

When Dorothy emerged from her audition she told me they went through the tryout twice (as it turned out, we all did) and that her partner even kissed her both times. A friend I had known for many years, S, came out and told me that her partner had kissed her also. I then turned to Laurie Cummings and told her that if she and I went in together, she had better plan on getting kissed, but unfortunately, she was not to be my partner. Too bad, sometimes luck just runs against you. She’s very pretty. S’s partner, the man who kissed her, was awarded the male lead. Guess that kissing stuff works.

My turn came and I was the last one to audition. There were six people in the room watching. My partner was not an actress who had any interest in a part. She was a lady helping Chris Friehofer, the casting director, with the auditions. All the other women had left. I was told by the representative from the advertising agency what I should do. We were first going to Mt. Rushmore and then to the other exotic places I mentioned and was instructed to get more excited each time a different location was mentioned. That is why we heard all the screaming. The noise had come at the end of the spot when the final prize appeared. But, somehow the explanation just wasn’t clear to me. I had been told in acting class not to speak past the camera and here I was supposed to really shout out loud - make up your mind! So, I didn’t get excited enough and yell very loud, and I wasn’t chosen for the part. Oh well!! If I get a chance to audition for something like this again, I will know what to do. As I have found out from this audition, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. I went home to pour a scotch and water on my wounds.

However, I was hired as an extra in the same ad and appeared at the Riverwind Casino several days later to be filmed. This time I knew fewer people than last time, but they were all fun people. I did renew acquaintences with Cindy Hanska, Jerome Braggs, Emily Ward, Shawana Shafer. It seems we have a cheer leader each time. This time it was a pretty lady from Tulsa, Jennifer Fisher. She always had a smile for everyone and one time did a Miley Cyrus dance for us. I wish she had shown us that earlier in the day. I might have been able to learn a few steps and really impress Jordan, my 13 year old granddaughter. Another nice lady I met, Debbie Evans, had spent some time in the automobile business and we swapped stories about the business. I’ve developed a community of delightful new friends.

There will be three commercials made from all the shooting we did that day. Including the one with the trips. So, if you are in the Oklahoma City area, look for them. And, look for my left hand. It must be very manly and attractive as it seems to get all the play these days. In my previous, currently running, commercial, my left hand was very prominent. I have attached a photo from the last commercial that shows me in all my glory. If they give Emmys for commercials, I and my cohorts at the blackjack table will surely win. By the way, you also may use this picture as a screen saver just like you did with my headshots.

Now that I have an agent, I am still after that elusive speaking part in a movie or a television show.

Ronnie Deane, Lauren Synar, Jerome Braggs, me, Cindy Hanska


Click link below to see the commercial