Notes from the Director / Cast Page
Winter 2005
Alright, alright, ALRIGHT! Everyone, good news. We have finally brought a complete, screenable version of CORVAIR SUMMER to the small screen! I have previewed the movie just a few times with a few close friends, and it's a really beautiful thing! While we are making a few final technical adjustments, I am getting more and more excited about seeing it finally all come together. Here are some of the main reasons:
THE HYPNO-TWISTS. Phoenix's hottest-ever band will be prominently featured, doing what they do best -- laying down Corvair-era rock and roll you can really twist your a** off to! They've got those certain 60s sounds that blend oh, so beautifully with those of a roaring CORVAIR engine. I gotta tell you, we are super-stoked that THE HYPNO-TWISTS are along for the ride!
THE WOLFMAN. Gary Fillides came from out of nowhere, yet winds up being a huge part of the movie! As the slightly-crazed yet dependable "Wolfman," he's the perfect sounding board for Charles, as Charles struggles to overcome a variety of mechanical, technical and psychological obstacles. Gary's distinctive voice talents, his vast knowledge of things automotive, and his raw, unbridled sense of humor make him a pleasure to hang out with, at a cruise night, in the pits, up in Flagstaff, wherever!
THE WISE MAN. First-time actor Sam Young endured scorching heat, an outlandish prosthetic mustache, and a constantly-evolving script to turn in a classic performance as the mysterious sage Charles encounters in the desert. After he bestows upon our hero a mystical ignition coil, we don't see the WISE MAN again; but there is a strange feeling he is following Charles' progress, perhaps though remote viewing, perhaps by regularly visiting corvairsummer.com.
The LOUNGE GIRL. Laurie Calvagno spontaneously joined the cast one night while we were getting some video of the Hypno-Twists at the Emerald Lounge. As it turns out, they both had some interesting Corvair stories of their own to share from back in the day, and so made the big rock show scene at the end of the movie a total success.
MARK AKSAMIT of SOUTHWEST CORVAIR. Mark at SOUTHWEST CORVAIR was a wellspring of practical technical racing advice (not to mention hard-to-find Corvair parts!). Along with KEITH KEETON and the WOLFMAN, MARK helped keep CHARLES on track when he was skidding out of control.
BLUE DRAGON TATTOOS and TABATHA HUTCHINS, for her expert and everlasting rendition of the STP logo on CHARLES' left arm! CORVAIR SUMMER says BLUE DRAGON TATTOOS is the best in the west!
THE SKELETON CREW. CORVAIR SUMMER was produced on a shoestring budget, yet everyone was really willing to throw themselves into it, and for that we are most grateful...
DAVID GONZALES and CATHERINE McCABE lent their considerable cinematography skills to the mix, providing a nice balance to my own shaky, psychotic camera work.
And last, but definitely not least, CHARLES NISSEN and his 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa. What a team! Man and machine have never been so close as Charles and his Corvair. Charles worked hard on that car, and by the end of the movie, you'll see, hear and feel the difference - Charles ROCKS! and that Corvair of his can move, I can tell you!
Great job, everybody! I want to thank each and every one above (and anyone else I have yet failed to mention) for their contributions to this project! Now it will ALWAYS be a CORVAIR SUMMER and we will keep you posted on our future progress. There is still a lot of road to cover, but it's full speed ahead at this point We'll be in touch again soon with more news, alright? ALRIGHT!
Jim Mack, Director
e-mail: jmack@dancingskeleton.com
