The elderly woman sat patiently on a lawn chair at the edge of the road, her gaze focused steadily on Robert Redford. Eventually, the actor walked over to her, took her hands into his and, as a tear trickled down her cheek, he bent over and kissed her on the forehead.
The scene was not from The Company You Keep being shot last week in Fort 91原创 and Brookswood, but a real-life exchange between a devoted fan and the legendary actor and director. It occurred last Wednesday, Sept. 21, near the Esso station on Glover Road in Fort 91原创.
For assistant location manager Trevor Brokop, the touching moment reflected the essence of Redford.
"I've worked in this industry for 14 years and I've never seen anything like it," Brokop said.
"It is probably one of the most beautiful moments I have ever seen."
Redford is joined in 91原创 by other Hollywood royalty: The cast of The Company You Keep features a slew of Oscar winning actors 鈥� Susan Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper and Julie Christie.
The thriller, in which Redford stars and directs, centres on a former Weather Underground activist who goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity. The film is due out next year.
Thursday's filming was at Brookwood Secondary, birthplace of Backstreet Studios, one of British Columbia's premier high school film and video programs. Today, it is headed by teacher Carl Hofbauer who was able to arrange for 20 of his students to work on the set as production assistants.
To work on a set of a feature film provides invaluable experience, Hofbauer said, and brings what the students are learning to the forefront of their minds.
Standing so close to scenes as they were being shot, the classroom came alive for the students, and Hofbauer was able to explain the different roles of production workers.
And to work with such an accomplished actor and director as Redford was almost too good to be true. Redford, Hofbauer pointed out, is not only a Hollywood icon but the father of independent film. Redford launched the Sundance Film Festival almost three decades ago to celebrate independent films and create a springboard for those who make and appreciate watching, independent films.
For many of Hofbauer's students, Redford's link with the genre is significant for them as independent film makers.
The Company You Keep is scheduled to be released in 2012.
