04.05.2008
‘Leatherheads’ premiere brings out Statesville’s stars
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Jodi John-Pippin, Jeremy Kauffman and Karen Kauffman attend the tailgate party Friday night for the opening of “Leatherheads.” All three had a part in the movie as extras. Regan Hill photo. |
When you watch the stadium scenes in the movie “Leatherheads” look for a red hat.
There’s a slim chance you’ll see Statesville resident Pam Navey.
Navey spent her 50th birthday on the set of the movie directed by George Clooney, who also played the lead role. Like many of the film’s local extras, Navey spent Friday night reliving those moments at the Statesville Marquee Cinemas.
“It was awesome,” Navey said. “It was fun. It was so out of character from what I usually do.”
Navey and other residents - some in the movie, but most not - watched a man in a life preserver bobble in the Vance Hotel swimming pool and faux rain pound Center Street once again.
“I could recognize the Vance,” Elva Reavis said after the local premiere of the movie. “I thought it was a very good movie. I laughed a lot.”
The first-day showing, which was attended by around 200 people, was organized by WSIC 1400 AM and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The event raised a little over $800 from the tailgate prior to the movie and also received a $500 donation from Jay Bee’s.
The mood in the theater was a little more jovial than a typical setting. People clapped when the movie trailers were finally over and the movie started, cheered when they saw someone they knew and pointed out the familiar sites.
“Leatherheads” is expected to be a big hit in Statesville, not for its witty humor or Clooney’s smile, but because its depiction of the humble beginnings of professional football brings back memories of sitting for long hours and waiting for a glimpse of a starlet.
Marquee Cinemas manager Matt Breeden said he expects a couple of shows to sell out this weekend.
Jodi John Pippin and her friend Karen Kauffman were two of the few extras who came to Friday’s premiere in costume.
The duo worked as extras in Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Salisbury for three weeks.
“While we were filming I absolutely loved it,” Pippin said.
Clooney was nice and helpful, she said, and he didn’t stop whistling or chewing gum the entire time.
Kauffman said while it was a good experience, she isn’t giving up her day job as a nurse anesthetist at Iredell Memorial Hospital.
“It’s a lot of sitting down and waiting,” she said. “I think one time is enough.”
If you want to see Kauffman or Pippin on the big screen, look closely at some of the speak-easy scenes or during the bar brawl.
Pippin, an artist who teaches at Mitchell Community College, said she saw them in a lot of scenes they did together.
“I thought it was better than I thought it would be,” she said. “I really enjoyed it.”