Hundreds needed for game scenes in ’23 Blast’ movie; stars in town for filming

Above, actor and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson, left, with legendary former Redhound football coach Archie Powers on the set of "23 Blast," a movie currently filming in Corbin. Thompson is portraying Powers in the film. Below, Noah Taylor prepares for a scene.

Filmmakers are hoping to fill the seats at Corbin’s Campbell field Saturday for scenes in a movie based on the life of former local football player Travis Freeman, who went blind while in middle school but was able to play for the Redhound varsity team at age 17.

"23 Blast" is a fictional adaptation of Freeman’s experiences as a Corbin student and athlete. He played center for the Redhounds football team from 1995 through 1998. Freeman lost his sight at age 12 when he was stricken with meningitis after contracting a sinus infection. "That road was a tough one but his faith carried him through it," said Corbin Offensive Coordinator Willard Farris who coached Freeman.

Freeman now lives in Louisville and is studying to be a Baptist minister.

Principal shooting for the film is taking place in Corbin right now and will last for about three more weeks, said production assistant Alicia Zaragoza Tuesday. On Saturday, the films crew will be shooting game scenes at Campbell field and they are hoping to pack the stands with Redhound faithful. They are looking for about 700 extras to take part in the filming. The band will be there as well to provide the proper atmosphere. It should have the look and feel of an actual game.

"We’ve had some of our actors put all this on their Twitter accounts. We are trying to get the word out," Zaragoza said. "We are trying to get people there."

Extras will also be needed on Thursday when "University of the Cumberlands Night" will be held at Campbell Field in Corbin.  The makers of the movie are asking that UC students gather up their friends as extras for the filming of the movie.  If you are interested in becoming an extra, send an email with "April 12th" as the subject to 23blastextras@gmail.com. 

Please include your name and cell phone number and someone will contact you to confirm the start time of filming for the night.  The movie crew is in need of at least 100 UC students for this opportunity.

During Saturday’s filming, there will be a "meet and greet" with cast members from the movie. Max Adler, who has starred in the television show "Glee," and Mark Hapka from "Days of Our Lives" will be on hand.

The movie is being directed by acclaimed actor Dylan Baker. This is his first feature film project. He has starred in "Secretariat," "Ugly Betty," "Monk," and "Spider Man 3," among other television shows and movies.

Baker will play the role of Travis’ father, Larry Freeman in the movie. Adler is playing Cameron Marshall. Well known actor and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson will portray legendary former Redhound coach Archie Powers. While in real life, Powers never coached while Freeman is in school, in the movie’s fictionalized version of events he is on the verge of retiring and handing over the reins of the Corbin football to the next coach.

Corbin graduate Bram Hoover will star as Jerry Baker.

The script for the movie was penned by Toni and Bram Hoover.

Dylan Baker said there would be some creative license taken with the story, but in preparing the script, numerous interviews have been done with a wide variety of people who knew Freeman, including his family, and players, coaches, teachers and others from across Corbin.

Zaragoza said nearly all of the filming for the movie would take place in Corbin.

"The people of Corbin have opened their arms to this project," Baker said.

Baker said the goal is to have the movie ready to be released in the fall of 2012.

"We hope it will be a national release, but we haven’t got that far yet," Baker said.

Baker hopes the film can be released some time in 2013.