In His Own Way, Lance Fairchild may be the most dangerous man who ever lived... High School Student Lance Fairchild sets out on a quest for revenge to defeat the people he
blames for his failure on a French test, but before he can face his adversaries he must first prove himself
worthy to wield the swords of Silent Dragon. A blatant send-up of modern action movies, The Useless Swords of Silent Dragon
features action, adventure, suspense, musical numbers and a keen sense of the ridiculous.
-- Article from The Pioneer Press, by Lacy Gillespie, 2005
"Everyone quiet, rolling, and action!" Tyson Vick yells at his actors while waiting
to shoot another scene for their movie The Useless Swords of Silent Dragon. "This is the first time they have had to act like adults," Vick said only half–
jokingly. They have had to act like adults to complete the 14–minute film amidst their 10–member
cast's busy schedules. "It's a comedy,action," said Krapf, who plays the main role as Lance Fairchild. The drama unfolds as Lance Fairchild is given the answers to an upcoming French exam, but
when he misses every question on the test he sets out to take revenge on his betrayers. With his best friend,
Emile Hunge, he takes on his adversaries Marzamilianno Bueby, Fabrizio Rex, Golgatha Olyphant and Darius Puppet
in sword fights losing every time. Throughout the course of the movie, he learns French until his final battle
with the The French Teacher. Daniel Winkowitsch plays Silent Dragon, keeper of the swords. Naomi Light appears
as the female lead and sole voice of reason, Genevieve Winterieses. Hallie Brown as the wicked substitute, Mrs.
McCranky, and Mama Gina Webb, all add to the action.
The effort was spearheaded by Kody Krapf, Benjamin Campbell and Daniel Jacobs. The group began making
home movies after Campbell bought a camcorder, Krapf explained. However, they wanted to take it a step
further, which Vick helped the crew accomplish."The boys asked me if I could show them how to make a
real movie with one of these things," Vick said, holding up a movie slate. The group was thrilled when Tyson Vick, a New York Film Academy graduate, agreed to assist the group.
This talented director recently attended the New York Film Academy and has already enjoyed success
in the industry. His film Puppy Be Gone was an official selection of the 2003 New York International
Independent Film and Video Festival, and also the Internation Festival of Cinema and Technology
which toured the world through Toronto, London and Florida. To add to his credit, he has filmed and
edited several corporate videos and commercials for the telecommunications industry. |
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Tyson's father, Wayne L. Vick and his production company, 49 North Productions, then graciously
allowed the group to use their equipment and fund the film. Tyson then volunteered to help them develop
the script based on the teenagers own personalities. He showed the students how to work the cameras, find
locations, prepare costumes and put together the cast. The filming hasn't been without difficulties for the young filmmakers. "I have to do all of my own
stunts," Krapf said. These stunts have included rolling down a plateau, doing a human wheelbarrow and
being thrown into the back of his pickup. In general, "I just get abused," Krapf added. All of these
stunts occur while Krapf is dressed in billowing white dress pants, a button down white shirt and a silk
vest. Jacobs added his own story of woe of being his own stunt double and having to run into a wall.
Costume glitches started when Krapf's pants didn't show up in time. They were supposed to arrive on
Monday, which was Memorial Day, which meant they didn't get them until Tuesday, Krapf explained. The
pants were too big, and Karen Schwartz had to do an emergency hem job before they were movie ready.
By that time, they were two hours late to their filming location. "If nothing else, they have learned
to be on time," Vick said about the aspiring actors. Rolling down hills and all this abuse took a big toll on the actors' elaborate costumes, and they
have gone through numerous quick fix repairs throughout the shoot. A bull stepped on Herbie Fitzgerald
during a rodeo the day before filming, and this greatly limited his actions in the movie. Despite his
limitations and with plenty of medication, he was still able to take on Krapf in a sword fight.
Another fun evening was spent vacuuming up the Webb's lawn after shooting thousands of pieces of confetti
on to it, Jacobs related. "Mother Nature hasn't helped out either," he added. A typical day for the actors includes "getting up in the morning," Vick said with a smile. Then they meet
at Northern Telephone where they change into their respective costumes and go to a new location each day to
film. Their filming locations have included an abandoned base, Gina Webb's house, lawn, and pond, St. Paul
Lutheran Church, the school and in front of murals around town.
"We shot a scene in front of the mural, and I run past, like Scooby Doo," Jacobs said. Another shoot included
them covering a wall in Webb's house with over 500 black and white photos. This kind of creativity has made
this movie a project to behold. "I was told by the director they are better actors than those in the last movie he did," Mama Webb said.
Indeed, she is looking forward to convincing these aspiring actors to join her Speech and Drama team this fall.
"I hope to see them all there," she said.
"I learned to act a lot better than when I was in Ben's movie," Krapf said about his experience.
"This is a very creative way to spend your summer vacation. It takes a special kind of young people to do this
and be willing to go out of their comfort zone," Mama Gina added. |
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