A year ago, in the first column I wrote in this series, I mentioned that one of the more interesting things I had done since moving to Nashville was to spend one day working as an extra in a movie. Well, the movie is entitled “Deadline,” and it made its world premiere here in Nashville in February. Opening night was the full fanfare glitz of a Hollywood opening night, red carpet and all. And I was right there on the red carpet along with my lovely wife Barbara, my son Grant, and his date Tania Peguero.
To give you a little of the backstory, “Deadline” is the first motion picture ever filmed entirely here in middle Tennessee. Through his business connections, Grant and Tania were friends with the film’s executive producer, who mentioned to them that the film could use some “extras” to appear in the critical courtroom scene at the climax of the film. I happened to see an article in the newspaper also noting the need for extras, and applied for a spot, not knowing Grant and Tania were already booked as part of the cast of extras.
We spent one day last winter filming in the country courthouse in Pulaski, TN. We were told to bring several possible outfits with the criteria being to look like “impoverished residents of Alabama, dressed up for their day in court.” I couldn’t find what I wanted at Goodwill, so I came dressed in my school clothes, and the costume director said I looked “perfect for the part.” Grant put on a sports coat and a bright red tie … and that red tie will make him highly visible in the movie.
We worked a 12-hour day. Our official pay was one cold piece of pizza and a warm bottle of water for lunch, but our unofficial pay came from the thrill of actually being in a movie.
“Deadline” is based on true events, although the setting and various details have been fictionalized. It involves the murder of a 15-year African-American boy which goes uninvestigated and unsolved for almost 20 years. The case is reopened by a pair of reporters, who need to fight their publisher for the chance to work on the story because it is not in their paper’s circulation area. The scene we filmed was when the shooter is brought to justice is court … and surprising details come out.
Now … jumping back to the red carpet premiere. Over 1,000 people attended the gala opening night. Since our scene is right at the end of the movie, we had a long nervous wait to see if any shots of us had made the final cut.
We were not disappointed!
Again and again and again the three of us popped up on screen. In shots of the balcony, we are seated in the center of the front row. (Look for that bright red tie.) When witnesses testify, look for me over the shoulder of the witnesses (on the right; bald head, and glasses … often just out of focus, but sometimes clearly seen), and Grant over the shoulder on the left. Poor Tania was seated between us, so most of her screen time is blocked by the witnesses! All in all, I am on screen 26 times, and Grant can be seen 35 times. We do some Oscar-worthy work looking “serious and outraged.”
Grant, however, gets an even bigger screen presence. As the defendant is led from the courthouse, Grant (who is standing beside co-star Eric Roberts) gets full face … in focus … close-ups!
And stay until the end of the credits. All of the extras get screen credits!
Because “Deadline” in an independent film, it does not get the national buzz of a studio release, but initial reviews have been strong. Instead of being released nationwide all at once, it is being released city-by-city in special events sponsored by local newspapers. The northwest Ohio opening is sponsored by The Toledo Blade on Monday, March 26. Ticket details have not been released, but you can go to www.deadlinefilm.com for more information. After the premiere night it is supposed to open for a limited run in each host city, so hopefully some Ohio friends can catch it in Toledo. It is supposed to open “nationwide” in mid-April, but I don’t know if it will play anywhere closer than Toledo.
Next month I will come down off cloud nine, deflate my over-inflated star-shaped ego, and get back to featuring someone new living and prospering “far from home.”
