Here is an interview with Ernie Hudson, a star that stayed here at the Katy House Bed and Breakfast,  in Smithville, during the filming of “Doonby”.

The interview was from:   www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews

  INTERVIEW: Ernie Hudson

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 3:41 pm  

Recently we got the chance to interview the great Ernie Hudson. Being the huge Ghostbusters nut I am, naturally the interview got pushed on me. Currently Mr. Hudson is involved with a film titled Doonby:

Sam Doonby, a mysterious, handsome drifter gets off a Greyhound bus in a small Texas town and finds work at Leroy’s Country Blues Bar where his great musical talents make him very popular, especially with Laura, the beautiful but spoiled daughter of successful doctor Cyrus Reaper. Sam always seems to be in the right place at the right time to avert disasters befalling the town and its people until suspicion and jealousy drive folks to ask who he is and where he comes from.  Even Laura starts to question him so now he disappears as quickly as he came and things start to go badly wrong. His rejection results in terrible shocks for the whole town, not least for the doctor and his family as Cyrus’ past comes back to haunt him.

Below is the conversation Ernie and I had about Doonby, as well as a few other things:

BSR!: What’s new in your life right now?

Ernie Hudson: Right now things are going well, obviously the film Doonby that John Schneider and me that we did in Texas. That’s the that’s happening most relevant right now. I also do have a reoccurring on the Secret Life of a Teenager, and you know, just staying busy doing Law & Order last season. I didn’t get picked up this season. And I’m always looking for something fun and exciting to be a part of.

Sure, so you play Leroy in this upcoming Doonby movie, correct?

Right, yah. He’s a blues musician who decided to settle down and runs a night club. I hire Jon’s character and it’s about friendship and the music. To me he’s an interesting character because he’s a guy just trying to reconcile that thing of which you love to do and how do you make peace with the woman that you love. And how do you hold things together but still be who you are. And somehow be responsible for all these people who surround your life. I really liked the character a lot, it was a great character.

That’s wonderful. How soon does this movie come out?

I think they are looking at the Fall. They haven’t given me any exact dates. I think they are shooting for a Fall release, I’m told. I’m not totally sure yet.

The production crew filming “Doonby”, with John Schneider, Ernie Hudson, Will Wallace, and Robert Davi,  has now left Smithville.  But, word is, two more smaller production crews are coming soon. You can become a “fan” of Doonby and the Smithville Film and Music Commision,  on Facebook.com  We still are waiting for “The Tree of Life”, with Brad Pitt,  to open. I think it’s getting close to being in the theaters! I will keep you posted if we hear a date.

Smithville has a busy weekend coming up. The new Playhouse Smithville will have its opening and first performance on Friday, July 23rd, 2010.  The opening show is  “LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.”  The show will run from July 23 to August 7, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30.  Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at www.playhousesmithville.com.  Seating is limited and tickets are selling fast.

Bruce and I already have our season tickets.  Playhouse Smithville,  110 Main Street,  Smithville, TX 78957,  512-360-7397  playhousesmithville@yahoo.com

On Saturday, July 24^th, the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Casino Night.  It’s a really fun night. Here is more infor on this annual event:

We hope to see you there!

 Smithville Music & Film Commission

 512/216-2645

 SM & FC Offers June Educational Series

 As Smithville continues to reap the benefits and thrill of the movie-making process with the on-going filming of “Doonby,” the Smithville Music & Film Commission announces its latest in a free monthly series of industry-related educational programs on Sunday, June 6^th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

 “Film Making 102” will be presented by Danny Cameron and Miranda Smith, who under their production company, Zobest Pictures, haelted Smithville as their filming location for “Under the Western Sun” in October 2010. Their extensive knowledge and skills in the process of film making is shared with enthusiasm and a straight-forward approach that will provide knowledge to those interested in creating their own films. Whether it’s a short or feature, or the family reunion this summer, this is a great opportunity to hone better film skills.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity, made possible by the Smithville Music & Film Commission in cooperation with 1^st ACT! Academy, where the workshop will again be held. Seating is limited, so call 512/216-2645 and leave your name to ensure space is available.

Movie Filming Takes over Downtown

Updated: Thursday, 27 May 2010, 10:27 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 27 May 2010, 10:27 PM CDT

This story was on Fox TV, by James Irby,  in Austin, Texas:

Here is a blog that one of the actors wrote about the movie Doonby.  They used our parlor as a “green room’, so we visited with the cute group for a few days.  This was written by Jolyn Janis.

ON SET: Doonby

Film: Doonby

Location: Smithville, TX

 

Synopsis: Sam Doonby, is a happy-go-lucky drifter who takes up residence in a small Texas town but seems suspiciously immune to the misfortunes that beset the other townsfolk.

 

I have a supporting role in a feature film called Doonby, shooting this month.  The film was written and is being directed by Peter Mackenzie. The cast is an amazing group of actors - John Schneider, Robert Davi, Will Wallace, Jenn Gotzon, Joe Estevez and, of course, many others talents!

Here is a photo from our last “crowded bar scene” and Ernie Hudson’s last day on set.

Doonby Castorama! From left: Myself, Tom Lagleder, Dwayne, Lizabeth Waters, John Schneider, Jenn Gotzon, Ernie Hudson, Brandi Blevins 

Below is the Katy House, run by Sallie and Bruce, the most generous couple one could hope to find wandering on location.  Sallie hosted the principal cast at the house so we didnt need to wait in trailers or tents the whole day.  It was good to have a ‘home front’ to camp out for most of the day.  Thanks again, Sallie and Bruce!

Katy House 

Katy House owner: Sallie (with a friends on the porch) 

Katy House: Living Room “Home” for three days of shooting 

In the film, I play a swinger who is intrigued with Sam Doonby’s charisma as well as integrity.  Below is myself and my on-screen hubby, Tom Lagleder in full costume.

Swingers on set 

Sallie always gets pictures with the cast of films that come through her house.  This is our token “fireplace mantel” shot with her

Myself, Sallie and Tom 

There’s a lot of meandering and waiting to shoot on any set.  Smithville has a particularly interesting vibe, a small town chill that can only be felt, not described. I’m quite happy to slow down and wait around in Smithville, TX.

Smithvillery 

Waiting in my trailer, I often took off my red heels, which then became interesting subject matter.

Red Hells, i mean Heels 

And this is the woman who put me in those shoes

Wardrobe department (extraordinaire) 

I found out at the end of the day why people were asking Scotti (below) for guitar picks while we chat.  He is co-guitarist for Skid Row (and an awesome dude as well!)

Scotti Hill, co-guitarist for Skid Row 

Skid Row (Scottie on left) 

After the bar scene wrap, there was a small afterparty at the Tamble’s House, the location where I’ll shoot my next scenes May 31, June 1.  Im ready to go back to Smithville and see everyone again!

Afterparty! From left: Chris Armstrong, Jenn Gotzon, Tom Lagleder (who got shafted by a mystery shadow) and Myself 

Look for the film early 2011!

Five Time Champion”, a feature length film, was filmed here in Smithville, Texas. Our Bed and Breakfast had a few of the crew stay with us during the filming.  We are excited that it will soon be released.  As a member of the Smithville Music and Film Commission, I think it is great fun to see productions that have been filmed around our town.   “Five Time Champion” is a film about love, hope, petty theft, adultery, and the boundless opportunities presented by science.

The Director is Berndt Mader.  He is a director and writer living in Austin, Texas. He has written and directed films that have screened at festivals around the globe. His film A NEUTRAL DENSITY won Best Screenplay at the 2005 Cinematexas Film Festival, and was honored with a screening at the Director’s Guild of America Theater in Burbank. His most recent film, “ROAD TO TLACOTEPEC,” won the Audience Award at the 2008 Austin Film Festival. Mader holds an MFA degree in filmmaking from the University of Texas at Austin and is co-owner of the Austin-based production company The Bear Media. “FIVE TIME CHAMPION” is Mader’s first feature film to write and direct.

IF you would like to know more about the filming in Smithville, please visit the Smithville Chamber site.  If you would like to plan a trip our way, visit our web site. Reservations at the Katy House Bed and Breakfast can be made on line, or by calling (512) 237-4262.  

www.KatyHouse.com

This is from a cute couple that just stayed with us. This is Dave’s blog:

An Occasion To Remember

Many men fall victim to their own memory when it comes to anniversaries. Fortunately, my anniversary falls in the same ten-day period as Valentine’s Day and my wife’s birthday. While making this easy to remember, it does have its issues, but nothing I can’t handle.

On our wedding day, we drove to Smithville Texas, the site of the movie “Hope Floats” featuring Sandra Bullock (yes, it is a chick-flick, but it is a good one) and stayed at a bed and breakfast called The Katy House. Now, for those who read this blog (yes, I am talking to you) you may remember that Michelle and I love to tour small towns off the beaten path. Well, Smithville—with a whopping population of 3,900—certainly qualifies as small and it does sit just off of state highway 71, which is a beaten path.

This town has a quaint old style main street with buildings built around the turn of the century (not the recent one, mind you) and a train depot (which is not really a functioning depot anymore, but it serves as the chamber of commerce and a railway museum). Most of the buildings that are occupied house antique stores or craft boutiques, while many sit empty. The other streets are filled with old houses dating back to the late 1800’s when this town was built by the MKT railroad. The Katy House is one such home.

Built in 1909, it was originally named the Chancellor Residence after its first occupant. Many others have lived in it since, but it is now a very comfortable B&B run by Sallie and Bruce Blalock. They made our wedding night stay quite pleasant, setting us up with a bottle of bubbly and getting us reservations at the town’s pre-eminent restaurant, The Back Door Café (make the trip if for no other reason than to eat here, it is that good). Because the stay was so memorable, we come back every year to celebrate our anniversary with them….

Here is a great story about one of our Smithville, Texas boys.

This is from the American Statesman, from Feb 4th, 2010. Smithville High athlete with cystic fibrosis signs scholarship!

For the full story see  http://www.statesman.com/sports/smithville-high-athlete-with-cystic-fibrosis-signs-scholarship-211151.html

“SMITHVILLE— Back in the summer of 2004, the Nieto family of Pflugerville shared their story with this newspaper, and it was a story of hope and salvation through the primal act of running.”

“Brice Nieto, who was 12 years old and struggling to manage cystic fibrosis, was about to compete in the 38th National Junior Olympic Games.”

“His parents, Laura and Jimmy, started Brice in running when he was a younger boy with too much mucus in his lungs. Their story included the strong belief that Brice would be better prepared to manage the genetic disease if he were in top physical shape.”

“Brice discovered that he actually loved running. He ran varsity track as a freshman in high school, and when his family moved 45 miles east of Austin to a 10-acre plot of land with fishing tanks and a couple of horses, he made the varsity track team at Smithville High School.”

“He ran in the Texas Relays.

He earned his letter jacket at Smithville High.

The story gets even better.

On Wednesday, Brice sent his letter of intent to Oklahoma City University, where he will join the track team in the fall.”

“Brice earned an athletic and academic scholarship at the private school of 2,100 undergraduate students. Brice and his mother toured the campus on his official visit. It felt like home, they said.”

“The coaches told Laura Nieto they expected Brice to grow. As an athlete. As a person.”

“I liked to hear that,” she said.

“Life changes for all college students when they leave home. For Brice, the change will be drastic.”

“He soon will be individually responsible for taking his medicines, wearing the vibrating chest that loosens his lungs and going to the hospital, if he needs to, when he needs to. Because he has to.”

“I think I’m ready for it,” Brice said.

“His parents worry. They also see reasons for optimism and opportunity.”

“Brice said he believes his running helps him stay one long stride ahead of the cystic fibrosis, which has no cure.”

“Jimmy and Laura Nieto take comfort in that fact. They know their son will do what he has to.”

“I need to,” Brice said.

“Brice is a year-round runner. After school, he runs three 400-meter sprints and three 500-meter sprints. On weekends, he stretches and performs lunges and high-knee kicks that keep his body moving the way he wants it to.”

“If people told him what he couldn’t do,” said Smithville athletic director Justin Wiley, “he wouldn’t be here today.”

“When Brice was diagnosed at the age of 9, his parents reasoned that scaling the bleachers and running around the track at Connally High School would make Brice stronger.”

“I’m really glad they did it,” Brice Nieto said. “Now that I look back on it, I’m really glad. It made me who I am.”

“His story begins with running.”

“For us it’s working,” Jimmy Nieto said. “So we’re not going to stop.”

“It continues with running.”

“He has a willingness to do whatever’s necessary,” said Oklahoma City University track coach Micheal L. Houston , who noted that Brice has “the heart of an athlete.”

“And he has the mind of a student. Brice took a chemistry class as a junior at Smithville. He enjoyed it. Chemistry made sense to him, he said.”

P.S.   All of us in town are proud of Brice.  I invite you to visit our small town.  Smithville Texas is 43 miles from Austin.  Come see many beautiful historic homes and old buildings.   There are lots of antique shops on Main Street and super small restaurents in town.  But lately, the town is getting known for being “Texas Film Friendly!”  We have had 2 major motion pictures filmed here in Smithville, “Hope Floats” and “The Tree of Life.”  There have been a number of smaller films, also.  Check out the Chamber Web Site for a listing of productions.  Our Bed and Breakfast is just off of Main Street. Come stay with us and explore Smithville.  Sallie Blalock, Innkeeper – Katy House Bed and Breakfast www.KatyHouse.com

There are  fun times ahead, here in Downtown Smithville, Texas.  Sunday, September 13th will be a photographer’s dream come true. Smithville Film Commission is  sponsoring  the “Texas Photo Festival,”  Sept 12 and 13th, 2009. There will be sites set up on our historic Main Street on Sunday.  All you need to bring is your camera and you will have a ball. You will see where to stand to get that “perfect shot.”  The cost is free and I promise you will learn a lot and enjoy our town. Here is the web site for more information-   www.texasphotofestival.com

Call the Smithville Chamber at 512 237-2313 or the Katy House B&B at 512 237-4262 for additional infomation on our town. Smithville is the first town in Texas to be named Texas Film Friendly. It is the hometown of the movies, “Hope Floats,”   “Tree of Life,”  “Five Times Champion,”  and “artois the goat.”