Local Thespians Hitch Dreams to Stardom
August 1998 - Story by Robert Baker for the Daily Herald
They got together to put on a cable show, but what they ended up with might eventually become a dream come true. In this local thespian scenario, the 25 or so in front and behind the cameras range in age from 16 to over 40 with the fantasy of some day making in big in Hollywood. Mokena's Mike Foster, 22, thinks he may have a story idea worthy of consideration with the local cable production of Barcelona, an account of a Los Angeles teen-age girl who moves to a small Midwestern town, which just happens to look a lot like Frankfort. The name seemed like a catchy natural in 1992 when the script was written because the Olympics were taking place in Barcelona.
Foster said he's received some interest from one Los Angeles production studio that might consider it for a Saturday morning kids show among other alternatives, but he and his acting cohorts fear mentioning the studio's name will blow the fledgling deal. In the pilot episode (which is one of six scripts planned for production so far), character Adrienne Thomas, played by Jennifer Burton of Mokena, portrays the transplanted young lady trying top fit into her new locale and understand the idiosyncrasies of its people.
"An L.A. girl couldn't last five minutes out here (in the Midwest)," observed Foster as the show's format. In one scene, Burton's new car allegedly is "stolen" off the street after she left the keys in the ignition. She soon finds out that the town's amateur mechanic (played by real life Mokena cable TV operator Tim Franson) is in the habit of picking up "inviting" cars and doing some tune-up work to make a few bucks.
Even Skip Lanham from Crest Hill, who actually works at MediaOne in New Lenox, thinks nothing of the car caper in his role as the town police chief, although the real mystery is how Lanham and the film crew gained access to Frankfort Police Chief Darrell Sander's office to film the station scene.
Foster explained that Sanders and other village and business people were more than co-operative during the filming of Barcelona in May 1997. By the end of the first episode, LA Girl, Burton finds her new home to be unaccepting of the new kid in town and the final scene sees her sitting in her backyard alone looking at the night sky. The entire production cost about $200. Foster said most of the money went for crew food.
Mokena's cable access channel threw in the camera work and MediaOne tossed in editing and special effects. The 20-minute show has been aired on Lincoln-Way cable Channel 6 and Will County's cable "Community Access Showcase" on Channel 3, but producers and actors hope it goes much further.
"We're from Mokena and (big-time producers) probably view us as out of nowhere and we don't know the business side, how to network, or how to 'do lunch.,’" said Foster. But that's not going to stop the local group from trying to get noticed by sending the script and pilot to the big honchos in film and TV land.
"If you don't take the shot, then what, because you'll never find out," said Dominick Marnell, 23, from Frankfort. Foster said it's hard to produce more than a pilot episode, considering the long volunteer hours and low budgets with which they have to work.
However, Julie Foster, 16, said she's ready to go to Hollywood tomorrow if the opportunity presented itself from this initial episode. "It's a 99 to 1 shot, but what if you're that one," said Julie. "I don't want to be he person who says 'what if' later."
Dee Anne Totz, 21, of Shorewood is entertaining Columbia College in the fall as a theater major and relishes the idea of a dream turning into an acting reality at the "big time" level. "This is what I want to do and I wouldn't be involved (in the local film) if it wasted time," she said. "It's not for me to say if this is all a dream, it's just who sees what I've done," Totz said of her talent exposure. "You do it to be recognized and because it fulfills you that's what makes me feel good," she said.
Likely the same attitude that prevails among other local cast members like Dave McManus, Mokena; Ron LiVigni, Frankfort; and Brian Bessler and Jeff Prah from Joliet. Hollywood bound or not from humble Lincoln-Way beginnings, Julie Foster offered the most practical view of the whole experience. "At least we'll have something to tell our kids even if it doesn't work out," she said.
FOR THE RECORD: The writer made a couple of mistakes. The original script was written in 1996, the title Barcelona does come from the Olympic Host City, but it is just a reference. And it is the LA girl that won't accept her surroundings. The townspeople are rather friendly and understanding.
August 1998 - Story by Robert Baker for the Daily Herald
They got together to put on a cable show, but what they ended up with might eventually become a dream come true. In this local thespian scenario, the 25 or so in front and behind the cameras range in age from 16 to over 40 with the fantasy of some day making in big in Hollywood. Mokena's Mike Foster, 22, thinks he may have a story idea worthy of consideration with the local cable production of Barcelona, an account of a Los Angeles teen-age girl who moves to a small Midwestern town, which just happens to look a lot like Frankfort. The name seemed like a catchy natural in 1992 when the script was written because the Olympics were taking place in Barcelona.
Foster said he's received some interest from one Los Angeles production studio that might consider it for a Saturday morning kids show among other alternatives, but he and his acting cohorts fear mentioning the studio's name will blow the fledgling deal. In the pilot episode (which is one of six scripts planned for production so far), character Adrienne Thomas, played by Jennifer Burton of Mokena, portrays the transplanted young lady trying top fit into her new locale and understand the idiosyncrasies of its people.
"An L.A. girl couldn't last five minutes out here (in the Midwest)," observed Foster as the show's format. In one scene, Burton's new car allegedly is "stolen" off the street after she left the keys in the ignition. She soon finds out that the town's amateur mechanic (played by real life Mokena cable TV operator Tim Franson) is in the habit of picking up "inviting" cars and doing some tune-up work to make a few bucks.
Even Skip Lanham from Crest Hill, who actually works at MediaOne in New Lenox, thinks nothing of the car caper in his role as the town police chief, although the real mystery is how Lanham and the film crew gained access to Frankfort Police Chief Darrell Sander's office to film the station scene.
Foster explained that Sanders and other village and business people were more than co-operative during the filming of Barcelona in May 1997. By the end of the first episode, LA Girl, Burton finds her new home to be unaccepting of the new kid in town and the final scene sees her sitting in her backyard alone looking at the night sky. The entire production cost about $200. Foster said most of the money went for crew food.
Mokena's cable access channel threw in the camera work and MediaOne tossed in editing and special effects. The 20-minute show has been aired on Lincoln-Way cable Channel 6 and Will County's cable "Community Access Showcase" on Channel 3, but producers and actors hope it goes much further.
"We're from Mokena and (big-time producers) probably view us as out of nowhere and we don't know the business side, how to network, or how to 'do lunch.,’" said Foster. But that's not going to stop the local group from trying to get noticed by sending the script and pilot to the big honchos in film and TV land.
"If you don't take the shot, then what, because you'll never find out," said Dominick Marnell, 23, from Frankfort. Foster said it's hard to produce more than a pilot episode, considering the long volunteer hours and low budgets with which they have to work.
However, Julie Foster, 16, said she's ready to go to Hollywood tomorrow if the opportunity presented itself from this initial episode. "It's a 99 to 1 shot, but what if you're that one," said Julie. "I don't want to be he person who says 'what if' later."
Dee Anne Totz, 21, of Shorewood is entertaining Columbia College in the fall as a theater major and relishes the idea of a dream turning into an acting reality at the "big time" level. "This is what I want to do and I wouldn't be involved (in the local film) if it wasted time," she said. "It's not for me to say if this is all a dream, it's just who sees what I've done," Totz said of her talent exposure. "You do it to be recognized and because it fulfills you that's what makes me feel good," she said.
Likely the same attitude that prevails among other local cast members like Dave McManus, Mokena; Ron LiVigni, Frankfort; and Brian Bessler and Jeff Prah from Joliet. Hollywood bound or not from humble Lincoln-Way beginnings, Julie Foster offered the most practical view of the whole experience. "At least we'll have something to tell our kids even if it doesn't work out," she said.
FOR THE RECORD: The writer made a couple of mistakes. The original script was written in 1996, the title Barcelona does come from the Olympic Host City, but it is just a reference. And it is the LA girl that won't accept her surroundings. The townspeople are rather friendly and understanding.
