Huntsville becomes movie set
Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2006
For the last few weeks Huntsville has been buzzing more than usual, but this time it’s the buzz of excitement as the movie War Eagle has been being filmed on various days.
Huntsville, which is usually busting at the seams this time of year anyway, with school starting and the county fair, has been inundated with some of Hollywood’s top names and faces and several very talented Arkansans.
The movie began as a short story by Vincent Insalaco about his son and his friend Wheels. “ War Eagle is a character-driven drama about a young man’s choice of whether to leave his family and friends for a career in baseball or stay and redeem his struggling community. The story takes place over a few pivotal weeks in the summer after Enoch Cass’s senior year, and is set against the backdrop of Arkansas ’ beautiful Ozark Mountains, ” explains the movie’s web site.
“ Enoch Cass has two gifts; the first is baseball, and the second is the innate goodness he possesses as he holds his family, members of his community, and most of all, his friendship with Samuel “ Wheels” Macon, together. However, Enoch’s Achilles heel is the fact that he has a debilitating stutter and can rarely manage a complete sentence. Wheels is Enoch’s best friend and has cerebral palsy. He has been confined to a wheelchair since early childhood, which is how long these two have been inseparable. Wheels’ spirit knows no bounds, and combined with Enoch’s inability to articulate, the two have relied on one another to make themselves one completely functional human being... though without each other, they are nothing.
However, the story finds these two at the crossroads of childhood and independence, the moment where Enoch has to decide if he will put away the things of his youth to pursue his own interests, or remain shackled to his hometown and its people. Enoch’s domineering grandfather, Eugene “ Pop ” Cass wants nothing more than for his grandson to get a baseball scholarship to a major school and get out of the town he feels he himself was sentenced to forty years before after being forced to abandon his own minor league career. Enoch’s mother, Belle Cass, often comes into conflict with Pop over these issues, while Enoch also seeks counsel from Jack, an older African-American man he works with, as well as Wheels’ mother, Jessie.
After Enoch performs well in the All-Star game, he is quickly seduced by the newfound attention he’s being given both by interested colleges and Abby, a girl Enoch has had a crush on for some time. As all this happens, Enoch’s friendship with Wheels becomes more and more distant and finally begins to dissolve. As the film reaches its dramatic climax, Enoch must choose between his best friend, a baseball career, his girlfriend, and the inherent love he feels for his community, ” the site states in explaining the story.
On the day WRVN visited the set, a fight scene was being filmed on Highway 23 behind the Ozark Cleaners and off the Huntsville Square. Monica Staggs of Los Angeles, California was on hand instructing the young actors in the fine art of throwing a punch. It was interesting to watch these young men pay such close attention to the petite blond, but Staggs has earned the respect. Staggs was born and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas. During the 2005 Taurus Awards she won the Best Overall Stunt by a Woman Award for Kill Bill 2. Some of her credits include Pepper Dennis (2006 ) TV Series (stunt double: Rebecca Romijin ); Sky High (2005 ) (stunts ); Lovewrecked (2005 ) (stunt double: Amanda Bynes ); SkyCaptain and the World of Tomorrow (2004 ) (stunts ); Crash (2004 ) (stunt double: Sandra Bullock ); White Oleander (2002 ) (stunt coordinator ); John Q (2002 ) (stunts ); Charlie’s Angels (2000 ) (stunt double ) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998 ) (stunts ) just to name a few.
Other big names lending a hand to the film include Brian Dennehy - Golden Globe nominee; Emmy and twotime Tony Award winning actor stars as “ Pop, ” Enoch’s grandfather, who dreams of a baseball scholarship for his grandson and struggles with his own unfulfilled dreams. Mare Winningham - Academy and Emmy Award nominated actress (The War, Wyatt Earp, St. Elmo’s Fire ) stars as Belle, Enoch’s mother, torn between small-time living and wanting the best for her son. James McDaniel - Emmy nominated actor (NYPD Blue, Sunshine State, Malcolm X ) stars as Jack, video store manager, part time preacher, and Wheels’ mentor. Mary Kay Place - Emmy and Grammy Award winning actress (HBO’s Big Love, Being John Malcovich, The Big Chill, Girl Interrupted ) stars as Jessie, the hard working, caring but realistic mother of Wheels. Luke Grimes (All The Boys Love Mandy Lane ) stars as Enoch, good-natured High School baseball star with a speech impediment. Dan McCabe (Bittersweet Place, The Boys of Sunset Ridge, Law and Order ) stars as Wheels, Enoch’s best friend, who has cerebral palsy and lives in a wheelchair Misti Traya (Joan of Arcadia, Huff and Material Girls ) stars as Abby, the beautiful love interest of Enoch. McCorkle Casting Limited in New York has assembled the lead actors for the feature film, “ War Eagle”. Pat McCorkle has worked in Arkansas previously when casting “ End of the Line” with Mary Steenburgen. Pat’s other credits include “ Die Hard With a Vengeance, ” “ The Thomas Crown Affair” and “ The Wool Cap”.
While Insalaco wrote the story about his son and friend, he collaborated with screenwriter Graham Gordy, born and raised in Conway, Arkansas. Graham is currently co-writing the new Mike Myers’ film from Paramount Pictures.
Insalaco said he hopes people gain two things from his movie, “ An understanding of who and what we are in Arkansas, what a magic secret this place is, and the strong sense of community, ” he said before returning to the cameras to watch the rehearsals.
Thanks to a grant the movie is being filmed in 35 mm with cameras on loan from Panavision. On Friday evening The Town Square was as bright as daylight as huge lights were used to illuminate Coger’s drug store, which was transformed into a soda fountain for some pivotal scenes. Actors have worked in stifling heat and for long hours, as most shoots run a full 12 hours. On Friday, production was expected to last into the early morning hours of Saturday.
Local police have been on hand providing security and re-routing traffic.
Filming is scheduled to end on September 1 st with editing expected to last until the expected 2007 release date. The film will be shown at festivals and hopefully picked up for major distribution as the independent film, Sling Blade, also filmed in Arkansas, was by the Miramax Corporation.
Several local high school students have been featured in the film, including members of the HHS baseball team, coaches and the Eagle Mascot, Greg.
Other Arkansas actors with speaking parts include as Austin, Michael Oakes of Greenbrier; Ticket Seller, Suzanne Hayes of Little Rock; All-Star Game Umpire, Keith Sanders of Little Rock; Cavern Manager, Christopher Crane of Little Rock; Nardler, Lynsee Provence of Little Rock; June Hutchens, Paige Reynolds of Little Rock; Mountain Home Coach, Van Stewman, Jr. of Springdale; Shutty Musgrove, Michael Williamson of Conway; Coach Harville, Gordon Swaim of North Little Rock; Catcher, Dillon Hupp of Little Rock; Umpire, Tim Sparks of Beebe; “ West ” Coach, Allen Quattlebaum of Little Rock.
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