Shooting at the starting line

Wondering who got that coveted role being held for a local woman in “25 Hill,” the film Corbin Bernsen began shooting today at Derby Downs? Well, she’s Alexis Fowler, of Canal Fulton. She’s a regular gal with a regular job at AT&T. Her last acting gig was at Northwest High School.

Fowler went to the casting call with her sister on Saturday, got an e-mail offering her an audition late Sunday night and by early this week was learning her four or five lines for the role loosely based on the character of Mary Ethridge.

She showed up on the set this morning to watch as Bernsen and his crew staged an opening day press conference and shot the first scene with actors Ralph Waite, who you might remember for his portrayal of John Walton Sr. in “The Waltons” and 12-year-old Nathan Gamble, who you may have seen in “Marley & Me” or “Dark Knight.”

The mayor was there and so were about a dozen other local leaders and financial backers.

More than a few videographers, photographers and reporters also watched as Bernsen presented a $50,000 check to the Derby on behalf of the film. It’s something he hopes to do throughout the production process to help support this year’s race. His broader goal is use the film to help save the Derby.

“I’m in love with your city here,” Bernsen told the media. “I will do everything I can to make sure that his Derby doesn’t leave Akron.”

A year from now, in July 2011, he hopes to invite 10,000 people to the Rubber Bowl for the world premiere of his film on a big screen. As far distribution plans after the debut, who knows? But the movie started here today.

As for Fowler, she’ll be in makeup at 2 p.m. and on the movie set by 3. Not a bad day’s work.

While she doesn’t look like the real Mary, they were dressed similarly when they met for the first time this morning. She’ll be dressed differently in the film since black, white and patterns are three things the wardrobe people asked her to avoid wearing. “That’s my whole closet,” she laughed. – Jane