Post by Okwes on Aug 3, 2006 11:57:32 GMT -5
'Route 66' set to begin filming in Oklahoma
The romantic comedy was written by OU's Director of Film and Video
Studies
www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/07/29/44cabe1c7d374
by Allison Meier
July 29, 2006
A romantic comedy centering on the chance encounter between a Greek and
a Native American will begin filming this fall in Oklahoma.
The film, called "Route 66," was written by Andrew Horton, the director
of the Film and Video Studies program at OU.
"I've really enjoyed living in Oklahoma, and I've been here eight
years," Horton said. "But I've been busy setting up the film program,
and I haven't made a feature film in over 10 years. So I thought it was
time to get back into serious screenwriting."
The film is about Panos, a Greek soap opera star fulfilling his dying
father's dream to journey to America and ride down Route 66 on a
motorcycle. During his road trip, he meets Shayla, a Sac and Fox Indian
whose dream is to tell Native American legends to the world. The Greek
actor Renos Haralambidis will play Panos, and an unannounced Native
American actress will play Shayla.
Horton said he likes to write comedies because they are a great context
for showing relationships between different types of people.
"I particularly like comedy, and I particularly like what happens when
two cultures come together," Horton said. "I feel that romantic comedy
is one way to show how people get along. So I sat down and thought, 'Let
me make a film about what happens when a Greek comes to Oklahoma and
falls in love with a beautiful Indian girl.'"
Michael Huens, the producer of "Route 66," said that although the film
focuses on two cultures, it is about the relationship of the two
individuals more than the ethnic differences.
"I think that when people fall in love, they can become attracted to
anyone, so it's good to be open to all types of people," Huens said.
"We'd like people to see 'Route 66' as a romantic comedy that just
happens to star people of different backgrounds, rather than seeing just
the ethnic races of the characters."
Huens, who has produced several television shows, films and commercials,
said director Chris Eyre introduced him to the "Route 66" script. Eyre
also directed "Smoke Signals" and "Edge of America."
"Chris and I had worked together on two other films and were looking for
the opportunity to work together again on something," Huens said. "I
flew down and met [Horton] after reading the script and decided I could
help. We all agreed to work together to make 'Route 66' a reality."
The film takes place along historic Route 66 and many landmarks on its
Oklahoma stretch will be featured. Although the rural setting and small
towns are far removed from the white marble of Greece, the film shows
how similar two culturally different people can be.
"I think that no matter how different you are, you can get along and you
can fall in love and you can go down Route 66 and learn how to dance at
the pow-wow," Horton said.
Huens said the different forms love takes are the focus of the film.
"The film celebrates, above all, love and the many forms it comes in,"
Huens said. "Whether that be the love of exploration, with a Greek actor
exploring the U.S. and especially Route 66, or the love of sharing, with
an Indian puppeteer sharing her art with others through performance, or
the love of your life, with a Greek guy and Indian girl, just two folk
on this very wet planet."
Horton said 80 percent of the film will be made and filmed in Oklahoma.
Many OU students will have the unique opportunity to work on the film
and help with production. Since it will be filmed during school time,
students will be able to get internships or just help out when they have
time. The rest of the film will be made in Greece and Los Angeles.
"We plan to shoot in September in Oklahoma and one week in Greece in
October," Horton said.
"We hope to have the film ready for theaters and for festivals next
year, particularly for the Sundance Film Festival."
Jill Simpson, the director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, said
"Route 66" will have a 21-day shoot, and filming is expected to start
around September 4. Her office provides resources, location scouting,
and helps films in Oklahoma with clearances and permitting.
"I know they're going to try to hire some Oklahomans and do some local
casting," Simpson said.
Horton said he thinks the film will present a view of Native Americans
that is more accurate than what popular culture and cinema traditionally
offer. Casinos and old western films are usually what come to mind when
people think of Native Americans.
"I think there's a rich tradition, and I wanted to celebrate that,"
Horton said.
In the following weeks, Eyre and the production team will arrive in
Oklahoma for location hunting.
"We are particularly interested in the town of Chandler, but there are
other locations, too," Horton said.
The film is part of the Oklahoma Centennial Project, which chose to
promote and support the film as part of its celebration in 2007.
"The Centennial Committee has approved it as something that really
reflects Oklahoma well and it will do every to promote it," Horton said.
"What we would like to do is have an Oklahoma premiere for the film. Our
idea is to invite all of the Okies back for the centennial, including
Brad Pitt, Ron Howard, Blake Edwards, James Garner, and the list goes
on."
Cara Cowan Watts
Cherokee Nation Tribal Council
District 7 - Will Rogers
P.O. Box 2922
Claremore, OK 74018
F: 918 266-3518
C: 918 752-4342
Email: <mailto:cara@caracowan.com> cara@caracowan.com
Url: www.caracowan.com <http://www.caracowan.com/>
American Indian Science and Engineering Society: www.aises.org
<http://www.aises.org/>
The romantic comedy was written by OU's Director of Film and Video
Studies
www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/07/29/44cabe1c7d374
by Allison Meier
July 29, 2006
A romantic comedy centering on the chance encounter between a Greek and
a Native American will begin filming this fall in Oklahoma.
The film, called "Route 66," was written by Andrew Horton, the director
of the Film and Video Studies program at OU.
"I've really enjoyed living in Oklahoma, and I've been here eight
years," Horton said. "But I've been busy setting up the film program,
and I haven't made a feature film in over 10 years. So I thought it was
time to get back into serious screenwriting."
The film is about Panos, a Greek soap opera star fulfilling his dying
father's dream to journey to America and ride down Route 66 on a
motorcycle. During his road trip, he meets Shayla, a Sac and Fox Indian
whose dream is to tell Native American legends to the world. The Greek
actor Renos Haralambidis will play Panos, and an unannounced Native
American actress will play Shayla.
Horton said he likes to write comedies because they are a great context
for showing relationships between different types of people.
"I particularly like comedy, and I particularly like what happens when
two cultures come together," Horton said. "I feel that romantic comedy
is one way to show how people get along. So I sat down and thought, 'Let
me make a film about what happens when a Greek comes to Oklahoma and
falls in love with a beautiful Indian girl.'"
Michael Huens, the producer of "Route 66," said that although the film
focuses on two cultures, it is about the relationship of the two
individuals more than the ethnic differences.
"I think that when people fall in love, they can become attracted to
anyone, so it's good to be open to all types of people," Huens said.
"We'd like people to see 'Route 66' as a romantic comedy that just
happens to star people of different backgrounds, rather than seeing just
the ethnic races of the characters."
Huens, who has produced several television shows, films and commercials,
said director Chris Eyre introduced him to the "Route 66" script. Eyre
also directed "Smoke Signals" and "Edge of America."
"Chris and I had worked together on two other films and were looking for
the opportunity to work together again on something," Huens said. "I
flew down and met [Horton] after reading the script and decided I could
help. We all agreed to work together to make 'Route 66' a reality."
The film takes place along historic Route 66 and many landmarks on its
Oklahoma stretch will be featured. Although the rural setting and small
towns are far removed from the white marble of Greece, the film shows
how similar two culturally different people can be.
"I think that no matter how different you are, you can get along and you
can fall in love and you can go down Route 66 and learn how to dance at
the pow-wow," Horton said.
Huens said the different forms love takes are the focus of the film.
"The film celebrates, above all, love and the many forms it comes in,"
Huens said. "Whether that be the love of exploration, with a Greek actor
exploring the U.S. and especially Route 66, or the love of sharing, with
an Indian puppeteer sharing her art with others through performance, or
the love of your life, with a Greek guy and Indian girl, just two folk
on this very wet planet."
Horton said 80 percent of the film will be made and filmed in Oklahoma.
Many OU students will have the unique opportunity to work on the film
and help with production. Since it will be filmed during school time,
students will be able to get internships or just help out when they have
time. The rest of the film will be made in Greece and Los Angeles.
"We plan to shoot in September in Oklahoma and one week in Greece in
October," Horton said.
"We hope to have the film ready for theaters and for festivals next
year, particularly for the Sundance Film Festival."
Jill Simpson, the director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, said
"Route 66" will have a 21-day shoot, and filming is expected to start
around September 4. Her office provides resources, location scouting,
and helps films in Oklahoma with clearances and permitting.
"I know they're going to try to hire some Oklahomans and do some local
casting," Simpson said.
Horton said he thinks the film will present a view of Native Americans
that is more accurate than what popular culture and cinema traditionally
offer. Casinos and old western films are usually what come to mind when
people think of Native Americans.
"I think there's a rich tradition, and I wanted to celebrate that,"
Horton said.
In the following weeks, Eyre and the production team will arrive in
Oklahoma for location hunting.
"We are particularly interested in the town of Chandler, but there are
other locations, too," Horton said.
The film is part of the Oklahoma Centennial Project, which chose to
promote and support the film as part of its celebration in 2007.
"The Centennial Committee has approved it as something that really
reflects Oklahoma well and it will do every to promote it," Horton said.
"What we would like to do is have an Oklahoma premiere for the film. Our
idea is to invite all of the Okies back for the centennial, including
Brad Pitt, Ron Howard, Blake Edwards, James Garner, and the list goes
on."
Cara Cowan Watts
Cherokee Nation Tribal Council
District 7 - Will Rogers
P.O. Box 2922
Claremore, OK 74018
F: 918 266-3518
C: 918 752-4342
Email: <mailto:cara@caracowan.com> cara@caracowan.com
Url: www.caracowan.com <http://www.caracowan.com/>
American Indian Science and Engineering Society: www.aises.org
<http://www.aises.org/>