Our Child is Missing

I was approached, because of my affiliation with a classic car club (The Golden City Cruisers) by the line-director for this movie.
Her name is Day. Day found us on the internet.
This movie is being shot here in Carrollton and they needed my help rounding up some cars from the 60's and/or early 70's as well as a few newer vehicles.
With not much time, I was able to get what they needed. Some were not the ideal type or year, but I got some things together that would work.
The hardest part was that most everyone had these great looking shinny, flamed up, extra chromed out or too flashy of vehicles that just wouldn't look right for "daily drivers" from then.

This is a true story about a 2 year old boy, Joe Simpkins, who disappeared from his Carrollton parents yard in 2000, while they were literally feet away, packing for a vacation. In the ensuing 6 hours, the boy wandered across a 5 acre, 7 acre, and 20 acre field, crossed a barbed wire fence and into the woods. Luckily, he was found alive by hundreds of friends and neighbors that came to the cause. It is a faith based movie for reasons you will find out later.

The man that actually found him, Ed Walker, was a 70 year old man who had lost his son to an auto accident some 30 years prior. His son's name was also Joe. For some reason he was called into the search by a flashback of when his son was killed. Mr Walker, who had to walk with a cane, joined the search team, along with his remaining son, across the fields. When they came to the fence, Walker wanted to cross the barbed wire, while others disagreed with him, saying a 2 year old would not do that. Walker insisted, and to make a long story short, the boy, and his dog, were found alive in the woods.

The filming of the flashback was to 1970. Needless to say, they needed some period cars. That's where the Golden City Cruisers involvement started. The car club provided several, but the director, crew and cast wanted my Chevelle for the scene where Joe Walker leaves a country store and is chased by some youngsters in a silver Chevelle! The kids were to peel out of the parking lot, driving recklessly, in the direction Joe had just left. Luckily, the ensuing car crash was not filmed with my car!

I was told that a professional stunt driver would be used, and that my car would not be hurt (hopefully). I did not mind the burnout, since collector car tires typically rot before they wear out. A check with my insurance company assured me that I would be covered if anything happened.

Most of Friday was spent in Mt Zion, Georgia, waiting for a helicopter to come film the overall setting. That's a small spot just west of Carrollton. The day wasn't very exciting, with camera malfunctions and helicopter delays. Saturday we were on the site at 7:00 AM. This was the filming of several cast parts, and the chase scene. (By the way, remember Enos from the Dukes of Hazard? He is in the film.) At one point they needed some extras and got me and another guy (the grandfather of little Joe) to walk down the street behind some of the scenes. I then got to meet the stunt man, Andy (Anderson) Martin, and we went for a "ride" together so he could get familiar with the car. (We talked with the police first, since they were helping with the filming.) Believe me, Andy and the Chevelle bonded very well. He loved the car and was impressed with the handling and power. I didn't even know how well that car sticks to the road, and I'm glad he was driving. We decided the best way to pull off the stunt with the power available in the Chevelle and the setting. Andy is a car guy (owns several old cars, and a Mustang he "practices" in), and he started his professional career in acting, following a Theatrical Degree from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. But somewhere in his acting career he drove a stunt car when the real driver didn't show up. He saved the day, and the rest is history. He has been in stunts ever since. He drove in "Talladega Nights", and supposedly jumped from a helicopter in "Black Hawk Down". Andy is originally from this area and has recently moved back here from LA. I learned a lot about him, and felt very good about the stunt.

So, if you are interested in watching a short clip from the movie, check out the video below. Everyone on the set was VERY impressed. And the club members couldn't believe it! Luckily, they only did two takes, so the car escaped unscathed. Actually she (the Chevelle) told me later that she really enjoyed the romp. The driving was supposed to be reckless, and regardless of how it looks, Andy was making the car swerve on purpose. He was in control. Turn up the speakers on your computer, and I hope you have some bass in the system. The sound is awesome!

This truck belongs to my neighbor Carlton it is a 1977 Ford. They loved this truck because it was just like a truck would look at that time.
Sonny Shroyer is the actor that drove this one. If you don't recognize the name, he played on a little show you may
have heard of called The Dukes of Hazzard! He was Enos, The shy deputy sheriff.

This 1970 Chevrolet El Camino belongs to Randolph A.K.A. "RATT". My wonderful Dad.

This was our first day of shooting with the classic cars. We were at the hospital in Bremen. I guess because it looked old and the sign on the front was most likely there in the 60's. After a couple hours of set up and light reflecting in just the right way the filming began.

Ratt's job was to make a pass in front of the hospital while it was posed with cars in just the right place, as if were an average day in the 60s.

Next is where Sonny Playing Ed Walker, speeds up to the emergency room entrance and rushes into the hospital.

This is the view from inside the emergency room as "Ed" was rushing in.

I was amazed at how much time and setup was involved to make what may turn into a 15 second spot in the movie. I took these pictures with my camera so they are not the greatest.

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The next shooting place was at an old service station in Mt Zion, GA acting as the original station in Tyus, GA where this scene actually happened in 1970. Tyus Store at the 4-way stop has been updated too much to use so they found another old style station to use.

This is a beautiful all so perfect 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle that belongs to Nick, a member of the Golden City Cruisers. I can't believe what they did with this car... and that Nick watched it without crying. Way to go Nick. Now that your car is safely back home it, just think... now she has made it to the big time... you know being a movie star and all. You can breathe easier now.

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I also furnished the movie crew a cargo van that will be dressed up as a news media van and then I furnished them a car and put decals on it to look like a State Trooper vehicle.
It couldn't Say Georgia or look just like a real trooper car so I just made up some stuff. The pictures do not show the finished car. After the rest of the decals and they add the lights to the top it's gonna look great.

OK on this day 10-09-2008 We did some shots where people were walking and talking, just roaming about and helping with anything they could, to help comfort the family as well as stay organized as they could to help find little JOE. So after many many shots of the same scenes over and over again... It was done.

10-10-2008 Tawanna, my sister, as well as my parents, Randolph and Brenda and a group of the GCC members were in scene again. We got to shoot a few scenes with Dean Cain as well as Sonny Shroyer.

10-13-2008 This is supposed to be the last part of the search when they found "Joe" and then everyone celebrated in the yard. I don't know what was
wrong with my camera, some of these pictures are rough, but I had to leave them in. You can see so many things happening and so many people running.
It seems chaotic, but it is somewhat controlled chaos.

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10--14-2008 Today we went back to film more of the searching. I also got a picture with the actual kid that went missing, who is now 10 years old. The pictures of me and Joe are with his dog Cleo that was also with him the entire time he was missing. So far we are having a great time and this has been an experience I will never forget.

10-15-2008 Today we shot some more with Dean/"Randy" looking for Joe. We were filming in a field on the back side of the Simkin's family farm. One picture is not too clear but I left it. It is of Dean Cain chasing me on a 4-wheeler and I was on a golf cart. He was getting dusty so he decided to pass me.

The trailer that Dean is staying in between shots belongs to my car lot. I rented it to the film crew for him to stay in. Part of the deal was to get a picture of him signing the star I put on the door and for me to get my picture with him. I hope to peel off the star and keep it. I think the pictures are great and I'll have a keepsake forever.