feature

by Robert Axelrod

in front of the camera

Ann Arbor teen experiences his first movie role in Trust.

H

aving so many films shooting in Michigan
because of the tax incentives has been an
incredible experience for me as an actor.
This brings Hollywood to Michigan, and the op-
portunity to be called for so many auditions now is
unreal to me.
I recently got a call about a feature film called
Trust, set to premiere in about a year. After an audi-
tion with a casting director, and then a callback in
front of the film's director David Schwimmer (from
TV's. Friends), I was offered my first movie role! I
would play "the salesman."
My character has one line — "Can I help you with
anything today, sir?" — spoken to actor Clive Owen
at the gun store where my character works.
The film, boasting a star-studded cast with actors
Clive Owen, Catherine Keener and Viola Davis,
follows the story of a family in turmoil after their
14-year-old daughter gets involved with an online
sexual predator.
The scene I was in takes place in a gun store and
is a fantasy vision Owen dreams about amidst the
chaos and rage he faces in his family's situation.
When I first arrived on the set, I truly felt like a
tourist in the reality of the film's vision, but by the
end of filming, I felt like I was a part of that reality,
too. I was shown around the gun store, The Firing
Line in Westland, Michigan, and then was set up for
the shot behind the counter.
They taped my mark to ensure continuity

amongst the various takes; then the
crew all gathered to figure out their
plan of action. Schwimmer talked with
them briefly about how he wanted the
shot set up. As soon as they finished, the
gun store was taken completely over by
this Hollywood reality.
Large lights were set up, a micro-
phone boom was ready to be operated,
merchandise was rearranged to look
better on film, cameras were set up,
spike marks were taped — and it was all
happening at once.
Schwimmer introduced me to Owen,
my scene partner, and talked us through
his vision of what he wanted the scene
to look like as well as the importance of
this scene in the context of the rest of the
film. We ran a few rehearsals, and once
the crew was ready, we began to shoot.
The first camera angle they shot was a
wide shot only on Owen. Then they did a
close-up on Owen's face. Following that, the whole
crew turned all of the equipment around — no easy
feat — and set up the camera angles facing me. We
probably shot each of the four angles three times
or more, so, overall we took about 15 to 18 takes of
that short exchange.
After the final take, and after eight hours of wait-
ing and four hours of filming, not only was the scene

Robert Axelrod, 18, of Ann Arbor had a part In a

movie directed by David Schwimmer.

Clive Owen starred In "Trust"

complete, the film also was complete!
It was 4 a.m. on Dec. 17. Everyone was
exhausted, we were in a gun shop in the
middle of the night — and yet there was
such a sense of celebration and elation
in the air. It was an incredibly lucky and
amazing experience to be on the set for
the last day of shooting.
This experience proved to be something out of
this world, even for the brief time I was part of it.
Being part of a film with such a compelling story
and moving message was truly an honor. t.

Robert Axelrod, 18, Is a senior at Huron High School In Ann

Arbor.

commentary

by Gabriella Ring

high on hope

I

looking back at Barack Obama's accomplishments during his first year in office.

t's official. President 16, 2009, 677,081 transactions were paid or ap-
Barack Obama's term proved for a total of $2.85 billion.
• Sonia Sotomayor: Obama Supreme Court
has reached its one-
year anniversary.. At the Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor became the first
end of any presidential Latina ever to serve on the highest court in the
milestone, an obvious ques- land after receiving the Senate's approval. She was
tion lingers: What has the sworn in Aug. 6, 2009.
• Stem Cells: Obama reversed President Bush's
world's most powerful man
policy on stem cell research March 9, 2009 by al-
accomplished?
• Stimulus Bill: The lowing experimentation with the controversial or-
$819 billion stimulus package was passed last Jan. ganisms to reopen.
• Health Care Bill: As the health care debate
28 with a strong partisan vote. Although it's not
reflective of the bipartisanship he had hoped for, continues, the Senate passed an overhaul bill 69-30
it was the first major piece of legislation for the across party lines on Dec. 25. Considered Obama's
milestone issue, he continuously stresses the impor-
Obama administration.
• Cash for Clunkers: Many drivers of gas guz- tance of a reformed health care system.
• Economic Recovery: The Dow Jones reached
zlers revved their engines for the last time by trad-
ing in clunkers for a tax credit to purchase a new 10,000 points for the first time all year back in No-
energy-efficient vehicle. The program was so suc- vember, a silver lining in what seemed to be the re-
cessful, Obama extended the deadline. As of Oct. cession-soon-to-be-depression of 2009. Consumer

confidence rose as the holidays approached with
the slew of Black Friday sales. People collecting un-
employment benefits were going down, new home-
buyer rates were going up and the economy, in our
eyes, finally began its long journey to recovery.
• Israel: Obama's efforts to get the peace process
on track has drawn a lot of heat, and his clumsi-
ness in publicly demanding a settlement freeze and
also visiting Cairo to woo the Arab world while not
addressing the Israeli people hasn't helped him or
the cause of peace. But the administration remains
tight with Israel: aid flows, military cooperation in-
creases, llamas and Hezbollah remain isolated and
the countries work together trying
to stop Iran.

( )

Gabriella Ring, 16, Is a Junior at
Berkley High School.

teen2teen January 21 • 2010 TT3