TERRE HAUTE —
Cindy Gold gave William Tanoos a brief lecture and a gentle slap to his cheek.
Call it a Hautean form of mother-son bonding.
Gold and Tanoos rehearsed the exchange several times in the dimly lit parlor of the Eugene V. Debs Home on Thursday afternoon on North Eighth Street. Minutes later, they performed the scene again — for real — in front of the cameras. Gold plays Maggie Debs, the daughter-in-law of Eugene, the Terre Haute native who pioneered America’s organized labor movement and ran for president five times on the Socialist Party ticket in the early 1900s. Tanoos portrays Joe Debs, Eugene’s fictional, hard-drinking grandson and improbable candidate for governor of Indiana.
The forum for their acting is the upcoming movie, “The Drunk.”
Thursday marked the 14th day of production for the Terre Haute-based film, which Tanoos and fellow local native Paul Fleschner co-wrote and are co-directing.
Fleschner also plays the role of Larry Donegan, Joe’s lawyer, friend and campaign manager. Several scenes have been shot involving local residents as extras at locations around the city, including Mogger’s Brewery, The Saratoga, the Debs home, residences and businesses.
Next week, marquee actors Tom Sizemore (best known for work in “Saving Private Ryan” and “Blackhawk Down”) and Jesse Ventura (former governor of Minnesota) will be in town to film their scenes. Sizemore will star as Bruce Frye, a corrupt prosecutor running against Joe Debs in the 2012 race. Ventura will play the incumbent Hoosier governor.
The cast and crew — from around the Midwest and the nation — have completed plenty of work in advance of next week, though. Between scenes Thursday, Gold listened to Tanoos and Fleschner tell stories and tales of Terre Haute’s history. Gold is a veteran actress, and the head of acting and an associate professor at Northwestern University. She’s enjoying her exposure to the city through the film’s production.
“This summer’s been the hottest,” she said, “but everybody’s been fun and happy here. It’s like summer camp for adults.”
Just before her scene, Gold got a makeup touchup from Rachel Rieckenberg, assistant makeup artist from St. Louis. Rieckenberg has done similar work in five horror movies, a point which caused Gold to chuckle and quip, “And now she’s working on me.”
Tanoos and Fleschner expect production to wrap up next week, but not before a chance for the community to get even more involved.
They’re seeking at least 800 local residents to serve as extras in a debate scene to be filmed on Friday, Aug. 12 in the Woodrow Wilson Middle School gymnasium. The characters played by Sizemore and Tanoos will square off in front of what’s hoped to be a packed audience.
People interested in serving as extras in that scene should send an email containing their name and phone number to extras@thedrunkmovie.com as soon as possible, Fleschner said. That allows producers to set up an RSVP with each person. Then those people should come to the school’s front doors at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 12. Filming should be completed by 3 p.m., Fleschner said, but may extend as long as 6 p.m.
Anyone planning to serve as an extra should commit to staying at the gym the entire day, Fleschner said. They’ll need to bring two extra shirts, and games to play while they wait, he added.
Local filming should be completed by the following week, Tanoos said. Post-production work will continue for six months afterward. Tanoos and Fleschner expect marketing, screenings and distribution plans to be set so the movie can be released next year. “The overall objective is to get the film released by mid-2012,” Tanoos said, “when the presidential election and political fervor is at its peak.”
Mark Bennett can be reached at (812) 231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
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Motherly love: William Tanoos, as Joe Debs, gets scolded by his mother Maggie, portrayed by Cindy Gold, the head of acting at Northwestern University in Evanston. Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis
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Making up: Jillian Erickson applies makeup to the eyes of actress Deanna Myers for the afternoon filming of a scene of 'The Drunk.' Jim Avelis
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Suits me: Each actor's clothing is labeled in the wardrobe room in the old Indiana State University College of Education building. Jim Avelis
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Rehearsal: Cindy Gold, Paul Fleschner and William Tanoos rehearse a scene in the downstairs parlor of the Eugen V. Debs museum before heading upstairs for the filming. Jim Avelis
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Transformation: Logan Lemon, center, and others of the crew of 'The Drunk,' work to create a movie set in the third floor of the Eugene V. Debs museum Thursday afternoon. Jim Avelis
Discussion
Inside ‘The Drunk’
Movie written and directed by local men now 2 weeks into shooting
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