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With Oz filming in his home state,
Michigan-born director Sam Raimi had
his family hobnobbing with the stars —
and showing up on screen, too!

Suzanne Chessler I Contributing Writer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

mentary hairdo.
"From special effects to costume design,
The smooth-talking magician, believing
every part of this movie is more amazing
he is going to have an easy ride, must put
than the next. I have no doubt in my mind
his skills to work separating good from evil
that this movie will be everything I am
inhabitants as problems unfold for resolu-
expecting and more. My uncle will not let
tion.
us down!"
The Diggs character is assisted by a
Rose, who went to high school at the
winged monkey named Finley, whose lines
Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan
are voiced by Zach Braff; the former Scrubs Detroit and whose family is affiliated with
star also plays Frank, Diggs'
Temple Israel, counts her-
circus assistant in Kansas.
self among many relatives
Above: Oz the Great
"I have been blessed to
cast by or observing Sam
and Powerful stars, left
have the opportunity to
Raimi in action.
to right: Mila Kunis as
go on movie and TV sets
Ted Raimi, the director's
the witch Theodora,
my entire life says Rose, a
youngest brother, plays a
James Franco as
freshman at Michigan State
villager not accepting the
magician Oscar Diggs
University working toward
magician's abilities.
(the Wizard), Michelle
a career in supply chain
He brings considerable
Williams as the witch
management.
acting experience to his
Glinda and Rachel Weisz
"This movie is by far the
role. Film credits include
as the witch Evanora.
biggest, most surreal film I
Apollo 11 and Clear and
Zach Braff voices the
have ever seen in produc-
Present Danger. Among the
winged monkey Finley.
tion, and I have had con-
observers were Sam Raimi's
versations with Zach Braff
parents, Celia and Leonard
about it"
Raimi of Franklin, who allowed Sam and
Allowed to bring friends on set, Rose
his two brothers to experiment with early
and Sander could share their excitement
home movie tech to launch dramatic inter-
and have others to share in the recollec-
ests.
tions.
Sam's sister, Andrea Raimi Rubin, also
"It was a magical experience in every
on set, can recall the director as a young
way, and I am so happy I was able to expe-
magician earning money at his craft. When
rience watching a movie being made from
Sam was not old enough to get behind a
beginning to finish right in front of my
wheel, she often was the designated driver,
eyes; explains Rose, whose role required
taking him to children's birthday parties so
an imaginative costume with a comple-
he could wow the guests.

Cousins Emma Raimi, 13, of Los Angeles
(she is the daughter of Sam Raimi and
wife Gillian) and Rose Rubin, 18, of
Farmington Hills in costume as extras
(pre-hair and makeup) for Oz the Great

and Powerful

In the midst of Oz activities, Andrea
didn't recognize her son, Sander, when he
first approached in full costume.
"I probably went to watch the filmmak-
ing about 20 times:' says Andrea, an extra
in a Raimi-directed Spider-Man film shot
in New York, where three streets were
closed during production.
"Oz the Great and Powerful is going to
be a 3-D movie so I learned a lot about the
different ways that technology has to be
handled.
"I was there so many times that the
people got to know me. The cinematogra-
pher would see me and bring extra chairs
so we all could sit behind Sam as he was
directing:"
Andrea, who recalls Sam as a student
at Birmingham Groves High School, will
not forget the elements of Oz she could not
have imagined — gigantic, fantastical sets
filled with dozens of people working on
every aspect of filmmaking.
After working hours, there was time to

Siblings Rose and Sander Rubin are
Director Sam Raimi's niece and nephew,
and both were cast as extras in Oz the
Great and Powerful (Rose as a townsper-
son in the Land of Oz and Sander as a
Kansas farmer).

Andrea Raimi Rubin, sister of Sam
Raimi, poses with actors James Franco
and Zach Braff

spend with Sam and his family, who rented
a Bloomfield Hills home as Oz took up resi-
dence in Michigan.
With a mom's eye, Andrea had fun
observing James Franco with her daughter

Extras! Extras! on page 49