Another World
Fictional town Empire Falls comes to life in Skowhegan
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
SKOWHEGAN — Walking downtown Friday afternoon was like being transported to a different world — a world where the people of "Empire Falls" truly exist.
Movie fans peer through the a window of the Empire Grill as camera operator Tim Metivier, left, sets up for the first day of shooting of ÒEmpire FallsÓ in Skowhegan on Friday. click to enlarge
Traffic stopped, time stood still and for an entire afternoon spectators looked on as moviemakers and stars began piecing together the fictional story of the HBO movie "Empire Falls" being filmed in Skowhegan and Waterville.
Huge trucks packed with filming and camera equipment rolled east on Water Street, squeezing around tight corners and through narrow side streets to finally roost between businesses and the Kennebec River.
Behind them came traveling coaches that would become temporary places of respite for the stars, nestled in the parking area next to the town's walking bridge. Also in tow were vehicles that would be used in the filming.
After months of planning, the cast and crew of "Empire Falls" had finally taken up temporary residence in this community of less than 10,000 people.
Dozens of local residents flocked to the sun-drenched scene Friday afternoon — using their lunch hours, a day off or a chance errand into town to see how the people on the movie screen live and work.
It was a friendly and easygoing crowd, applauding the appearance of Ed Harris, cheering the arrival of Paul Newman and William Fichtner, but moving obediently across the street after they were allowed a few minutes to gape and take pictures of Newman. Harris plays the lead role of Miles Roby; Newman plays Max, his ne'er-do-well father. Fichtner is arrogant cop Jimmy Minty.
The spirit of the onlookers must have been contagious —even Harris joined in on the fun during one scene in which he drove a dilapidated car from the Empire Grill to the Redington Home on lower Water Street.
When they applauded his return, Harris delighted the spectators by playfully leaning toward the car window with a grin, cupped his hands and yelled "Exciting isn't it?"
The next time he drove around the corner, Harris waved to the crowd; another time he just wiggled his fingers at them — making fans for life.
Watching the action, Lea Girardin, director of the Maine Film Office, said she'd been around many movie sets, but "I've never seen this kind of interaction in other movies."
But spectators also discovered that movie making is a slow process. The crew moved into town around noon, but it was several hours before any action took place.
And outside of those few moments of playful fun, directors, actors, producers and crews were all business, concentrating on two outside scenes in the film, which is based on former Waterville author Richard Russo's Pulitzer prize-winning book "Empire Falls."
Trip after trip, Harris drove east on Water Street to the Redington Home, which for the movie will serve as the mansion of Empire Falls' richest resident, Francine Whiting — played by Joanne Woodward. Whiting lets the town use a cottage on the grounds for a motor vehicle office until renovations at the courthouse are complete.
Harris, driving a car that was cut away in the back to make room for the cameraman filming the action, made the ride over and over until directors were pleased with the finished product.
More than an hour later, the action was finally moved to the outside of the Empire Grill, the restaurant managed by Miles Roby and his brother, David. Until a few weeks ago, the building was Patrick's Pizza Joint.
This scene had Miles and Max Roby arguing beside the restaurant. Time after time, Harris came out the back door, shoved two bags of garbage in the Dumpster and argued with his father, who slumped off in disgust.
Behind the scenes, Skowhegan officials and crew members were working hard to make sure the rest of the town continued to run smoothly despite the commotion. The crew had expected to return for more work today, but shooting is instead scheduled to resume Monday.
Police Chief Butch Asselin said traffic was at one point backed up on Waterville Road as far south as The Snack Shack. But, he said, this was a "once-in-a-lifetime event" the town could handle. Instead of traveling around the rotary, northbound traffic was diverted onto lower Madison Avenue to free Water Street for filming.
Town Manager Patricia Dickey was busy trying to find storage for the cars being used in the film, but said she was thoroughly enjoying the action.
"It's incredible what they've done and for the business they brought into Skowhegan," Dickey said.
By 5 p.m., only a few dozen spectators remained, mostly on sidewalks in front of Aubuchon Hardware and Century 21 Whittemores.
For them, Harris had summed it up best: "Exciting, isn't it?"
Darla L. Pickett — 474-9534, Ext. 343
dpickett@centralmaine.com