I would have liked to audition for that movie, but my son, Brett, underwent a serious spinal cord operation in Washington DC and I went to stay with him and his family while he was in the early phases of recovery. After some time, I found the oven, even found recipes on the internet, and cooked several meals for them - much to my wife’s amazement. I don’t think I have actually cooked a full meal in the years we have been married. That is except for using the grill and even then I just flipped the steaks while she made the salad, potatoes, dessert, drinks (alcoholic types - I do take care of), and sets the table. BUT, I cooked the meat. To continue my point – I was not available to audition for Lance. In addition, Joy and I moved into a new home we built and that took up loads of time. Especially, when we moved in 110+ weather. I actually lost eight pounds during the move and have done a good job of keeping it off.
I did audition as a doctor for the movie “Cowboys and Angels” that was filmed in Stillwater. I’m strong and resolute, didn’t cry - But, I did not even get a call back. Another movie, “Yellow”, was also filmed this summer in Oklahoma City. The casting director, Michelle DeLong, submitted my headshot to Nick Cassavetes, the director, but she told me he said, “He’s too normal looking.” Not sure what that means. Just maybe it is a compliment – YES - it must be.
Anyway, that brings me up to the current time. There is an international film festival titled "The 48 Hour Film Project”. And, that is exactly what the name implies. A film group has to make a movie in 48 hours. That means they have to write, film, costume, and edit their work in that length of time. An actor friend of mine, Paul Lister, called me on a Friday and asked me if I would be interested in being involved. Sounded like fun and of course I said Yes!!!.
Czeckered Past & Smith Pixels team— Kneeling - David Greyson, Caleb Wade; Middle Row - Mark Randall, Reginald J. Lloyd-Jones, Ben Hlavaty, Stacy Mize; Back Row - Dustin Tate, Jason smith, Robert Gardner, Adam Smith, Andrew Smith, Paul Lister, Jerry Richardson This is Oklahoma City’s first time to be entered in the festival and 11 teams signed to make a film. The leaders of the 11 teams met at 7:00pm on a Friday evening to get their assignments. Each movie had to have the following things involved in the movie: Prop – a stool, Phrase – “Now, that’s a problem”, A name – either Gil or Gwen Sargent, and a landmark location in Oklahoma City (This latter requirement only happens the first year a city is entered). The movie could be no shorter than four minutes or longer than seven. A one minute extension could be added for the credits. I was very impressed with the caliber of movie makers that Oklahoma City has produced. Most were young (however, to me everyone is young) and I expect to see a lot of them in future years.
Each team draws a genre from a hat. In our case, my team drew cop/detective. By 2:00am Saturday morning, the script had been written and filming started around 6:00am. As you can tell, not many were going to get sleep that weekend. My call time was not until 6:00 Saturday evening so I was in good shape. However, Saturday morning, I was headed to a motel in Moore to film until I received a call from Stacy Mize telling me my time had been changed. Just what I wanted!! To spend all day long continuing working around our new house in 108⁰ weather, and yes, I considered just going to a movie and not telling my wife my filming time had been changed.
I was not involved in the filming or writing. I was an actor and played the part of “Police Chief Stanton”. I did not even see a script until I arrived on the set. I was much older than any on the team and after seeing all 11 movies; I think I was the oldest one altogether. Our director, Ben Hlavaty, put the group together along with Andrew Smith. Compilation of a cast and crew was the only thing they could do before 7:00pm start. Everything else, including music, had to be created after the start. The whole process was a lot of fun and I am sure that the crew was glad to finally get home and get some sleep on Sunday evening.
I am assuming that it will end up on You-Tube and I will post it on my next blog then. You need to see it. I’m a very believable police chief. At least, that is what I told the guy in the mirror. I was in charge of a SWAT team and these guys looked the part. During the filming at the hotel, many hotel customers huddled together thinking something was actually happening there.
James Jobe, Kyle Pennington, David Greyson, Troy FordI had three auditions last week and if anything comes of those, both of you fans will be the first to know. One director asked me if he got me a dialogue coach would I learn to speak with a European accent. HELL YES!!! That sounds like fun and very encouraging.
