| 1/6/2005 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | ‘Madison’ has date with silver screen April 22
By: Amy Ehrnreiter
Courier Staff Writer
The “race” to bring the independent film, “Madison,” to the silver screen will apparently reach the finish line this spring when the movie shot on location in Madison in 1999 will be released to theaters across the Midwest on April 22.
“Madison,” directed by former Hoosier William Bindley and staring James Caviezel, is based on Jim McCormick, who piloted the Miss Madison hydroplane to the 1971 American Power Boat Racing Gold Cup right here in Madison.
The film, which also stars Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack and Bruce Dern as well as a veteran cast of character actors and local residents who served as extras in several scenes, has now been contracted to MGM and is firmly slated for the April 22 release date.
Although film’s April 22 date with destiny is far from its first release date, it does appear to be the most firm commitment to bring the movie to the silver screen over the past five years.
“The date won’t change.” said Carl Amari, one of the film’s executive producers. “It’s locked 100 percent.”
While Amari admitted that many Madison residents and followers of the film have been discouraged by the five-year wait, the previous release dates were never actually set. Amari said he was unsure how the dates were released to the public, but regardless of movie’s prior setbacks in reaching theaters, he is looking forward to April and movie goers will not be disappointed with the final product.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Amari said. “(The movie) came out just great. It doesn’t look like an independent film; it looks professional.”
Although the number of theaters in which the film will be released is still being discussed, Amari said the movie “will definitely be out there in fairly national release in a little under 1,000 theaters.” He added that the release will be concentrated in middle America in the beginning and expand toward the coasts as the film gains popularity.
“You can expect to see (trailers) at the beginning of February,” Amari said.
Those trailers, and the buzz they are hoped to create, will be two of the most important ways the film will be publicized prior to the release.
Paul Lauer, of Motive Entertainment, said lower budget movies such as “Madison” don’t have the financial resources for massive TV promotions. There will be no million-dollar Super Bowl commercials.
In fact, the movie will be promoted in the same grassroots way in which it was conceived and created.
“Lower budget movies don’t have as much money to spend on media,” Lauer said. “They rely on the strength of grassroots.”
For “Madison” those grassroots will include street teams, screenings, radio promotions and outreach in boating and racing communities — the core audience of the film with hopes that interest in the film spread from there.
Lauer knows the support the community will give the movie, so he is focusing on target groups in other areas for the film such as families, those interested in boating and race fans.
“The success of the movie is heavily dependent on support and involvement it gets from the local community — like any independent film,” Lauer said.
Regardless of the film’s critical and commercial success, the chance to finally see the movie in a release on April 22 will be a source of pride for those involved in its making — especially the local people who contributed to the project.
One such person, Madison singer-song writer Rusty Bladen, said he’s happy to finally receive payment for his role in the project, but he’s even more excited for the opportunity to see the finished product in theaters.
Bladen, who wrote and recorded a song, “Ride that River,” that will appear on the movie soundtrack, is optimistic about the film’s future.
“I think (the movie) will be bigger than ‘Some Came Running,’” Bladen said, referring to the 1958 film that was also shot on location in Madison. “A lot of people can relate to it.”
Bladen said when he was asked to write a song for the movie, he was so excited that he wrote “Ride that River” in 15 minutes. He received payment by check for the song recently and noted that for him when the check cleared was a “good sign the movie was soon to come out.”
Bladen said he knows people are discouraged by the wait — and the previous setbacks in bringing the film to theaters — but he thinks that has just built on the energy and interest in the film.
“To me, it’s like a rock concert,” Bladen said, “The longer the band takes to come out, the more anxious the audience becomes.”
Still, Bladen said the film’s path to acceptance may end up being similar to its journey to the screen. The process will start slow and build.
Ironically, that’s a familiar path taken by other films shot on location in Indiana such as “Hoosiers” and “Breaking Away” — which started slowly as less-publicized independent works and grew into classics.
Bladen described the film as a “sleeper” but noted he thinks “It’ll start out small and people won’t think it will do well. And it ends up being a classic.”
Either way, Bladen — and other Madisonians involved in the project — thinks the movie will be good recognition for Madison.
Tony Steinhardt, Miss Madison’s team manager when McCormick won the Gold Cup who served as the film’s technical adviser, said the movie and its long-awaited release will be good for the city, community and boat racing.
“There is a lot of interest with racing fans and people who remember 1971,” Steinhardt said, “Of the original racing team (members), there are three still here in town.”
Steinhardt said the movie could be a very positive boost for Madison. He thinks the film will be well received locally as well as elsewhere and could help Madison economically by attracting tourists who desire to see the town where the movie was made.
After all, there have been thousands of visitors to tiny Dyersville, Iowa, over the past 15 years to see the place where the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed on a baseball diamond constructed at the edge of an Iowa corn field. The movie site even has its own web-site.
“If you build it they will come” was the signature line in the movie, “Field of Dreams” and for Dyersville that was certainly the case. Madison could reap similar benefits from “Madison’s” release in April.
So, after premiering in a limited released at the famed Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in 2001, and later being screened at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis later that same year, “Madison” appears to be finally set for an extended engagement on the big screen.
Five years after the final scene was shot and the film went to the editing room, “Madison” is set to premier in the town that inspired its birth.
According to Betsy Vonderheide, special projects administrator for the city of Madison, just as “Some Came Running” did in 1958, “Madison” will premier at the Ohio Theater in downtown Madison.
Vonderheide said now that a firm release date has been set, details for the premier are being developed. She said the city hopes to make the event a big party and further details will be forthcoming.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2005
Article comment by:
Tom Arambasich
My wife April & I loved the movie. I was raised on the Illinois Waterway and still live there. Although I have an Outboard Race Fan all my life, this movie has turned both of us into Miss Madison supporters.We belong to a boat club of owners that have Switzercraft and other Hot Boats Of the Past. We get together every year for a Regatta now to be held near my home on the Illinois River permanantly, and this year during the reunion, which was held on Sept.10,everyone was talking about how much they loved the movie. Both of us plan on catching the Madison Regatta from now on, along with the Kankakee,illinois Regatta that holds the APBA/OPC Nationals every year. I am also planning a trip that will put me in the water on June 1st of 2009, taking me down the Illinois to the Lower Mississippi,to the inter costal over to Moble bay then up the Tenn-Tom to the Ohio River then east to Madison where my trip will end the week of the 2009 Regatta.I will be doing this in a 16 1/2 ft Switzer SuperSport. Can't wait.Anyway to conclude;GREAT MOVIE/GREAT TOWN AND A GREAT SPORT. You guys should name on of the heats as a Jim McCormick Memorial too.
Posted: Sunday, May 22, 2005
Article comment by:
Carlos Mendana
i live in miami and my family have been racing in the apba community for a long time, we same a preview dvd and we hope to see it
Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Article comment by:
Erin Jones
I'm not from Madison, but my kids and I were lucky enough to be there for the premiere. It was an absolute honor to get to watch the movie with the people of Madison. It was a truly moving experience.
Posted: Saturday, April 02, 2005
Article comment by:
Bill Conner
Just saw the sneak preview in Seattle with a full house of 400 and everyone loved it!
Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2005
Article comment by:
H Neil Valentine
I would like to see this film. I hope it will be shown (at least within 100 miles of me) zip 49251 Ex APBA mem.
Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2005
Article comment by:
DENNIS WELSH
CALIFORNIA TO INDIANA I'LL BE HOME FOR "MADISON" AT THE OHIO THEATRE AND VISIT MY DEARLY LOVEED MOM R.I.P.
Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Article comment by:
Malo
I was in Madison when they were filming a scene and am really excited about it and am hoping it will boost popularity in the sport
Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Article comment by:
Brad Lewis
All us boat racing fans in Houston, Texas are looking forward to seeing the movie. I hope it makes it to Houston as I made it and was there for the real race with my family in 1971! I am very greatful to carry that distinction. "Go, Miss Madison!!"
Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Article comment by:
Go,Go,Go,Johnny,Beaver:
The Madison Boat Race Movie Well I Just How that It Finely Come's Out At Both At The Mivies Both here In the "Carmi IL./Evansville IN. Aeira + also On D.V.D. Or V.H.S. too alos Because Iem Just Butting to See It Evne If I Have See ALl By My Self SO any How why Not Really Give ALl A Real Movie Treet & Show It At "Evansville's Net 3,D. Eye,Max Theater Showplace East. In 3,D. WOW. & Give Us All A Real Race Boat Ride EH???:
Posted: Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Article comment by:
S. Osborne
There are a ton of fans up here in Canada hoping the movie will make it here.
Posted: Monday, January 10, 2005
Article comment by:
Steven McAtee
Check out my review of Madison at the Internet Movie Database: http://imdb.com/user/ur4205925/comments
Posted: Sunday, January 09, 2005
Article comment by:
Mary Dillon
The boat racing fans in Detroit appreciated your article and will be watching for news on the date of the premier in Madison.
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2005
Article comment by:
steve
I was there with pedro,and he didn't even watch the movie.P.S. it didn't suck
Posted: Saturday, January 08, 2005
Article comment by:
Clint Bowling
I was wondering if the movie would be coming to any military bases in japan.
Posted: Thursday, January 06, 2005
Article comment by:
Rick McAtee
Great article. Great movie.
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