Filming for 鈥極n Fire鈥� Begins on Campus
11/17/2023
Members of the 老司机福利网 community got an up-close look at the making of a movie both in front of and behind the camera.
Production crews were on SLU鈥檚 campus for two days filming for the upcoming movie, 鈥淥n Fire.鈥� The film tells the story of SLU alum John O鈥橪eary (CSB 鈥�99).
A group of students got a chance to be part of the film on camera as background extras. Other students were given the opportunity to learn just how a movie works by shadowing the film鈥檚 crew.
On Friday, Nov. 10, the production was outside filming scenes around SLU鈥檚 landmark Lipic Clock Tower plaza. Prior to filming, the production company put out a call for extras 鈥� background performers who aren鈥檛 in the main cast.
For the scenes shot at SLU, the production needed extras to take on the role of SLU students. It is a role Bryce Beck has been preparing to play.
鈥淚鈥檓 not an actor at all,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thought this would be a good opportunity. My whole life, I鈥檝e been method acting for this role because I鈥檓 actually a SLU student.鈥�
Beck, a Chaifetz School of Business student, said he thought the process would be a cool, unique experience. He found out about the film through his girlfriend, Trinity Thomas.
Thomas, a School of Social Work student, said her father, Travis, is friends with O鈥橪eary. O鈥橪eary shared the call for extras with the Thomas family, and Trinity jumped at the chance.
鈥淚 thought it would be fun,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not interested in being an actress or anything, but I think it鈥檚 really fun. It鈥檚 so interesting to be here as cast when we鈥檙e normally here as students.鈥�
Part of the allure for Thomas and Beck was not having to go too far. Thomas said she went to bed Thursday night in her dorm room and then, Friday morning, had a short commute to the Center for Global Citizenship for filming.
Thomas said her friends and family think her role as an extra is cool, even if they don鈥檛 know the full story. She said she was limited on what she could tell people before the movie's release.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not allowed to give a lot of detail, so it鈥檚 been really hush-hush,鈥� Thomas said.
Unlike Beck and Thomas, London Kimble, an Arts and Sciences student majoring in theater and communication, has worked on productions before. She said found out about the need for extras through her connections in the industry. She also said SLU鈥檚 Visual and Performing Arts students were alerted to the casting call.
鈥淭his is not my first film. The first one I was in was in the fourth grade,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been auditioning and doing film and theatre since then.鈥�
Kimble said getting her degree is important to her, so that has limited her chances to do film work while being a student. Having a movie on her campus was a nice surprise, she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very convenient,鈥� she said.
Kimble said she is looking forward to watching the finished film, even if she doesn鈥檛 make the final cut.
鈥淚鈥檝e followed John O鈥橪eary鈥檚 story for a little bit. About 10 years ago, he gave a speech at my school,鈥� she said. 鈥淔inding out that he was a SLU alum and part of the movie would be filmed here, connecting all of those dots, it was pretty extraordinary.鈥�
The SLU extras weren鈥檛 the only members of the SLU community on set. Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Sara Rae Womack brought along three students for a unique behind-the-scenes look at film production.
Tony Chaboude, Madeline Chatham and Lauren Tubbe got to hang out just out of the camera鈥檚 frame. The trio were positioned near the film鈥檚 director and got to listen and learn about how a film is made.
鈥淎ll of this is just really cool to me because this is what I want to do in the future,鈥� Tubbe said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really neat to be on a real movie set. I鈥檓 really excited to learn how sets run and all of the moving parts.鈥�
Chaboude said he was thrilled to have a movie shooting not just at SLU but in St. Louis.
鈥淭his is a great moment for St. Louis and film in general,鈥� Chaboude said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to see it on our campus, and I鈥檓 excited to get a chance to observe this great process of filmmaking. 鈥� It鈥檚 so cool to see a set in St. Louis. It鈥檚 either set in LA or New York City, so to see something in the direct center of my college it鈥檚 very awesome. 鈥�
Chatham was excited to get a chance to explore a potential career path.
鈥淥ne of the things I'm really passionate about is performing, and I鈥檝e never gotten a chance to experience anything like this,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to see this and experience it and find out if this is a career path I want to take. I鈥檓 very excited to be behind the scenes.鈥�