Connie Stevens and the Filming of Saving Grace Starring Tatum O'Neal

Hollywood icon Connie Stevens has written a script specifically for the time period when she stayed in Boonville in the early 1950's. Arrangements were made with the city council for this particular project. Auditions for extras were held a few months in advance at a local motel. When the film crew rolled into town, filming began on a storyline rumored to have murder, mental hospitals, probable mayhem, and a lot of rain in the year 1951. A year which is most remembered for torrential flooding from the Missouri river. After a summer long drought this year in Boonville citizens were looking forward to Hollywood promises of man-made rain and flooded streets.

Hollywood did not disappoint. They came with a purpose and a caravan of trucks for equipment and crew complete with their own caterers. What was a surprise is that they seemed to have left their celebrity status in Hollywood and soon the group of them, and their equipment, were absorbed into the fabric of everyday life in Boonville. With my spare time I spent many an hour on location about town with them feeling almost invasive as I tested out a new camera. Spare time well spent as I observed how hard it is to work on a film production.

One woman who was impressive from the start, was the 1^st Assistant to the Director, Jennifer Fiedler. She has a booming voice that reverberated up and down the street. She seemed to be everywhere at once effectively giving orders to actors and crew while monitoring everything. At the same time she directed effective crowd control over the curious, with authoritative demands to have complete silence at the beginning of the scene, to cheerleader like calls for applause when the scene was "a take." It was enjoyable the way she engaged the spectators into the production when her job seemed consuming enough without the whole town of Boonville looking on.

As I approached to spectate at another location, video assistant Chris Reams was kind enough to point out a spot where I would be able to see and take pictures yet stay out of the way of the production. I greatly appreciated not being told to go away. I noticed that while traffic was diverted many times due to the periodic nature of the film, Boonville pedestrians were hardly ever diverted, and at the most we were only requested to be quiet during a scene. The way that the crew carried out their duties with swiftness and precision while being considerate and personable was remarkable.

The next location I observed filming was at Boonville's Thespian Hall which is the oldest theatre still in use west of the Alleghenies. Presented in the movie scene as the hall was named in the early 1950's "The Lyric Theatre." I was still amazed by how the crew did not mind at all that I was wandering through the set taking pictures as they strung cables, set up cameras, unloaded trucks, and attended to the million and one jobs to be done. Crew member Chris Tobin, was kind enough to explain some of the equipment they were using. My shining moment that day was when cinematographer Denis Maloney, who worked on Something About Mary and The Contender just to name a couple, said to me, "cool camera." Denis Maloney and I both know that my camera will do, but it isn't anything to get excited about. Just another example of how this crew went above and beyond when it came to public relations. Even the big guys went out of their way to be nice.

So who were the stars that I could have gone paparazzi on? Piper Laurie, from Carrie fame. William Biehn, from The Terminator, Tatum O'Neal, youngest person to ever win an Oscar for her role in Papermoon, and Melinda Chilton, former Elite model would all be good choices. Scott Wilson, who played Sam Braun on C.S.I. Las Vegas, has a role as a reverend. And of course Connie Stevens herself. Her directors chair was personalized "Nana's Chair," but I hardly saw her in it. She directed with confidence and a bold hands on approach. Many thanks to Chris Tobin for encouraging me to ask her for a close-up, she was most gracious, giving me a superstar smile.

Connie Stevens is famous for her roles in movies and television along with her distinctive vocal talents in the recording industry. She has been entertaining fans since she was 16 years old and sang with the group 'The Three Debs.' In a very short overview Connie Stevens has spent her life entertaining, helping those less fortunate than herself, and creating a cosmetic's business empire. She has also produced, directed and edited an award winning documentary about the women who served the U.S. during the Vietnam years. Connie has been awarded the 'Lady of Humanities' award from the Shriners Hospital the 'Humanitarian of the Year' award from the Sons of Italy in Washington D.C., and she has been honored by The Vietnam Veterans Association of America. She has also received the highest honor that a civilian can earn, 'The Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service' medal.

It is heart warming to know that somehow the little town of Boonville touched this dynamic woman enough to inspire her to return with a fictional script she wrote for this locale. Though perhaps her script was inspired not so much by the geographic Boonville as possibly by the decade's long friendship that has endured with one of Boonville's life long residents. As I hung about a scene being filmed on my street, I became engaged in conversation with the husband of Connie's long time Boonville friend. The husband is a most hospitable gentleman with a superb tongue for story. He shared with me how Connie Stevens became acquainted with his wife and this town. As someone who also arrived in Boonville by accident I found the story quite enjoyable.

Connie Stevens was born in New York and attended a boarding school in St. Louis, Missouri as a young girl. Another young girl from Boonville was Connie's roommate during the school year. Connie ended up being farmed out to her roommate's family for three summer vacations during the early 1950's. I was informed in a manner much more colorful than recorded here that all was not a vacation. Connie found life lonely. She was in a strange place and did not have much in common with her roommate from school.

Connie found out that Boonville does have a little something for everyone. She found a fast friendship with a girl who lived across the street from her host family. Someone she could feel close to while so far away from home and family. A wonderful friendship the two girls must have found because it has survived and is still inspiring this many years later. Ms. Stevens also gave her friend a part in the movie with a speaking role.

Those two girls have certainly managed to give me some great memories. I met people who live here in Boonville that are so warm and friendly. Without the movie I would never have met them. I now feel more connected with my new "home town" than I have in the last 10 years since I ended up here. Good people, good memories, and great pictures. After all it isn't everyday that my Canon camera gets the chance to take a photo, from my own front porch, of Tatum O'Neal in a cage.

Connie Stevens movie, Saving Grace, is now in post-production and no release date has yet been set.

Sources

About Connie Stevens at www.foreverspring.com