You may have missed your opportunity for a cameo in "High School Musical," but today you have a chance to show your face in another Zac Efron flick. The 23-year-old stars alongside actor Dennis Quaid in a new untitled film, and at least one scene will be filmed this afternoon during the Prairie Meadows 200 ARCA Series race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. We've answered five burning questions you may have about today's shoot.
Q: Zac Efron is filming in Iowa? What's this movie all about?
A: The untitled drama is directed by Ramin Bahrani, who critic Roger Ebert called "the director of the decade." Zac Efron plays an Iowa teen whose plans to become a race car driver are in conflict with those of his farming father, played by "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" star Dennis Quaid. Film producer Pamela Koffler estimates the movie will be released in 2012.
Iowa Speedway president Jerry Jauron expects his Newton venue to be featured prominently in one scene.
"Efron's character catches a big break to race, and it just so happens that he races in the ARCA races at the Iowa Speedway," Jauron said.
Q: If you attend today's race, will you really be on camera?
A: Well, you might be. Film cameras are expected to capture Quaid cheering from the speedway's stands along with sweeping shots of the 30,000 capacity grandstand crowd at the Newton track. Still, fans can experience the action of being on a set.
"The one thing this film offers is the opportunity for a large group of people to be able to be in the process," Jauron said.
Jauron guarantees that everyone who shows up today will be able to purchase a ticket and advises attendees to be seated by 3:15 p.m. The race begins at 4:15 p.m.
Amanda Emerson, 25, of Des Moines, has tickets to today's race - and stars in her eyes.
"I have never been in a movie scene before," she wrote in an email.
"How awesome would that be to say you were in a movie starring Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid?"
Q: Why is this scene being filmed in Iowa?
A: The movie is actually set in Iowa, and more generally, in the "Midwestern farm region," said film producer Pamela Koffler in a phone interview from New York City.
At the moment, today's Iowa Speedway scene is the only one scheduled to be shot in the Hawkeye state. The majority of the drama is being filmed in DeKalb County, Ill.
Illinois offers a tax credit of 30 percent off all qualified in-state production expenditures. Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver suspended Iowa's film tax credit program in September 2009 after an audit revealed mismanagement.
Q: How will the Speedway factor into the shoot?
A: Most footage will be of the infield, however, shots of the grandstand crowd will factor into the filming, Jauron said. Fans who have purchased tickets at iowaspeedway.com have been entered into a drawing, and 100 winners will sit on the inside of the track, giving them an up-close view of the action from just 20 feet away.
Q: Will the race be delayed because of the movie?
A: Jauron says no. This is a one-take shot: ARCA Series announcers will belt Efron's movie name (rumored to be Dean Whipple). Efron will walk across the pre-race stage, shake the hands of several sponsors and Jauron, then proceed to Pit Road, hop in the car and get strapped in. Just before the race begins, Efron will jump out of the car, and the real driver will hop in and race.
"The goal is for Zac to look as if he's been racing his whole life," Jauron said.
Koffler hopes the scene will be as realistic as possible.
"We're there not to impact how the event unfolds. We're there to capture what it would really be like," she said.
Quelle
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen