Movie: A Year In Mooring--filming in TC

Sometimes good things just fall into your lap while you are simply minding your own business. It all started Friday morning, October 30, while I was just getting my work day started. I had just posted a rather mundane thing on Facebook about storing my bonsai trees for the winter. The phone rang. His name is Shawn Carroll, Prop Master for an upcoming movie called “A Year in Mooring” to be filmed near Traverse City in late November, early December. He had been at Garden Goods nursery in Traverse City and talked to Robin, my friend of many years, about bonsai. He evidently asked enough questions that Robin suggested he call and talk to me. We had a 10-minute, light hearted chat about the movie and how the lead actress plays the part of a waitress at the Bayside Café who is trying to quit smoking. As part of her cessation program she tries her hand at the art of Bonsai. He needed a bonsai tree for a couple of days of shooting, and a consultant to help the actress learn how to become a bonsai artist. I suggested he stop by and see my trees. He did so, and we enjoyed about a half hour of delightful conversation and explored possibilities. He took pictures and notes and told me he would pitch the idea to the director, Chris Eyre, and others involved with the movie. Monday I got an email saying he wanted me to be the paid bonsai consultant, and now wanted to rent four trees for the shoot. He would need them for the full three week shoot, as they would be at least in the background for many of the scenes. In other scenes the trees would be close-ups with the actress ‘working on them’. Central to the plot is a mariner who left his business life behind and took up residence on a sail boat, docked at the marina, adjacent to the café. The mariner is to be played by Josh Lucas of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ fame where he starred with Reese Witherspoon. James Cromwell will also play a roll in the movie. Ayelet Zurer will play the part of the waitress--she was in Angels and Demons. ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0957909/news#ni0797879 ) Shooting will begin on Monday, November 16. I will be at the shoot on Tuesday, November 17, and possib ly at other times. I will try to keep this updated as things unfold.
--Dean

Some links related to the story:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536374/
http://www.chriseyre.org/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000342/

Record Eagle article from 11-11-2009:
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_315073543.html

Act Naturally
The Beatles
(sung by Ringo Starr)

New lyrics offered by my Daughter, Jackie Petersen:

They're gonna put tree in the movies
They're gonna make a big star out of tree
We'll make a film about a tree that’s small and kinky
And all he’s gotta do is act like a tree

Well, I'll bet you tree’s gonna be a big star
Might win an Oscar you can’t never tell
The movies gonna make tree a big star
'Cause tree can play the part so well

Well I hope you come and see tree in the movies
Then I’ll know that you will plainly see
The biggest little tree that ever hit the big time
And all tree’s gotta do is act naturally

We'll make the scene about a tree that’s small and kinky
And beggin down upon his fallen leaves
Tree'll play the part but he won't need rehearsin’
All tree’s gotta do is act naturally...

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21 Comments

Comment by Salon Verve Organic Salon & Retailer on November 12, 2009 at 4:02pm: Awesome! Good for you! I've enjoyed your trees on numerous occasions! So happy to hear they will be on the big screen! How exciting! Great song, Jackie!

Comment by Cherry Blossom Ma on November 13, 2009 at 7:59pm: Way cool Dean! Now I'll have to see the movie.

(And those nuts didn't fall far from the tree, did they?)

Comment by Luci Martin on November 14, 2009 at 2:23pm: Isn't it nice when something you appreciate will be shared by others - nice read.

Comment by Dean Bull on November 18, 2009 at 3:19pm: As planned I was at Bower's Harbor about 9 a.m. They made a change so they could take advantage of the sunshine, filming scenes on the boat with Josh Lucas--not bonsai related stuff. I watched for a little over an hour; it is a very tedious process. As it stands now, I am 'on call' for later this afternoon or Wednesday. Shawn will call and give me a half-hour heads up when they will need me. Needless to say, I am looking forward to meeting Ayelet Zurer. I will try to keep you updated here.

Comment by Dean Bull on November 18, 2009 at 3:20pm: Tuesday afternoon...Shawn just called. She just arrived in TC about noon today, I don't know from where. Jet lag could be an issue. The plan now is, when she can schedule an hour or so with me, I will go out and get started with her, helping her develop the bonsai artist aspect of her character. Evidently making movies is not a cut-and-dried process. Also, they are hoping for nasty weather--the script evidently calls for it. I cautioned him on wishing for bad weather in MI in November. Yes, he has heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald. More later...

Comment by Dean Bull on November 18, 2009 at 3:22pm: Tuesday 9:30 pm...Shawn called me to the movie set about 4:30. I had to skip out on TG dinner with Pa, but felt I had to make the trade. Ayelet is a delightful person--a true breath of fresh air. We worked on developing the bonsai artist part of her character for about an hour. She is going to nail it, I can just tell. It is an honor for me to be involved with this I will be back tomorrow early morning for more of the same as they shoot scenes with bonsai. Also bringing some tropical trees into the mix, as requested today...

Comment by Dean Bull on November 18, 2009 at 3:24pm: Wednesday noonish...I was at the set from 7 this morning until 11. Tomorrow is now scheduled for the scenes that will include a lot of bonsai work, so I will be more involved then than today. What I did supply today was two tropical bonsai borrowed from my dear friend, Bette Valade, and one other from my shelf, and they are being used in the movie. Turns out Josh Lucas has two bonsai. He was quick to point out that he is not very good at it, but likes it a lot. We chatted for about 15 minutes about dogs, bonsai, clocks, etc. Down-to-earth and decent fella. Tomorrow promises to be very intense--should be fun.

Comment by Dean Bull on November 18, 2009 at 3:24pm: Ayelet Zurer 'Angels and Demons' Movie Premiere Red Carpet Video Interview
Source: www.youtube.com
Ayelet Zurer 'Angels and Demons' Movie Premiere Red Carpet Video Interview

Comment by Luci Martin on November 19, 2009 at 3:23am: Thank you for the updates. It seems Bonsai will be getting the attention it deserves in this film. Just wondering why the 2011 and not a 2010 release date for the film?

Comment by Linda Munro on November 19, 2009 at 2:28pm: How exciting for you as well as Traverse City and northern Michigan. We will all be waiting for the release of of this film.