Courtesy of Steve Pearson
Stuart O’Neil, Steve Pearson, Jon Vanderford, and Dale Vanderford as farmhands in the Hall
mark Hall of Fame production of H0 Pioneers!”
Stardom hails hard work,
not all fortune and glory
Everybody wants to be a star —
everybody, including me.
Now there are not many chances
to make your grab for stardom in
Lincoln, Nebraska; so when I heard
last spring that a movie would be
filmed in eastern Nebraska, I was
determined to be a part of it.
Several weeks ago, I got my big
break. I was cast as a farmhand in the
movie, a Hallmark Hall of Fame
production of “O Pioneers!” that will
be aired on CBS next February.
The film, starring Jessica Lange,
is based on a Willa Cathcr novel and
was filmed entirely in Nebraska.
The first step in my campaign for
fame was to get the thing every aspir
ing actor needs, besides talent — 8x10
black-and-white glossies.
Next, I developed a resume of my
theatrical experience (community
theater, high school musicals) and
look that, along with a photo to Jackie
Beavers, Lincoln’s only talent agent.
Then, I wailed... and wailed.
Months later, the call finally came.
Three of my closest friends and I
were casi as larmnanas ana were 10
report to costuming the following day.
(Technically, we were extras, but we
prefer to be thought of as background
performers.) The thought of it made
me giddy with excitement— three of
my friends and I in the same scene in
a television movie.
Millions will watch the scene and
see four farmhands, but when we and
our friends watch the scene, we’ll see
the Fab Four—members of the Com
husker Marching Band, aspiring Bc
Bop quartet, and best friends.
♦ One of the first things I learned is
that the film business is an unpredict
able one. We were originally told lo
report for filming the Monday after
we went to costuming, but a schedule
change delayed our shoot until
Wednesday. We were called late
Tuesday night and instructed lo meet
at the costuming warehouse at 6:00
a m. From there, we were to be trans
ported to the filming location.
Upon our arrival, we learned that
wc would be filming with the second
unit (i.c„ the one that, at least in this
case, was not filming any of the major
characters.) Alas, we did not gel to
meet Jessica Lange.
We had reported to costuming the
previous Friday, wandering through
an immense unmarked warehouse
filled with costumes and props. I was
outfitted in pants and suspenders, while
my three friends got overalls. We
each got a pair of vintage shoes or
boots and an old-fashioned farmer’s
hat, but the highlight of our wardrobe
had to be the long johns — the kind
that cover the whole body and have a
little button on the backside in case of
emergencies.
It u/9c nvpr OH HpanvK ihp rtav wp.
filmed. I had lo wonder why in ihc
world farmhands would wear long
johns in ihc middle of the summer.
The actors practically were having
heatstroke just standing there; it’s hard
lo imagine anyone actually working
in these ridiculous get-ups.
We filmed our scene at about 11:00
a.m., in a beautiful green field in
Saunders County, with a red bam and
golden wheal field in the background.
The director of the second unit, Andy
Stone, look great care in placing each
farmhand in a particular place in the
field in order to make a visually pleas
ing configuration. He was assisted by
his son, Chris, a sophomore at Dart
mouth, who tried to impress us with
stories about Mel Brooks and going
to parties with Julia Roberts.
Each of us was given a hoe or a
scythe to use in the field. Then, we
were blotted with ice water on the
chest, back, and armpits to simulate
sweat (as if we needed to simulate it).
The camera, which in the film will
represent Jessica Lange’s perspective,
was mounted on a truck that drove
slowly down the road. Each of the
farmhands was assigned a number.
As the camera approached, Andy
would call a number, and the corre
sponding farmhand was to stop work
ing, look-up, give a smile of recogni
tion and wave or doff his hat.
Wc went through approximately
20 rehearsal takes, followed by two
on film. The scene is about 35 sec
onds long — 35 glorious seconds of
fame.
After filming our scene, wc were
treated to lunch at Hardee’s— in full
costume. While I was chomping my
mushroom cheeseburger, an old-timer
in the restaurant observed my cos
tume and the tools in the back of the
truck outside and asked if wc were
harvesting marijuana.
“No, just making a movie.”
He didn’t look as if he believed
me.
Alter luncn, wc spent tnrec nours
lying on a gravel road while the crew
filmed a scene with a mule-drawn
plow. After covering miles of terri
tory we came back to Lincoln, re
lumed our costumes and filled out the
forms for our payment.
Andy gave a little speech about
how he hoped wc learned a little
about the movie business and real
ized that it wasn’t all glamour. He
was right; it wasn’t all glamour. It
was a lot of hard work, and wc only
got S50 for a 15-hour day ... but wc
got something better — stardom!!
I just hope it doesn’t end up on the
cutting room floor.
Pearson is a senior political science and
speech communications major and a Daily
Nebraskan reporter and columnist.
Individual lessons
with PGA professionals:
Marc Cruse, Dan Williams, John Craw
Call 464-7542 for more information. .
_ Mahoney
; . Golf Course
7900 Adams St.
-- 464-7542
/ short-sleeve stllrtsi __
■ A»hworlh
_§||i sweatshirts
II
Henry
Continued from Page 8
lormance as Sarah is engrossing.
Bening may also be a strong con
tender in the Oscar race this spring,
perhaps as a Best Actress candidate.
In supporting roles, Bill Nunn and
Allen turn in excellent performances.
Nunn, also seen in “Do the Right
Thing” and “School Daze,” plays
Henry’s therapist, Bradley. Bradley
treats Henry with respect and love,
and the combination helps him to
recover. Twelve-year-old Allen, tak
ing on her first film role, proves that
she has the talent to gamer further
film roles. She is charming and sensi
tive as Rachel.
Filmed in New York and Los
Angeles, “Regarding Henry” was
directed and produced by Academy
Award-winner Mike (“Working Girl,”
“The Graduate”) Nichols. Scott Rudin
is co-producer. The original screen
play is by Jeffrey Abrams.
“Regarding Henry” is playing at
the Lincoln Theatre, 12th and P streets.
DIPPING IS FOR DIPS. LAMERICAN
DON'T USE SNUFF OR CHEWING TOBACCO. fScef?'
1
Otherl | People’s
ney by Jerry Sterner
On Stage July 5 thru 20
Johnny Carson Theater - West entrance - Lied Center
Nebraska Repertory Theatre
Nebraska's only Equity Professional Theatre
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0201
Daytime Box Office: First Floor Temple Bldg. 12th & R
One hour before curtain, the box office moves to
Carson Theater - 11th & Q (West side Lied Center)
HOTLINE: (402) 472-2073
Hours: Mon-Sat. 12 to 5 pm & 3 hours before curtain.
Tickets: Fri. Sat: $15. Sun.T.W.Th: $12
(Senior Citizens - $3 Less)
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