| Show I— The Herald JoumalCache Sunday January 5 1986 Athletes lend grace to ‘American Anthem’ HOLLYWOOD — Filming movies can be deadly constant reshootdoll: nothing to do between set-uwaiting waiting and more waiting ing of scenes Bering boring boring Not so on location for "American Anthem" director Albert Mognoli’s follow-u- p to Prince's "Purple ps Rain” The set has the rolume of the Super Bowl the distraction of a three-rin- g circus and the excitement that goes with seeing brilliant athletes strut their stuff Shooting is taking place in a defunct Phoenix high school whose alumni included Barry Goldwater and Steve Allen renovated by the filmmakers to duplicate a setting for the National Gymnastics Championships "Action!” takes on new meaning in this cavernous building Young athletes garbed in uniforms that bring back memories of the Olympics work on rings and parallel bars balance on beams dash maneuver and vault Those who wait are not passive: they work out i mats stretching jumping somersaulting on the move every moment The talent of these performers is real no Hollywood fakery here They were hired as athletes first and their movements are beautiful coordinated sometimes breathtaking Cheers are provided by the several thousand people hired to simulate the crowds that would be in attendance at national competitions A different crowd is brought in every day in lieu of salaries donations are made by the movie company to charities Dale Benson is the crowd director He perches atop a ladder instructing cajoling hushing scolding encouraging No easy task these people must sit in one spot all day except for a brief lunch break They are fed and watered periodically but the big behavioral motivations are the prize drawings Regular giveaways include everything from "American Anthem” posters to television sets They need no cue to cheer when Mitch Gaylord enters the gym The 1984 Olympic medalist (gold silver two bronze) who makes his film debut as star of the picture is a genuine hero Gaylord was always Magnoli's number one choice for the "Anthem” lead role of a youth competing in the national gymnastics championships while coping with trouble at home The director says he didn't worry a bit that Mitch had no acting experience — indeed that three of his four main performers had never acted before Maria Anz (reminiscent of Mary Lou Retton) is a gymnast and Stacy Maloney (a favorite of cast and crew) had only recently stopped competing Even Janet Jones (“Flamingo Kid” “Chorus line”) had done gymnastics in school before veering into dancing and acting Magnoli has faith “They were professionals before I found them” he says simply Besides these three there are more than 100 parts including world gymnasts in champions Steve Elliott and Ii Yuejiu from China national champs Elaine Alfano and Mark Oates There’s even a tiny future gymnastics star Olympic hopeful Jenni Ester Magnoli believes skills are transferable that the dedication and concentration that made these young people successful athletes will help them deliver as actors He doesn't say it but everyone else does: Prince hadn’t acted either before Magnoli directed him in "Purple Rain” Magnoli may also be credited with having some expertise for looking into a crystal balL He had begnn wort on the film (ital) before (end ital) the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles turned gymnasts into media celebrities (An Olympic gold medalist from the obscure sport of rowing who toured with the top-lev- el non-speaki- Olympics Vr"’ 'o’ - Mitch Gaylord and Janet Jones on location for "American Anthem" winners last year said he quickly discovered the way to get his picture taken was to stand by a gymnast) After the Olympics and after Lorimar had decided to make the movie with executive producer Freddie Fields (and after MGM put the project in turnaround) the great talent hunt began “I have seen video tape of the inside of every gymnastics club in the country” says producer Doug Chapin shaking his head They taped the performances of hundreds of young hopefuls “to find people who were gymnastically capable and who had natural acting ability” Those selected says Chapin worked intensely with a crash course to prepare for the movie The gymnast-actor- s have made quick adjustments to camera life “It’s nice to know” says Maria imiling “that you’re going to get your best performance on tape If you fall off in a meet you an acting coach fall off” Magnoli is quiet and intense one moment squatting by his cinematographer the next running the length of the gym to issue a direction then walking and talking calmly with his arm flung over the shoulder of one of his players With his dark Thirty-two-year-o- ld curly hair dressed in a white shirt and jeans he looks as young as his performers Producer Chapin quotes someone who said “Magnoli made 'Purple Rain with a blowtorch” Grinning Chapin says “It's an interesting image and it’s kind of true I could tell you the story in 'American Anthem’ and it would sound simple and mundane but in the hands of Albert dynamic images are sculpted Watching him is amazing” Spirits are high on the set of the film to be released next summer possibly at Radio City Music Hall on or about the time the renovated Statue of Liberty is unveiled All three novice stars see movies in their futures Magnoli is already planning another fit with Gaylord Stacy and Maria are excited about adopting acting as a new career In the Phoenix gym Li Yuejiu suddenly does a and the crowd roars spectacular series of spontaneously Maria turns and smiles "It's a dream come true” flip-flo- O ps 1W Tribune Mad' Service Inc |
