Skip to main content

Photos From the Set of Corbin Bernsen's '25 Hill'

From the set of '25 Hill'.
Early this month, I had the opportunity to visit the set of 25 Hill, producer/writer/
director/actor Corbin Bernsen's tribute to the All American Soap Box Derby.


The film tells the tale of 12-year-old Trey Caldwell, who loses both his Army father to the Afghanistan War and the dream his father had for Trey, to race in a soap box derby. Trey eventually meets fellow lost soul Roy Gibbs, who has lost a lot himself: a son to 9/11 and the hope he once had for a bright future. Add to that a Soap Box Derby Championship cancelled because of financial problems, and you have a lot of uphill battles for Trey and Roy to overcome. 


You could argue, though, that the story behind the story of 25 Hill is more fascinating than the fictional story Bernsen's created. Reading a story about the real Soap Box Derby's financial troubles, Bernsen was inspired to write the story, make the film - and save the Derby in the process.


Bernsen, along with fellow 25 Hill producers, including Akron-area journalist turned movie producer Mary Etheridge, raised close to $1 million for the film locally in the Akron and Northeast Ohio region. The reason? To remove any reservations L.A.-based producers might have regarding shooting the film in Akron and allowing a portion of the movie's budget and eventual revenue to be donated to the Derby.


Add to that Bernsen's dedication to cultivating independent film in Akron and Northeast Ohio (rumor has it Bernsen met with Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic about ways to increase independent filmmaking in the region), and you have a great story about how an outside artist sees the potential of our region - and is doing something about it.


But more about that in a later post. Today, I want to share with you some great photos from on location work in Green, Ohio. Green, a small suburb on the south side of Akron, doubled this day for Seattle, Wash., and the Western Regional Soap Box Championship.



Director Corbin Bernsen sets up a shot.


Real derby cars from Akron-area racers were used as props for the film. In the background, a dead-end road plays the part of Seattle's derby track.


Prop derby start boxes and the derby car of minor character Finn Cooper.




Continuity always plays a big part in the film. Here, a crew member takes notes about a recent shot to make sure it matches future shots.




The film employed two RED cameras to capture the action. Digital cine cameras built by RED offer the quality of 35mm film and the convenience of digital filmmaking.




Bernsen gives direction to local Green residents who spent the day as extras, spectators of the derby and competing derby teams.


Photos copyright Tom Tennant, Midwest Movie Maker, 2010.

Comments

Popular Posts

'Avengers Infinity War' coming to Cleveland? Movie studio built on old Geauga Lake property? Both possible say Russo Brothers

Ivan Schwarz, Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, Cleveland natives and Marvel directors. They didn’t share any Captain America: Civil War spoilers, but directors Joe and Anthony Russo told fans that Avengers: Infinity War could land in Cleveland. “It’s on the list,” said Anthony. The reveal took place Saturday during a Wizard World Comic-Con Cleveland panel titled Let’s Shut Down Some Streets: Bringing the Avengers, Captain America and the Russo Brothers to Cleveland. The Russos, who grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Case Western Reserve University, were joined by Ivan Schwarz, director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. The trio discussed how the region could grow its production slate and how it could attract more features to Northeast Ohio. The first step, said Schwarz, was getting the Ohio legislature to raise the motion picture tax incentive from $25 million a year to $75 million. That legislation will go before Ohio lawmake

Tina Fey, Jay Roach Bringing Kent State Film '67 Shots' to Ohio

Student protestors at Kent State in 1970 Tina Fey is taking a serious turn, producing 67 Shots , a film about the 1970 Kent State shootings. The movie applied for the Ohio Film Tax Incentive earlier this year and plans to film in and around KSU sometime in 2018. 67 Shots focuses on events that led up to the shooting deaths of four students by Ohio National Guardsmen. The title comes from the numbers of shots those guardsmen fired into the unarmed crowd of protestors. Fey is producing alongside Jeff Richmond, her husband and a Kent State alum. Jay Roach, best known for the Austin Powers and Meet the Fockers franchises, will helm the project. Roach is making more socially and politically aware films at this stage in his career, including Trumbo and Game Change . The film is based on the book 67 Shots: Kent State and the End of American Innocence and is adapted by award-winning playwright Stephen Belber. Fey and Richmond’s production company, Little Stranger, will join

'Walking Dead' star Emily Kinney joins 'Anhedonia' cast

Emily Kinney joins 'Anhedonia' Emily Kinney, perhaps best known for her role as Beth Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead , is joining Anhedonia , the new indie feature from Cleveland’s Eric Swinderman and Carmen DeFranco. Kinney got her start on stage, with roles in Spring Awakening and August: Osage County , before transitioning to guest roles on television and a star turn as Emily on Showtime’s The Big C . Her breakout role would come as Beth Greene, Maggie Greene’s little sister, on The Walking Dead . Kinney became a fan favorite during a series of dramatic episodes in the series’ fourth season when Kinney’s Greene bonded with fellow survivor Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus. Anhedonia co-stars Breckin Meyer and Giselle Eisenberg. "To have the opportunity to work with such an amazing actress like Emily is beyond exciting,” says Swinderman. “It's also very exciting for the city and people of northeast Ohio to have three huge TV stars coming to town to