Film lift's town's spirits
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
The sign in front of the Skowhegan Town Hall says it all: "Welcome Empire Falls Cast and Crew."
The film "Empire Falls" is giving both an emotional and financial lift to downtown Skowhegan, where Patrick's Pizza, left, is undergoing renovation to be the diner in the HBO movie.
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Cameras have yet to begin shooting — that starts Wednesday at Bea's Diner in Winslow — but the red carpet has been rolled out from Waterville to Skowhegan for anyone who has anything to do with the casting, filming or production of the HBO movie "Empire Falls."
For many local residents, who have had their share of setbacks in recent years, the film project is proving a boost both personally and economically.
"Almost everyone has some sort of opinion and I haven't heard any bad ones," said Jeffrey Gordon, owner of Jorgensen's Cafe in Waterville. "I think it has lifted people's spirits."
"It can't do anything but positive things for Skowhegan," said Larry Charrier, who, with Dwayne Burbank, has owned Skowhegan Fleuriste for nearly 20 years. "It will bring a lot of attention to the town."
Most people don't care if the filming ties up the already tangled traffic on both sides of the bridges into Skowhegan, or if it stalls business operations, or if it disrupts the regular flow of business in either community.
They aren't even upset that the region is eyed by filmmakers as economically downtrodden and perfect for the plot of the movie: a community that deteriorates after the local shirt and textile factory shuts down.
The movie-making is viewed simply as good news in an economically challenged area that has seen little to get excited about in the last year.
Aunts, uncles and cousins have tried out for roles as actors, union carpenters are converting local buildings, filmmakers are spending money locally — and there is something to talk about that puts a smile on their faces.
"It's exciting. I want to see things happen in town," Burbank said. People will really want to stop where the movie was made."
And it doesn't hurt that name stars such as Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and Philip Seymour Hoffman will be in the film, he said.
Charrier, copresident of the Downtown Business Association, says the organization already has promotional plans it will begin on next week.
"We plan to make a big deal of it; it is a big deal," Charrier said.
Movie crews already are dumping money into the communities, according to business owners.
Patrick's Pizza Joint is being converted into Empire Grill in the book and movie, Bee's Snack Bar in Winslow into a coffee shop and production studios have been leased in Waterville. Props and lumber are being purchased locally, meals are being catered, lodging is being used —and memories are being made.
Every little bit helps, said Sumner Hayward, tending the store at Hillside Antiques in Skowhegan.
"We've sold some things for props and they have suggested they might need to rent some of our larger pieces," Hayward said. "They've gone to a number of other antique stores, like the new one down on Water Street and the Fairfield Mall."
The mood is the same in Waterville, according to George Gordon, owner of The Maine Made and More Shop.
"Just the money flowing into the economy gives business a boost in the right direction," Gordon said. "These people have a budget to work with and 40 to 50 percent of that budget is left here in central Maine. That's a boost."
It is impossible to put a price tag on the psychological impact, according to Gordon, who called the filmmaking "a breath of fresh air.
"Now we have people who are saying 'Hey, this is a great place to be,' " Gordon said. "This is a good thing."
For communities around Skowhegan and Waterville that boast active theater groups, schools heavy into play competition, a summer theater at Lakewood Theater in nearby Madison, ballet offerings at Bossov Ballet Theatre headquartered in Pittsfield and a highly successful summer film festival at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville, the movie filming is a perfect fit, according to residents.
Even business owners like Doreen Poulin, who owns Key Appliance in Skowhegan beside the converted pizza shop and is perhaps of those most affected by the filming, remains optimistic despite concerns that parking and deliveries will be disrupted.
"I don't think people are prepared for the reality. They've never seen this before, but I hope to see Skowhegan prosper," Poulin said.
Andrew Russakoff, owner of Russakoff Jewelers in Skowhegan, said the movie hype "creates its own excitement. People show up; they're curious. People all want a piece of Maine." Russakoff said he's hoping that piece might be some of his collection of Maine gems.
Reginald Rollins, owner of Betty Mae's Video Store on Water Street in Skowhegan, joins the list of merchants with something of interest they hope to sell in the wake of the movie hoopla — one of the best local collections of films by the stars in "Empire Falls: 27 works of Paul Newman, 35 of Harris, 26 of Hunt, 18 of Hoffman and eight of Woodward's.
Meanwhile, at Mr. Paperback on U.S. Route 201, Richard Russo's book, on which the movie is based, is "a hot sale item," said Manager Trudy Squire. "We sold more than 200 just last week."
Skowhegan Town Manager Patricia Dickey, who has been working with the production crews since this spring, said it has been well worth the effort.
"Skowhegan has a lot to offer. They looked at other places and chose us," Dickey said. "We have a proud heritage in this area and we proved we could sell ourselves. For us and HBO movie production people, it is a win-win situation."
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dpickett@centralmaine.com