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