NEWCANAANADVERTISER,THURSDAY,AUGUSTII, 2005 ;:;:Y I~ VV 1..1RELiGION,F::a::CHOOLS' BUSINESS,ENTER:OONMENT

Fresh filmmakers bringH.ollywood to Connecticut

By Laura KenyouOn screen it's a story about a camp

full of rowdy kids, a housekeeperstraight out of their nightmares, ademoted movie director and a bull-dog named Archie. Off screen, it'sthe story of a starry-eyed screenwrit-er and a rising director who decid-ed if Hollywood wouldn't come tothem, they would bring Hollywoodto Connecticut.

Nutmeg Pictures, anew compa-ny started by New Cnnaan's .ToannePowell and Stratford's Garret C.Maynard, began filming last weekfor its debut movie, "FilmCAMP:Reel I."

Ms. Powell, who has worked inadvertising and marketing for morethan 20 years, met Mr. Maynardwhen she enrolled in his screenwrit-

ing class at Norwalk CommunityCollege.

"Joanne showed a'strong aptitudefor screen writing," said Mr. Maynard,who also owns a production and liter-ary agency, and who has been nomi-nated for a cinematography Emrnyfor his work on the documentary,"Mystic Vj)ices: The Story of thePequot War."

Encouraged, Ms. Powell beganwriting several screenplays. Shereceived a great deal of interest inone called "Jersey John," basedon a true story about a "mania-cal" Baltimore Colts fan who loseshis identity when the team suddenlymoves to Indianapolis.

But when the head of developmentof a Hollywood production companyleaned across the meeting table and

told her, "I've got the job, and I can'teven get a movie made," she decidedit was time to take matters into herown hands.

"After all these years of frustrationand trying to sell one of her works,"MI'. Maynard said, he told her, "makea movie that shows off yonI' writ-ing." .

"The job of people in Hollywoodis to say no," Ms. Powell said. "Weneeded to have something to show-case our ability."

So they teamed up."Gary and I have complimentary

skills," Ms. Powell said. "Gary Irombehind the camera, me from produc-tion."

And in the fall of 2004, Nuuneg

See NUTMEG on Page 2C

PAGEIC

IN CHARACTER - Above, Mikie Baidarelli (left) and Evan Gambardella,both of North Haven, pose as their characters, Barry and Leonard, in"FUmCAMP: Reel I," being filmed in New Canaan. Below, make-np artistLinda Hurst (left) and Patricia Sanger Cook, in costnme as Pat Slabb, posewith Archie. Both women are from New Canaan. (Lanra Kenyon Photos)

Nutmeg: Local filmmakers bring Hollywood to ConnecticutContinued from Page 1 producerandsenttorunaB-class tile high definition format, and New Canaan resident Callie descrihes as "a hully," adding

film camp in the Connecticut has secured product placement Talhot spent last summer looking "who thinks just because he'swilderness,where he has many partnerships with Pepsi-Cola, after Ms. Powell's children, but been here for four years he ownsmisadventures at the hands of Frito-Lay and TY,lnc. this year she is "FilmCAMP's" the camp."out-of-control kids. Ms. Powell and Mr. Maynard costume designer. Together, Barry and Leonard

"Think "Bad News Bears" go posted casting notices in several "It's a lot more work than [ are responsible for terrorizingto film camp," Ms. Powell said. publications, and held auditions thought," she said, "but very Ted by dousing him with shav-

Mr. Maynard, who used to at the New Canaan Library. rewarding." ing cream and holding his "pet,"work at a summer film camp "We had, like, ll-year-olds Mikie Baldarelli and Evan Mr. Prickles (a TY Beanie Babyhimself, said he noticed a trend belting out songs from' Annie,'" Gambardella, both 13 years old, hedgehog), hostage for a ransomof movies teaming kids with she said, "even though there's play best friends and trouble- of 10,000 gourmet jelly beans.adults, including this summer's no singing in the movie. (The makers. They had leading roles "It's hard work but it's a lot of"The Bad News Bears" remake people at the library) were very in North Haven Middle School's fun," said Evan, "especially inand "Kicking & Screaming." patient." springproductionof"TheWizard the hot sun."

Co-producers, Mr. Maynard According to Ms. Powell, of Oz," but "FilmCAMP" marks The sun, and the 80 degreeand Ms. Powell hope this film the entire crew and seven of their movie debut. temperatures that have accom-will be the first of many, and the nine child actors are from "I'm a nerd," Evan says about panied it, is the main focus forwill pave the way for hig budget Connecticut. his character, Leonard, who makeup artist Linda Hurst, afilms such as "Jersey John." "We got the best results from tucks in his clothes and wears New Canaan resident of 15

"It is set up to be a francbise," the citizens of Connecticut," she short shorts and sports socks years.said Ms. Powell, "to reach the said, althoogh actors came as under his sandals. "I always "Sweat control," she said.widest possible audience." far as Philadelphia. "There is coordinate my yarmulke with "That's my big job."

For this reason, "FilmCAMP" a very rich, deep talent pool in my socks." Ms. Hurst, a native of Britain,is being shot in the more versa- Connecticut." Mikie plays Barry, whom he was trained by the BBC and has

been a makeup artist for 25 years.After working on many historicproductions requiring periodwigs and makeup, "FilmCAMP"is "not as complicated" becausethe children don't need makeupand the adults are very natural.

Although plenty of girls in thecast want their hair done all thetime, Ms. Hurst is very carefulwhen it comes to makeup andchildren.

"There's a fine dividing linebetween being a child and beinga little lady," sh'e said. So shesimply gives them "a bit of lipgloss" and sends them frolick-ing away.

The character who requiresmost of Ms. Hurst's attention isher friend Patricia Sanger Cook,another New Canaan resident.

Pictures was formed.The goal of the production

company, Mr. Maynard said,is to make progrcssive, familyentertainment.

"We're not going to try to pushthe envelope in a way that mightbe outdated," he said, addingthat 50-year-Olds and five-year-olds should enjoy Nutmeg'sfilms.

The name was chosen .toemphasize the beauty and life-style of Connecticut, which hereferred to by its n.ickname,"The Nutmeg State."

"FilmCAMP; Reel I" is alow-budget, independent fea-ture-length comedy about TedPutterbaugh, a Hollywood direc-tor who is .accused of financialirresponsibility by his corrupt

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Clad in an apronand glasseswith curler-shaped hair, and anEnglish Bulldog in tow, Ms.Cook plays Pat Siabb, the fearedcamp housekeeper, cook andcustodian.

We contemplated severalEnglish housekeeper looks forher character, Ms. Hurst said,including covering her hair witha kerchief or keeping it constant-ly in curlers. But they decidedthe funniest look was the onewomen have when they take thecurlers off their heads but don'tbrush them out. Thus was bornPat Siabb.

"This is going much betterthau I thought it would," Ms.Cook said. Active in the NewCanaan International GroupPantomime and the New CanaanAcademy of Tap, this is Ms.Cook's first movie role.

"I did it for Joanne," she said,unsure whether she would do itagain.

Ms. Cook's son is alsoinvolved in the film, as istheir pet. Andrew Cook, 16, isresponsible for making Archiehappy. He calls his 'role that of"pet wrangler," and said thatdespite his character in the film, :the brown and white bulldog isharmless, and usually sleeping.

Despite having to control.hordes of children and a dog, Iand minus one illness the first Iday of shooting, Mr. Maynard'said filming has gone prettysmoothly' so far.

The three weeks of shootingar~ taking place at the RogerSherman Inr. and two residencesin New Canaan, as well as the iAvon Theatre in Stamford.

In addition to time and space,Nutmeg Pictures has receiveddonations of food and props, andthe producers are very grateful.It will list "patrons and specialfriends" on its Web site, nutmeg-pictures.com. I

"We've had enormous supportfrom the Town of New Cam,an,"said Ms. Powell, who hopes thefilm will be available by sum-mer of 2006.

Ms. Hurst, who has been wit-ness to most of the process,is happy Ms. Powell is finallyseeing one of her works cometo life.

"It's gr~at for Joanne becauseshe's been planning and dream-ing of this for a long time nowand it's finally materialized,"she said. "She's been planning'it for ages."