TERRE HAUTE —
As film crews pointed to staggered chairs, a tick-tack-toe pattern emerged as extras filled seats in the auditorium Friday at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Terre Haute.
“They don’t fill every seat, but we can make 200 people look like 400 people. We can also move people to one section to look like more people. It’s a scene with a steady camera shot that reveals the audience, with hundreds of people,” said Brett Hays, creative producer of “The Drunk,” a fictional political comedy film about a hard-drinking grandson of political activist Eugene V. Debs, who runs for governor of Indiana.
“This place is a gorgeous space,” Hays said of the auditorium at the historic and renovated school built in 1927. “This is such a perfect set up. It is a perfect arena for a debate. That is why we were excited when we saw this space.”
The debate is between gubernatorial candidates Joe Debs, played by Terre Haute native William Tanoos, and Bruce Frye, played by seasoned actor Tom Sizemore. Yellow campaign posters, held by extras, stated, “Joe Debs — who said the underdog can’t be on top,” while another read, “He ain’t no average Joe.”
Blue signs, with red strips, for Bruce Frye simply stated, “For Governor.”
Film crews, who have been in Terre Haute since July 18, will wrap up production today.
“Terre Haute has been very supportive and everybody in the town has opened their doors The sheriff’s department has been super supportive. Films are disruptive. It disrupts a normal town when filming a movie because you have 50 people in one place and vehicles,” Hays said.
“We always want to make sure that we do our very best to not forget that and hurt anybody’s reputation. We want to keep all the people involved — the Tanooses, the Fleschners, the Nassers and all the great families that have supported this film, so they can look and say this has been something good for Terre Haute,” Hays said.
Kash Ahmadi, owner of the Auto House, supplied three vehicles for use on the movie to haul equipment. Ahmadi and his 12-year-old daughter, Layla, were to appear as extras during the filming at Woodrow Wilson.
“We had heard about the movie coming to town and that they need support with trucks and vans to haul people and equipment around, and I said yes,” Ahmadi said. “They said they have a low budget and would rent. I said no need to rent, I will provide the vehicles to you guys.
“How often do we get a chance in town to have something like this, so you want to support them as much as you can.”
Tanoos and Paul Fleschner, both Terre Haute natives, formed Tanoos Fleschner Productions and then co-wrote, co-direct, star and produced the film.
“The biggest challenge of having lots of extra people is getting them to be themselves, having fun. They don’t need to put on a facade and try to be actors,” Fleschner said of about 175 people who volunteered as film extras at the middle school. “I had a great talk with everybody who is out there, thanking them and letting them know why they are here. They will be an important part of this story. We will read through the debate and get reaction shots.”
“At this moment we want you to gasp, at this point cheer, at this point boo or hiss,” Fleschner said. “We will edit those into the story.”
Fleschner said the crew is being led by cinematographer Pete Biagi, who worked on two Robert Altman films — “The Company” and “A Prairie Home Companion.”
In his first acting experience, Tanoos said he has learned that movies are a collaborative process, with crew and cast working as one team.
“We have been talking to Tom Sizemore and Jesse Ventura [former governor of Minnesota] who have been on many big studio films and they said there is no difference here as far as the professionalism and the way things operate,” Tanoos said.
“One big hurdle is there is no sense of expectation, because this is my first [film]. I don’t know what people will think or react to me on screen, as well as behind the screen. Paul [Fleschner] is in the same boat. He has more experience in short films, but this is both our first feature,” Tanoos said.
“The challenges have not been too daunting. It has been really a pleasure to meet every day with a new challenge, as we are producing, directing and wrote and star, kind of everything. But, I can’t wait to wake up in the morning and do it again,” Tanoos said.
Sizemore has already given Tanoos a few acting pointers.
“We will sit before a take and [Sizemore] will do his Robert DeNiro impersonation and talk about the good advice that Bob, as he calls him, gave him,” Tanoos said. “He talks about Al Pacino and how Steven Spielberg wanted [him] to do this and that, and I am sitting there thinking to myself, how did Paul and I get into this situation? We struck gold here.”
Editing on the film will take nearly a year to complete, Hays said.
“There is music, score, color correction and sound mixing. The goal is political season next year, as we have a presidential campaign next year. Our goal is to have it done and ready for people to see at that time,” Hays said.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
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Extra hold: An "extra" holds an election placard for the filming of a scene Friday morning.
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The Drunk: William Tanoos (left) portrays Joe Debs in the movie filming of The Drunk Friday afternoon.
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Poster: Detail photo of poster on a seat for use by "extras" as they participate in a political debate scene.
Discussion
Film crews wrapping up production of 'The Drunk'
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