Lights, Camera, Ogden! / Historic 25th Street fits the bill for 'Waiting for Forever' producer Trevor Albert
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Nancy Van Valkenburg
Standard-Examiner Staff
OGDEN -- Ogden's Historic 25th Street stars once again as small-town America in a feature film, "Waiting for Forever," which completed a multiday shoot in the city on Thursday.
The romantic film is directed by James Keach, who also shot "Blind Dating" (2006) here.
"That's not why we chose Ogden, though," said "Waiting for Forever" producer Trevor Albert, whose other producing credits include "Because of Winn-Dixie," "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and "Groundhog Day."
"We drove all over looking for the quintessential small town, and 25th Street really fits the bill," Albert said.
The film stars Tom Sturridge ("Like Minds") as Will, a free-spirited street performer who wants to reconnect with Emma, a girl who was his best friend and first love when both were 7. Will was orphaned shortly after, and raised elsewhere. Adult Emma, now a television actress, is played by Rachel Bilson ("The O.C.," "Jumper").
"Will learns that Emma's father is sick and she is going back to her hometown to see him," Albert said. "Will decides to go back to the town where he lost his girlfriend and find her again."
The small town is never named, nor is the state. It gives the story a fairy tale-like quality, Albert said.
Shots filmed in Ogden include Will being dropped off by a couple who picked him up when he was hitchhiking; Will whooping and hollering as he races into a bank to greet his conservative businessman brother; and Will "accidentally" running into Emma as she walks down the street.
"She's amazed at the coincidence of running into him after so many years," Albert said. "She's trying to figure out just how crazy this guy is and what he is up to. He is reluctant to tell her he is a street performer and was waiting for her."
The body of the story is about how Will, described as a Buster Keaton/Charlie Chaplin type of character, uses his offbeat charms to pursue this woman. It's an off-kilter romance, Albert said.
The shoot moves to the Salt Lake City area today, and lots of the remaining scenes are interiors, Albert said. Also appearing in the film are Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor"), playing Emma's father; Blythe Danner ("Huff," "Meet the Fockers"), playing Emma's mother; and Nikki Blonsky ("Hairspray") as Will's childhood friend, now married to another childhood friend played by Scott Mechlowicz ("Gone," "Peaceful Warrior").
Albert said "Waiting for Forever" will be released in 2009.
Albert has enjoyed the Utah shoot so far.
"The people have been so nice to us," he said. "I love shooting in Utah. I had never done it before. I've shot movies all over the world. The Utah crew is one of the best I have worked with."
Other projects that have shot scenes in the Ogden area include "Everwood," "Touched by an Angel," Disney's "Halloweentown" movies, the TV film "Anya's Bell" and various independent films.
