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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 09 > Entry
Marshall football film re-creates tragic crash
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s only proper that the plane crash portion of “We Are Marshall” filming through Wednesday night at Fulton County Airport-Brown Field is not being shot on its actual historic location.
The big-screen sports flick, starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, depicts the inspirational rebuilding of the Marshall University football program. Most of the team, its coaching staff and multiple boosters were killed — 75 people in all — when a plane carrying the occupants crashed just short of Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va., on Nov. 14, 1970.
Prior to location shooting here this month, the filmmakers spent time shooting exteriors in West Virginia. While most Atlantans don’t have an immediate working knowledge of the tragedy, there are plenty of folks up in West Virginia still affected by the crash.
And “We Are Marshall” producers are sparing no expense in re-creating the crash site at Brown Field, including situating the fuselage over a quarter acre of land adjacent to the airfield.
We’re told that it took production designer Tom Meyer’s art department, set decorators and a construction crew two weeks to re-create the carnage. Special effects fire and smoke will also be seen each night during the shoot.
Special effects guy David Fletcher and crew have laid over 3,000 feet of propane gas pipeline that will lend authenticity for the various fires set to erupt “in and around the site which will ignite flames throughout the set from 25 100-gallon propane tanks” brought in for the shoot.
The film crew wanted word spread of the overnight filming since they didn’t want nearby residents or commuters driving on Fulton Industrial Boulevard to fear the worst. Also, a reminder to overzealous film fans: The set is closed to the public.
Plus, McConaughey and Fox sightings would be scarce anyway since McConaughey’s character, coach Jack Lengyel, took over the program after the crash and Fox’s assistant coach Red Dawson survived the tragedy by driving home from the away game.
Overscene
“Sopranos” actor Joseph Gannascoli, who has given the HBO mob drama some added intrigue by getting himself outted while creatively attired in a leather gay bar, was spotted in town over the weekend. Johnny’s Hideaway’s Mike Casey reports to Buzz that the actor popped into the nightclub Saturday night and held court with his pallies. Allegedly, Gannascoli greeted Hideaway manager Chris Dauria, telling him that the Rat Pack-inspired watering hole is always “a must stop” for him in Atlanta. Then he added jokingly: “Now, get me a drink or I’ll break your legs.”
On Sunday night, Gannascoli, who portrays on-the-run gangster Vito Spatafore on the show, was ID’d at Joe’s on Juniper in Midtown. We’re pleased to report there were absolutely no sightings of him at the Eagle, Atlanta’s answer to the genre of nightclub Vito was patronizing. Offscreen, Gannascoli is married and the creator of the “A Sauce to Die For” pasta sauce line.
Fashion Fair helps students
Fashion helped fuel the dreams of 17 students from Atlanta Public Schools in the form of thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
For the past 45 years, the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has hosted the Ebony Fashion Fair traveling fashion show. It’s one of the most popular stops on the tour and is the primary fund-raiser for the chapter’s scholarship program.
Last week the Atlanta chapter awarded more than $25,000 to high school seniors during the annual Hungry Club Forum, said event chairwoman Marie Baker Wilson. Jenise Davis of North Atlanta High School received the Effie Brooks/Alverna Greene Scholarship, a four-year grant of $3,000 annually. The remaining 16 winners earned one-time scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000.
Scholarship applicants must meet stringent requirements, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, a minimum SAT score of 970 and two letters of recommendation. Scholarship funds are remitted after recipients verify their college enrollment.
Sick bay
Aging Rolling Stones axman Keith Richards had surgery in New Zealand to relieve pressure in his head after a fall.
The guitarist was “up and talking” soon after surgery Monday at the Ascot Hospital in Auckland but was expected to take several weeks to recuperate, LD Communications said in a statement issued Monday in London.
“Last week Keith was under observation in Auckland following a fall in Fiji and was feeling well after being examined by doctors last week,” the statement said. “However after complaining of headaches yesterday, doctors thought it prudent to move ahead with a small operation to remove the pressure.” Richards, 62, suffered the injury April 27, but details have not been confirmed. News reports have variously claimed that he fell out of a palm tree or from a Jet Ski.
Celebrity birthdays
CBS News correspondent Mike Wallace is 88. Actor Albert Finney is 70. Producer-director James L. Brooks is 66. Actress Candice Bergen is 60. Singer Billy Joel is 57. Actor John Corbett (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Northern Exposure”) is 45. Singer David Gahan of Depeche Mode is 44. Rapper Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan is 36. Singer Tamia is 31. Actress Rosario Dawson (“Rent,” “Josie and the Pussycats”) is 27.
Contributing: Nedra Rhone and news services. If you have a tip, 404-526-2749. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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