Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Los Lunas goes Around the Bend

Jessica Dyer News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdyer@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas Around the Bend was just around the corner Monday in Los Lunas.

Scenes from the feature film, which stars Christopher Walken, Michael Caine and Josh Lucas, were filmed Monday at the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at 3476 Highway 47 in Los Lunas, where semi-trailers, mammoth lights and a crew of production people gathered in the parking lot.

Tracey Zemitis, unit publicist for the Warner Independent Pictures' production, said it was the first day filming had taken place in Los Lunas. Principal photography for the movie, about four generations of a family, began Saturday in Albuquerque.

Jonathan Gentner of Belen felt fortunate to be a part of Monday's proceedings as an extra. "It was really cool. I liked the experience," he said.

Gentner, who's retired from the car restoration business, received a phone call from a casting agent on Sunday evening asking if he would be an extra on the set on Monday. He'd attended an open casting call at the old Los Lunas Hospital and Training school with his dog last Tuesday but wasn't expecting to get summoned.

"At the casting call, they told me I had a really neat dog," Gentner said of his pooch, Muggles. "He's just a mutt, but he's a good-looking mutt. I was really surprised they wanted me and not the dog. I still have high hopes for the dog. He was really disappointed."

Gentner was asked to be at the location at 6:45 a.m., where he filled out paperwork proving he's a New Mexico resident. Film producers reap economic benefits, such as tax rebates, when they spend their budget in the state. Despite his early arrival, Gentner ended up waiting until about 1:30 p.m. to film his scene.

He said his assignment was to look like a KFC customer, and his instructions were: "Just sit there and pretend like you're eating. That was it." He was given some chicken and did what he was asked. "I actually just picked on it like I was eating it," he said. "I felt like it was more of a prop."

Gentner was in a scene with Christopher Walken but didn't get to speak to him. "You could see the reason. (The actors are) concentrating on their job and their acting and their lines, and that's cool."

Gentner, who's already had one brush with fame, having appeared in a commercial for Lovelace Hospital, said his scene was over with in a matter of minutes. He said he didn't even feel like he was in the movie, and he certainly wasn't paid like a famous actor. He made $6 an hour for his time.

Despite that, he said, he'd probably do it again, if only for the fringe benefits. "They really feed you well. They really do. They had a really great lunch buffet," said Gentner, adding that he got to choose from meatloaf, salmon and real — not prop — chicken.

"That was definitely a perk. They really try to make you feel comfortable," he said. "They wouldn't have had to pay me anything. I would've done it for free if I'd know the food was going to be there."

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