MADISON
Bill Bindley, the co-writer and director cast me in my first movie “Freeze Frame”. He gave me the Madison script (which was then called Rooster Tail) and I read it on the plane and loved it. A great family movie based on a true story and I really took to the character of Travis. I told Bill how passionate I was to play him and ten years later I received a call from my friend Bill Bindley who told me I had the role. I was thrilled! His casting director respectfully didn’t think I was physically right for the role, but Bill knew me and I so appreciate his loyalty, kindness and faith that I could pull it off. I was instrumental in getting my writing partner Brent Briscoe cast too. I did heed the concern of the casting director and decided I would not come out of my trailer without my glasses, hat and accent. It was imperative that I convinced the cast and crew that I was Travis and not some guy who was just “Acting”. Travis was a sweet character, but a little off and being the good person that Jim Caviezel is he didn’t run away from me, but instead he sat next to me during lunch. All week long we acted next to each other and had lunch together and I never dropped my accent or look. On Friday night we had our first cast party and I felt that I could now be me. I could now drop the glasses, accent and hat and just have a good time. Jim Caviezel came over to me and introduced himself and I told him I was acting with him all week long. I told Jim I was Travis and he couldn’t believe it. e couldn’t believe itTo see his face was one of the greatest compliments I have ever received. From that point on I was in with the cast and the crew. Madison was a true family affair … we all loved each other – had a blast and the town was terrific and beautiful. Seeing some of the people we would portray were inspiring and we felt an obligation to do them and the town justice and honor this great story. Acting with Bruce Dern was fun as well. Even though we knew of each other through his daughter Laura Dern and the whole Billy Bob Thornton connection he was still intimidating as an actor. Our first meeting in the movie was completely improvised. Bruce came over to me and told me to clean all of the parts … I said “okay” and he said “No. Not okay … just do it!”… And I (really was nervous) and said “okay” and got a big laugh from the crew and we couldn’t use that take. But Bill and his brother Scott (the other co-writer) were so gracious they said keep it and do it again and it’s in the film. While making this movie, Brent and I were doing a rewrite for Universal and Bob Simonds called Fool Proof. It was a very exciting time knowing we were acting in a movie, rewriting another studio picture and were a few months away from shooting Waking Up In Reno. I love both Bindley brothers and Bill’s wife Cathy, who is one of my wife’s best friends and family to us. Carl Amari was the producer and I so lappreciate him too. Great guy! The crew was hard working and had challenges with old vintage boats, but pulled it off in a big way and the cast was fantastic and we were all very close. I love Jim Caviezel and he later did a commercial for my Community School of the Arts. Chelcie Ross did Waking Up In Reno with Brent and I a few months later and I still stay in touch with many of the cast and crew. I had an all night chat session with Mary McCormack who could drink me under the table, but was as hip as you can get. Jake Lloyd was hugely popular coming off the Star Wars movie as the young Darth Vader and he was a wonderful young man. Paul Dooley was funny and a legend. William Shockley was an animal and I love him. Everyone was great! We had bowling parties and spend a lot of time at Shipley’s bar creating and relaxing and at the end of the day we are very proud of the movie Madison.