Area schools to benefit from 'Empire Falls' film
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
SKOWHEGAN — Filming of a football scene at Skowhegan Area High School for the HBO movie "Empire Falls" will produce a paycheck for two central Maine schools — along with a hot red Camaro for one of the lucky extras.
School officials in Skowhegan and at Waterville High School will be "casting about" for nearly 400 volunteer spectators willing to be available for shooting on Oct. 13 and 14 in exchange for a sizable donation to their respective schools, according to extras casting director Cameron Bonsey.
"The tough thing is going to be getting people to stay for both days," Bonsey said. He said many people have Oct. 13 off because it is Columbus Day, but getting a commitment for the second day "may be tricky."
In addition, each school's football team will be used as the teams in the movie.
The football game provides significant insight into the characters of "Empire Falls," which is based on Richard Russo's Pulitzer prize-winning book by the same name. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and Philip Seymour Hoffman are among the stars in the film.
SAHS Principal Gilbert Eaton said the event will produce "a nice little chunk of change" for the Skowhegan High School. He said he will need come up with about 125 adults and 64 young people: "I'm going to call my booster club and say 'Here's what I need.' I' m sure the boosters club will just be ecstatic. This is very exciting."
Each of the schools stands to get a donation of more than $5,000, besides the $1,000-a-day filming payment, according to Waterville High School's Principal Scott Phair.
"It's a great and relatively easy fundraiser for people around here to support, plus they get to be in the film," said Phair, who has a speaking role as a coach in the movie. "They've asked us for about 150 extras with a ratio of two adults to every child, typical of what we'd see at a football game."
Phair said in Waterville about 40 youths and 38 adults already have signed up to be extras. Even though the game will be filmed on the SAHS field, the Waterville team will be the "Empire Falls" home team because of the color of its uniforms. The Skowhegan team has to adapt its uniforms slightly to remove the name, he said.
Meanwhile, there's a bonus for volunteer spectators who each get a chance to win a 1988 Camaro. With 24,000 miles on the odometer, the car was purchased for the movie's character Jimmy Minty to drive in the film. The winner will drive it home, Bonsey said.
"This is a wonderful way to get more enthusiasm for the project and make sure they stay in that seat for a second day," Bonsey said.
Phair said Waterville High School also will be used for the interior high school scenes, like the cafeteria and art room where the movie's teen-aged character Tick Roby is often seen.
Phair said he met the director last summer when he visited the school: "He liked my accent and had me make an audio tape for the people in Hollywood. They asked if I'd take a role in the movie.
Phair said he has been cast as the coach who chastises the teenage version of the main character, Miles Roby, when he drives the car onto the football field. The coach backs off when he learns that Roby is with Francine Whiting, the woman who owns everything in Empire Falls.
Bonsey said casting to raise money for the school works well in states like Maine, where people are more likely to volunteer their time for this type of event: "This is a rare opportunity and I think Maine is a kind of community, where people are maybe a little more loyal—and obviously more enthusiastic."
Darla L. Pickett — 474-9534, Ext. 343
dpickett@centralmaine.com