More plans
Family football comedy’ stars ‘Rock’
WORCESTER- It was football as usual at Fitton Field yesterday. But then again, it wasn’t.
Actors, crew and extras (as well as about 2,000 inflatable dummies) had taken over the stadium for the day to film “The Game Plan,” a Walt Disney Pictures production starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The crew began arriving at the College of the Holy Cross at 5 a.m. It had been a rainy night, and then a drizzly morning. But by 2 p.m. the sky had lightened considerably. Cameras were rolling.
“It’s going fantastic. The sky cleared up and the sunshine came out,” said The Rock.
The wrestling superstar-turned-actor watched beyond the end zone as his body double scored a touchdown. The double celebrated with a hip wiggle, then raised his arms in the air. Teammates came crowding over.
“He’s trying to emulate my Elvis dance, which he’s not doing a very good job of,” said The Rock. Relaxed, but looking very fit, The Rock was joking. “But I appreciate the effort,” he added.
The Rock also had good reviews for the effort of 150 or so extras, most of them local, who were cheering on cue during the long day of filming. “It’s always fun to get that energy from the crowd.”
If things go according to plan, “The Game Plan” could be the film that energizes The Rock’s acting career. He’s been seen in half a dozen movies, but this time the 34-year-old has the lead with co-star Kyra Sedgwick, who has earned praise as the star of “The Closer” television series.
The movie is being billed as a “family football comedy” about star quarterback Joe Kingman (The Rock) who is more than content with his bachelor ways when he discovers that he has a daughter. Ms. Sedgwick (who did not have to be on hand for yesterday’s filming) plays his ruthless sports agent who doesn’t care about the daughter. The film, directed by Andy Fickman, was written by Nichole Millard and Kathryn Price.
Although the movie has plenty of domestic scenes, football is obviously important as well. David Linck, unit publicist for “The Game Plan” and a veteran of movie sets, said that the teams on the field yesterday had been practicing for months. Some of the actors are current or former Arena League players, and there was a sprinkling of former NFL names too, including Jamal Duff, a former defensive end for the New York Giants.
Auditions for extras were held in Boston and Norwood in September. Mr. Linck said most of the extras at Fitton Field were from the Worcester area.
“The Game Plan” will be filmed in the New England area from now until mid-December, he said. There may be a second unit filming at Holy Cross on Saturday, and there are also plans to film in Auburn. The movie will likely be released next year.
The Rock’s Kingman plays for the Boston Rebels. Yesterday, Fitton Field, though not mile-high, was the stadium of a team from Denver (for various licensing and legal reasons, the teams could not be actual NFL franchises, Mr. Linck said).
Most of the extras had Denver’s colors, green and gold.
The Boston at Denver game is an important one. The winner goes to the national final, The Rock explained.
The Rock wasn’t being a wimp by not acting in the acrobatic touchdown scenes yesterday. In June, he was taking part in a football practice when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. The injury delayed production for “The Game Plan,” but true to his name, The Rock came back much faster than expected. Yet to be on the safe side, a body double for The Rock was cast in certain scrimmage situations.
Yesterday, cameras had been set up at one end of the field while extras and dummies filled the seats behind the opposite end zone. The dummies, from a distance, looked like football fans - no insult intended. They were positioned in the higher seats. To the front were the green-and-gold-clad extras.
“Here we go guys, we’re rolling,” said a voice into a megaphone. The touchdown sequence was going to be shot again. And again. And again.
At this stage in the proceedings, there were not going to be many breaks for actors or extras. The extras, on a non-union rate of $75 for a 10-hour day plus overtime, were going to earn their money. But as Angela Peri of Boston Casting had pointed out in her audition announcement, “Many a big star started as an extra!”
The film’s star was graciously handling interviews. A TV crew from “Access Hollywood” was next.
The voice in the megaphone exhorted the extras.
“De-fense, “De-fense,” the Denver fans shouted.
But Boston scored.
The Rock’s double did another hip wiggle.
“Cut. It’s a cut,” said the voice.
On The Set
Media interview
WORCESTER- It was football as usual at Fitton Field yesterday. But then again, it wasn’t.
Actors, crew and extras (as well as about 2,000 inflatable dummies) had taken over the stadium for the day to film “The Game Plan,” a Walt Disney Pictures production starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The crew began arriving at the College of the Holy Cross at 5 a.m. It had been a rainy night, and then a drizzly morning. But by 2 p.m. the sky had lightened considerably. Cameras were rolling.
“It’s going fantastic. The sky cleared up and the sunshine came out,” said The Rock.
The wrestling superstar-turned-actor watched beyond the end zone as his body double scored a touchdown. The double celebrated with a hip wiggle, then raised his arms in the air. Teammates came crowding over.
“He’s trying to emulate my Elvis dance, which he’s not doing a very good job of,” said The Rock. Relaxed, but looking very fit, The Rock was joking. “But I appreciate the effort,” he added.
The Rock also had good reviews for the effort of 150 or so extras, most of them local, who were cheering on cue during the long day of filming. “It’s always fun to get that energy from the crowd.”
If things go according to plan, “The Game Plan” could be the film that energizes The Rock’s acting career. He’s been seen in half a dozen movies, but this time the 34-year-old has the lead with co-star Kyra Sedgwick, who has earned praise as the star of “The Closer” television series.
The movie is being billed as a “family football comedy” about star quarterback Joe Kingman (The Rock) who is more than content with his bachelor ways when he discovers that he has a daughter. Ms. Sedgwick (who did not have to be on hand for yesterday’s filming) plays his ruthless sports agent who doesn’t care about the daughter. The film, directed by Andy Fickman, was written by Nichole Millard and Kathryn Price.
Although the movie has plenty of domestic scenes, football is obviously important as well. David Linck, unit publicist for “The Game Plan” and a veteran of movie sets, said that the teams on the field yesterday had been practicing for months. Some of the actors are current or former Arena League players, and there was a sprinkling of former NFL names too, including Jamal Duff, a former defensive end for the New York Giants.
Auditions for extras were held in Boston and Norwood in September. Mr. Linck said most of the extras at Fitton Field were from the Worcester area.
“The Game Plan” will be filmed in the New England area from now until mid-December, he said. There may be a second unit filming at Holy Cross on Saturday, and there are also plans to film in Auburn. The movie will likely be released next year.
The Rock’s Kingman plays for the Boston Rebels. Yesterday, Fitton Field, though not mile-high, was the stadium of a team from Denver (for various licensing and legal reasons, the teams could not be actual NFL franchises, Mr. Linck said).
Most of the extras had Denver’s colors, green and gold.
The Boston at Denver game is an important one. The winner goes to the national final, The Rock explained.
The Rock wasn’t being a wimp by not acting in the acrobatic touchdown scenes yesterday. In June, he was taking part in a football practice when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. The injury delayed production for “The Game Plan,” but true to his name, The Rock came back much faster than expected. Yet to be on the safe side, a body double for The Rock was cast in certain scrimmage situations.
Yesterday, cameras had been set up at one end of the field while extras and dummies filled the seats behind the opposite end zone. The dummies, from a distance, looked like football fans - no insult intended. They were positioned in the higher seats. To the front were the green-and-gold-clad extras.
“Here we go guys, we’re rolling,” said a voice into a megaphone. The touchdown sequence was going to be shot again. And again. And again.
At this stage in the proceedings, there were not going to be many breaks for actors or extras. The extras, on a non-union rate of $75 for a 10-hour day plus overtime, were going to earn their money. But as Angela Peri of Boston Casting had pointed out in her audition announcement, “Many a big star started as an extra!”
The film’s star was graciously handling interviews. A TV crew from “Access Hollywood” was next.
The voice in the megaphone exhorted the extras.
“De-fense, “De-fense,” the Denver fans shouted.
But Boston scored.
The Rock’s double did another hip wiggle.
“Cut. It’s a cut,” said the voice.
On The Set
Media interview