| The Montana Standard March 02, 2008 |
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‘Call of the Wild’
By Erin Nicholes
PHILIPSBURG — Actor Devon Graye’s career has taken him far and wide, but he’s never seen a town quite like Philipsburg — not in real life anyway. “I love the town; it really is like something in a movie,” said Graye, 20, standing in the Doe Bros. Soda Fountain Thursday. The movie “Call of the Wild” — a modern spin on Jack London’s novella — brought big Hollywood names to tiny Philipsburg, including actor Christopher Lloyd. As star-struck locals marveled over movie stars, the film’s cast and crew seemed just as taken by the quaint, quiet, mining-turned-tourist town. “It’s a great place in the midst of the wilderness,” said Lloyd, who played the famously quirky Doc in “Back To the Future,” and a hysterically hapless vagrant in “Dennis the Menace.” The movie’s storyline follows 10-year-old “Ry,” played by Ariel Gade, from her hometown of Boston to visit her Montana grandpa Bill Hale, played by Lloyd. While here, she happens upon a wounded wolf dog named Buck — a descendant of the dog in London’s story. She helps Buck recuperate and join a sled dog team. “It’s a really fun movie and it will expose children to classic American literature,” said director Richard Gabai. He learned of Philipsburg from the Montana Film Commission, and the state’s film incentives, the town’s idea settings and accommodating residents sealed the deal, he said. “Here’s our set: pre-dressed and ready to go in beautiful Philipsburg,” Gabai said, gesturing to colorfully restored, old-fashioned storefronts. “It’s a great little town. We could not have done it anywhere else. We couldn’t have built a more beautiful set.” After wrapping up filming in Lincoln last week, about 40 cast and crew members arrived in Philipsburg Wednesday night, occupying every motel room in town. Filming began Thursday at the antique soda fountain, and continued at the Sweet Palace candy store. |
At first glance, Thursday seemed like a typical busy day at the soda fountain. The counter seats were taken, a waitress served samples of mint ice cream and patrons sipped milkshakes from tall glasses.
But a closer look revealed familiar faces from TV and movie screens. The waitress, “Tracy,” was Amy Teegarden, a fresh-faced 18-year-old actress who plays Julie Taylor on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” The pig-tailed girl at the counter was Ariel, who played Jennifer Connelly’s daughter in the movie “Dark Water.” And among those sampling ice cream was Graye, “Ozz” in the film, who also played teenage Dexter Morgan on the Showtime hit series “Dexter.” The actors were mostly from California, and were quick to note Montana’s temperamental weather. “It’s a little cold,” Ariel said while standing outside in light snow. Overall, she said, she has enjoyed Montana, especially “doing all the dog sledding and working with all the sled dogs” in Lincoln. Teegarden, shivering behind the counter at the soda fountain, noted Montana has cold weather but warm, friendly residents. “I’ve never had to wear three layers of clothes at once in my life,” she said. But “it’s so much fun up here.” A few other young crew members admitted missing some of the creature comforts offered in big cities. “We’re used to Starbucks,” said Megan Comiskey, key set costumer. But actor Kameron Knox, 19, who plays Jack in the film, seemed entirely at ease in Philipsburg’s mountain setting; he’s from Colorado.
The movie filmed through Friday in Philipsburg. After a few more days of work in Lincoln, cast and crew will leave Montana. The movie, filmed in 3-D, will include original text from London’s story. It will be released in theaters at the end of 2008. |
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