"I'm just fascinated with the Griz and how everybody here is just so crazy for this team," says Kriley, 33.
When Kriley decided it was time to produce her first full-length feature film, her thoughts soon wandered home once again. Inspired by the so-called "mockumentary" filmmaking style of Christopher Guest (writer and director of "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind"), Kriley decided to make a film about a fictitious junior college football team that loses its funding just two weeks before its first game of the season.
But to the people of Missoula, it'll probably be hard to separate the team from their beloved Grizzlies. That's because Kriley is filming the movie here in Missoula, at some of the most familiar locations around town, including Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Ruby's Cafe, Red's Bar and Hoagieville.
Even Hoagieville's signature dish will make an appearance.
"We rewrote a scene to talk about the cheese fries," said Kriley. "I always come back for those."
Kriley decided to employ the mockumentary style for the film because it fit both her comic intentions and her limited budget.
"Shooting it like a documentary allows us to shoot a lot quicker, and it allows for a lot of improvisation from the characters," explained Kriley. "It's definitely a comedy, kind of exaggerating the stock characters that you would expect - the cheerleader, the booster club president, the coach."
Kriley brought several actors from Hollywood to play the lead roles in the film. They include Eddie Pepitone (known for his role as Archer in "Old School," as well as his role in last year's "Last Comic Standing" TV series) and Todd Glass (of "Last Comic Standing II"). Kriley is also involving several students and faculty members from the University of Montana, both as actors and technical crew.
Kriley and company began shooting last Wednesday, and expect to wrap up production by Tuesday. She then expects
to complete the editing of the film in approximately three months.
That's not a lot of time to shoot and edit an entire feature film. But Kriley should be familiar with fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants production techniques, having worked on a number of reality television shows including "Project Greenlight II," "Last Comic Standing II," "Faking It" and the independent film, "This is Not a Film."
Kriley is also quick to count another ace in the hole: Missoula.
"The Missoula community has been just amazingly great in helping us pull this thing together," she says. "This project never would have happened without the kindness of the Missoula people."
And for those who worry that they may see themselves parodied in the way that Christopher Guest lampooned dog-show fanatics, Kriley insists: No need to fret.
"It's definitely a funny film, but it's not insulting to Griz fans," she says. "After all, I'm a Griz fan at heart, too."
Casting call
Extras are needed to appear in the feature film "Save the Mavericks." Scenes requiring extras will be shot from 5:30
to 11 p.m. Wednesday and
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Food will be provided for those who participate in the second day's shooting. Those interested should call Tanya Easbey at 360-6411 for information about what to wear and where to go.
Reporter Joe Nickell can be reached at 523-5358 or at jnickell@missoulian.com
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)