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The Springfield Fire Department got a different kind of call on April 16. They received a casting call to be part of “25 Hill,” a movie that is being made in the area by actor and director Corbin Bernsen.
The story is about an 11-year old boy, played by actor, Nathan Gamble (Marley & Me, Dark Knight) whose dreams of winning the Soap Box Derby are crushed when his father, played by actor Tim Ormundson (Psych and Judging Amy) is killed while fighting in Afghanistan. A onetime-derby champ, played by Bernsen, helps him to rebuild his dreams. A deep friendship is formed as the pair heals their wounds in a backyard garage. However, their hopes are threatened when the demise of the derby seems likely.
Fire Chief Vic Wincik said he was shocked when Bernsen came into the town hall and asked to see the facility.
Bernsen said his son, Oliver, had visited the department before and had met with Fire Captain Steve Simich.
The father-son team liked the natural lighting of the building.
Bernsen asked Wincik if the department could accommodate the crew for a day of shooting the movie.
Wincik said they would be happy to do so and several of the areas of the station and the trucks were used for filming various scenes of ‘25 Hill.’
The Springfield Township logos will not show on the trucks as the movie takes place in Taft, California. Movie-goers will see Springfield Firefighters making their debut on the big screen dressed in Taft shirts.
The screenplay was written by Bernsen and the idea began after the actor was moved by reading an article in USA Today about the financial woes of the derby. In 2009, for the first time, the derby was unable to get a corporate sponsor. FirstMerit Bank called in a loan of about $580,000.
This hit the popular family event hard.
Bernsen wrote “25 Hill” and called the derby headquarters to talk about making the movie.
Community leaders came to an agreement with Bernsen’s company, Team Cherokee Productions. The derby will receive 10 percent of the money raised for the film and a portion of the future revenue.
Bernsen said he wanted to help the derby not because he has any connection to it but because there are certain traditions and values that should not be abandoned.
“We should spend a little time and refurbish things, reinvent our downtowns, reinvent sports like the Soap Box Derby and reinvent traditions,” he said.
The Springfield Fire Department got a different kind of call on April 16. They received a casting call to be part of “25 Hill,” a movie that is being made in the area by actor and director Corbin Bernsen.
The story is about an 11-year old boy, played by actor, Nathan Gamble (Marley & Me, Dark Knight) whose dreams of winning the Soap Box Derby are crushed when his father, played by actor Tim Ormundson (Psych and Judging Amy) is killed while fighting in Afghanistan. A onetime-derby champ, played by Bernsen, helps him to rebuild his dreams. A deep friendship is formed as the pair heals their wounds in a backyard garage. However, their hopes are threatened when the demise of the derby seems likely.
Fire Chief Vic Wincik said he was shocked when Bernsen came into the town hall and asked to see the facility.
Bernsen said his son, Oliver, had visited the department before and had met with Fire Captain Steve Simich.
The father-son team liked the natural lighting of the building.
Bernsen asked Wincik if the department could accommodate the crew for a day of shooting the movie.
Wincik said they would be happy to do so and several of the areas of the station and the trucks were used for filming various scenes of ‘25 Hill.’
The Springfield Township logos will not show on the trucks as the movie takes place in Taft, California. Movie-goers will see Springfield Firefighters making their debut on the big screen dressed in Taft shirts.
The screenplay was written by Bernsen and the idea began after the actor was moved by reading an article in USA Today about the financial woes of the derby. In 2009, for the first time, the derby was unable to get a corporate sponsor. FirstMerit Bank called in a loan of about $580,000.
This hit the popular family event hard.
Bernsen wrote “25 Hill” and called the derby headquarters to talk about making the movie.
Community leaders came to an agreement with Bernsen’s company, Team Cherokee Productions. The derby will receive 10 percent of the money raised for the film and a portion of the future revenue.
Bernsen said he wanted to help the derby not because he has any connection to it but because there are certain traditions and values that should not be abandoned.
“We should spend a little time and refurbish things, reinvent our downtowns, reinvent sports like the Soap Box Derby and reinvent traditions,” he said.
Bernsen said it wasn’t tough to write the screenplay, using current- day problems.
“The story is about what is happening today,” he said.
Bernsen, the father of four sons, said his connection to the derby is his youth and a connection to the importance of a time when things were done in a simpler way.
“There is nothing wrong with computers,” he said. “I check my e-mails all day long but we have to make sure we mix it with some of our traditions and things that are viable like the derby.”
Bernsen said the purpose of the movie is to bring back 15 minutes of fame to the derby.
“I want to put it out there,” he said.
The firefighters enjoyed the day of filming.
Simich said Bernsen is nice and is easy to work with.
“It is exciting and it is neat to see it all happen,” he said, adding his role in the movie is to walk between the trucks and then turn left.
“You would think it would be simple,” he laughed, after 10 takes of filming.
Wincik said it is hard to imagine that it takes them all day to film a couple of scenes. He was told that during the filming from about 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. they probably had 90 seconds of usable film.
Wincik said the fire department was there to support Bernsen and his staff.
“He (Bernsen) has made a point that anyone that is here to help has had some cameo appearance,” Wincik said, adding he is excited and fascinated that someone like Bernsen would take on a project to do as much as he could do and expend the energy and the financial to help the derby.
“Our role is to support that and it is our contribution,” said Wincik.
Firefighter Dane Zickefoose said, “As far as ‘25 Hill,’ it was very exciting and something very worthwhile. Everyone was very friendly and easy to work with and willing to work with us.”
The story does not end here. Watch The Suburbanite next week for more “action” in the area.
