THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406080129
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 01B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940610 LENGTH: Long
Dorin had made the mistake of catching the eye of John Gill, a man Lange yearned for. But gallant Gill saved his lady love at the last minute and they lived happily ever after.
{REST} In the movies, that is.
In real life, the three Westminster-Canterbury residents are the best of friends. They were acting in a silent film called ``Dance Hall Daze,'' a 23-minute movie directed by Regent University graduate Parker Cross and student Rick McCarthy and produced by student Jeff Brock.
The black-and-white film chronicles a story of how Grandpa met Grandma, as told by Grandpa to his grandson. Lange plays Plug, the other woman who tries to steal Grandpa (Gill) from Dorin (Grandma). Three other residents play extras in the movie: Margaret Wilkins, John Boyce and Mildred Boyce.
All six said that acting in the movie was the most fun they have had in a long time.
``The best part was working with young people,'' said Gill, 82. ``It was a brand new experience for me on how these people have to set up for a movie. We had to do a lot of takes on every scene - it was hard work.''
Although the actors didn't have their own trailer and makeup people, they did put in just as many hours as any movie star. And what was really nice, according to Cross, is that he didn't have to deal with any arrogance or prima donna attitudes that are commonplace in Hollywood.
The lead actors worked four consecutive days, 10 hours each day, during May's heat wave and never complained. They were real professionals, said Cross, and they were quick studies.
``It was one of the best experiences I've had out here,'' said Cross, 29, who just completed a master's degree in the school of radio, television and film. ``I was just amazed with their talent and the way they could still maintain their humor after being in the heat all day.''
``Dance Hall Daze'' starts out with Grandpa walking with his grandson, who asks him how he and Grandma met. When Grandpa reminisces, the film changes to black and white complete with a player piano soundtrack and the dialogue printed in subtitles in between scenes. The actors change as well. Their eyes rimmed with heavy black eyeliner, their lips painted a dark red (Gill, too), they all look like Dracula wannabes.
``I think this silent movie shows how far movies have progressed,'' said Margaret Wilkins, 80, an extra. ``That's what we saw when we went to the movies.''
The movie shows Grandpa going to a dance (at the old Southland Hotel, now the Ramada Inn on Granby Street in Norfolk) and spotting Grandma. Smitten, he makes eyes at her and she returns the gaze. Plug spots Grandpa at the same time, however, and decides that he's the man for her. The two women duke it out at the dance, with Grandma picking up Plug (a dummy, actually) and throwing her across the room. Victorious, she leaves with Grandpa.
But that is not the last of Plug. (Cross chose that unusual name after he saw an aggressive baboon with that name in a National Geographic special). Plug tries everything in her power to break up the loving couple and finally resorts to abduction. She and her cronies kidnap Grandma, throw her in the bed of a truck and drive her to the railroad tracks.
Bound and gagged, Grandma lies helpless on the tracks, a la ``Perils of Pauline,'' until Grandpa finally rescues her. On the way, he meets up with Charlie Chaplin, a keystone cop and Rudolph Valentino. Regent University president Terry Lindvall played all three cameos.
The film's premiere was at the Naro Theater in Norfolk, when it hosted Regent University's film festival for two weeks in May. Cross said that it was especially gratifying for him to sit in the audience and listen to everyone's reaction to the movie.
A bonus for the viewers was recognizing local landmarks, such as Fort Story and the Botanical Gardens.
`There was a huge audience every night,'' said Cross. ``When Plug was driving the car to get Grandma they started booing and hissing. They were clapping in time to the music. The audience participation - and appreciation - was just phenomenal.''
Cross expects nothing less from the other Westminster-Canterbury residents when they show the movie there this month. He said the idea to feature senior citizens came to him after he interviewed nursing home residents about their recollection of silent movies. When he and Rick McCarthy saw the video they realized they were privy to a ``whole source of untapped resources.''
They set up auditions at Westminster-Canterbury and a Norfolk retirement center and chose the actors based on their ``spirited personalities and enthusiasm.''
``We just wanted to let the elderly do something unusual and out of the ordinary, out of the realm of their normal activities,'' said Cross. ``I've talked with Terry Lindval about doing more movies involving older people. We didn't think it would turn out as well as it did. They really enjoyed themselves.''
by CNB