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Marlin transformed into movie lot as productions company hits town
By Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
March 09, 2005
Anyone taking Highway 7 on Monday, Feb. 28, or Tuesday, March 1, probably felt they had gone into a time warp once they hit the Marlin courthouse square as dozens of classic cars lined the streets and filled the bank parking lot.
They weren't in Marlin 2005 anymore; they'd gone to Kansas, circa 1960.
It was all a part of the magic of the movies as filming of the movie "Every Word is True" came to Marlin for two days of filming in and around the Falls County Courthouse.
"I just want to see Sandra Bullock," was the buzz along the sidewalks as Falls County residents flocked to see what has been called by some the biggest thing to hit Marlin in a long time.
The excitement and rumors began several weeks ago, when a man came to town with a camera and the explanation that he was, "scouting locations for a movie." Once the Falls County Courthouse was chosen to become a movie set, word came as to what the movie would be called and who would be in it.
"Every Word is True" is about the research done by author Truman Capote in the writing of "In Cold Blood," a book about the murder of a Kansas farm family by two men in 1959.
The movie boasts a well-known cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels, Ashley Judd, Sigourney Weaver, Anjelica Huston, Kevin Kline and Alan Cumming.
People from all over the area made their way to Marlin in hopes of just a glimpse of one of the stars. Some were chosen as extras, and found themselves dressed for a cold Kansas day. Other fortunate on-lookers procured autographs from Bullock and Daniels.
Set in Finney County, Kansas, set designers went to detail to transform Falls County, Texas into a location hundreds of miles away. Signs in and on businesses around the courthouse were altered, anyone not designated an extra was sent into hiding, and even the vehicles used in the background were given Kansas license plates. An old fire truck had its name covered on the driver's side to display the county name.
The old cars used around the courthouse came from Marlin, Lott, Axtell and one from as far as Waxahachie.
One of the "extras" making his movie debut, was local resident Dick Jenkins.
"I will never leave a movie theater again without waiting for the list of credits to run. I never realized that the people behind the scenes are actually the stars of the production until I worked with them on an actual set. They are up at the crack of dawn preparing for the day. They are experts in their field and work to see that every detail is covered," Jenkins said.
After a day of filming last Monday, Jenkins relates some of the activities that went on.
"Our day started at 5 a.m., when we reported to the old Booker T. Washington school for 'hair and makeup.' Some of the ladies came with hair in curlers and no makeup, but that was ok because they were given the royal treatment when they got there.
"We then changed into our 'Sunday best' type clothes. A bit of nostalgia swept over me when I saw the ladies dressed if the finery which was indicative of the era," Jenkin said.
"The ladies were fashionable attired in business type suits, gloves, hats, gloves and heels. In one scene, the murder suspects were brought to the courthouse and everyone was to run across the courtyard in an effort to get a first-hand look at those responsible of such a heinous crime," he said. "It was quite a feat for our modern-day women who are used to wearing jeans and tennis shoes scampering across the lawn in heels. Needless-to-say, some of them felt the agony the next day."
Another incident brought Jenkins face-to-face with Jeff Daniels and Sandra Bullock.
"I was in a group of 'press corps' representatives waiting anxiously to pop questions to Attorney Alvin Dewey (played by Daniels). We had shot the scene several times, but the cinematographer didn't like the lighting and called for a break for adjustments. As I stood on the steps near the entrance to the courthouse, I was stretching and moaning and rubbing my legs, when a voice behind me said 'are you OK?' I looked up - it was Sandra Bullock. She visited with me for quite some time, and after all was well with the lighting, we continued with shooting."
Many spectators lined the streets in an effort to see what was going on, but security kept visitors at great distances while shooting was taking place.
One Marlin youngster, Blaine Killian, oblivious to what was going on, walked across the lawn at the courthouse with a little puppy in tow, walked directly over to Miss Bullock and asked if she wanted a puppy.
"She was very nice to Blaine, took the puppy and explained to him that one of her dogs had died the day before coming to Marlin," Jenkins said. "She played with the puppy , but she had to decline the offer and leave the puppy with him here in Marlin. He may not know the significance of his encounter, but the rest of us appreciated her kindness toward the young man."
Marlin Police officers as well as Falls Sheriff's Department personnel were called upon to direct traffic around the courthouse to ensure none of today's cars were caught on film, and to make sure traffic to was able to run as smoothly as possible.
Taylor, Austin, and New York are also locations where the movie has been and will be filmed. According to the Internet Movie Database, the "Every Word is True" has an expected release date of November 2005.
By Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
March 09, 2005
Anyone taking Highway 7 on Monday, Feb. 28, or Tuesday, March 1, probably felt they had gone into a time warp once they hit the Marlin courthouse square as dozens of classic cars lined the streets and filled the bank parking lot.
They weren't in Marlin 2005 anymore; they'd gone to Kansas, circa 1960.
It was all a part of the magic of the movies as filming of the movie "Every Word is True" came to Marlin for two days of filming in and around the Falls County Courthouse.
"I just want to see Sandra Bullock," was the buzz along the sidewalks as Falls County residents flocked to see what has been called by some the biggest thing to hit Marlin in a long time.
The excitement and rumors began several weeks ago, when a man came to town with a camera and the explanation that he was, "scouting locations for a movie." Once the Falls County Courthouse was chosen to become a movie set, word came as to what the movie would be called and who would be in it.
"Every Word is True" is about the research done by author Truman Capote in the writing of "In Cold Blood," a book about the murder of a Kansas farm family by two men in 1959.
The movie boasts a well-known cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels, Ashley Judd, Sigourney Weaver, Anjelica Huston, Kevin Kline and Alan Cumming.
People from all over the area made their way to Marlin in hopes of just a glimpse of one of the stars. Some were chosen as extras, and found themselves dressed for a cold Kansas day. Other fortunate on-lookers procured autographs from Bullock and Daniels.
Set in Finney County, Kansas, set designers went to detail to transform Falls County, Texas into a location hundreds of miles away. Signs in and on businesses around the courthouse were altered, anyone not designated an extra was sent into hiding, and even the vehicles used in the background were given Kansas license plates. An old fire truck had its name covered on the driver's side to display the county name.
The old cars used around the courthouse came from Marlin, Lott, Axtell and one from as far as Waxahachie.
One of the "extras" making his movie debut, was local resident Dick Jenkins.
"I will never leave a movie theater again without waiting for the list of credits to run. I never realized that the people behind the scenes are actually the stars of the production until I worked with them on an actual set. They are up at the crack of dawn preparing for the day. They are experts in their field and work to see that every detail is covered," Jenkins said.
After a day of filming last Monday, Jenkins relates some of the activities that went on.
"Our day started at 5 a.m., when we reported to the old Booker T. Washington school for 'hair and makeup.' Some of the ladies came with hair in curlers and no makeup, but that was ok because they were given the royal treatment when they got there.
"We then changed into our 'Sunday best' type clothes. A bit of nostalgia swept over me when I saw the ladies dressed if the finery which was indicative of the era," Jenkin said.
"The ladies were fashionable attired in business type suits, gloves, hats, gloves and heels. In one scene, the murder suspects were brought to the courthouse and everyone was to run across the courtyard in an effort to get a first-hand look at those responsible of such a heinous crime," he said. "It was quite a feat for our modern-day women who are used to wearing jeans and tennis shoes scampering across the lawn in heels. Needless-to-say, some of them felt the agony the next day."
Another incident brought Jenkins face-to-face with Jeff Daniels and Sandra Bullock.
"I was in a group of 'press corps' representatives waiting anxiously to pop questions to Attorney Alvin Dewey (played by Daniels). We had shot the scene several times, but the cinematographer didn't like the lighting and called for a break for adjustments. As I stood on the steps near the entrance to the courthouse, I was stretching and moaning and rubbing my legs, when a voice behind me said 'are you OK?' I looked up - it was Sandra Bullock. She visited with me for quite some time, and after all was well with the lighting, we continued with shooting."
Many spectators lined the streets in an effort to see what was going on, but security kept visitors at great distances while shooting was taking place.
One Marlin youngster, Blaine Killian, oblivious to what was going on, walked across the lawn at the courthouse with a little puppy in tow, walked directly over to Miss Bullock and asked if she wanted a puppy.
"She was very nice to Blaine, took the puppy and explained to him that one of her dogs had died the day before coming to Marlin," Jenkins said. "She played with the puppy , but she had to decline the offer and leave the puppy with him here in Marlin. He may not know the significance of his encounter, but the rest of us appreciated her kindness toward the young man."
Marlin Police officers as well as Falls Sheriff's Department personnel were called upon to direct traffic around the courthouse to ensure none of today's cars were caught on film, and to make sure traffic to was able to run as smoothly as possible.
Taylor, Austin, and New York are also locations where the movie has been and will be filmed. According to the Internet Movie Database, the "Every Word is True" has an expected release date of November 2005.
