My story is not for the religious or the atheistic or the agnostic... it is for everyone interested in the truth. This blog contains first drafts of poetry and prose for my series of books on Christ, the first of which, Waking Up Jesus, is being greeted kindly by critics. Thank you... John Scott Ridgway
WAKING UP JESUS...
We come into this life expecting too much and leave expecting too little
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
my old tv partner is sparking up a movie deal
Switching glass for celluloid
Toledo native C.J. Bahnsen turns screenplay writer with film titled "Put-in-Bay"
Toledo native moviemakers hope 'Put-in-Bay' film takes off
by Rick Claypool
published May 23rd 2007
What are the chances? Two Toledoans, a pair of St. Francis de Sales alumni who graduated four years apart yet never met one another, get swept up in the star-studded world of Hollywood filmmaking. Producer Kevin Cooper, executive producer of the praised 2003 film “Secondhand Lions,” starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, met Chris Bahnsen, a freelance writer for the O.C. Weekly and contributor to the LA Times and New York Times (and Toledo City Paper editor in 2000) on the front lines of the pop culture heartland.
Think they’d turn their backs on their hometown and never look back? Think again. Bahnsen wrote a screenplay titled “Put-in-Bay,” set on South Bass Island and Toledo. Cooper nurtured the project as creative producer. Now they’re working hard to attract a director, actors and investors, hoping they’ll be able to shoot the film in the Midwestern city they’ve called home.
“I always wanted to do a story about Toledo,” said Bahnsen, a graduate of the University of Toledo’s English program. “And I’ve always had a thing for Put-in-Bay. I didn’t appreciate living on the water — the Ottawa River, the Maumee, Lake Erie — until I moved to California. I could have set the story at the ocean, but I really wanted to write a fresh-water story.” Today, Bahnsen, a regular contributor to Diving Magazine, is obsessed with all things aquatic.
Though it’s Bahnsen’s first venture into screenplay writing, freelancing has offered him ample opportunity to live through story-worthy experiences. A prime example: swimming in a shark cage. “I did a travel piece at Guadalupe Island, 120 miles south of Baja California. It’s a great white shark haven. You’re breathing through this hooka, and the claustrophobia from being in a cage under water can get to you even before the sharks arrive.”
In “Put-In-Bay,” an overly amorous fresh-water surfer named Bobby leaves his parents behind on mainland Toledo to goof off and live with his estranged grandfather on South Bass Island. There, he falls for a tough-as-nails beauty and fish farmer named Maricruz.
Bobby pursues her while working for his grandfather’s fishing business — hardly goof-off time. In the process, he gets swept up in the fight to preserve the business, which is threatened by a greedy mayor eager to “develop” the quaint island into a resort destination for the wealthy.
“This screenplay is part ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High,’ part ‘Breaking Away’ and part ‘Flamingo Kid,’” said Cooper.
“I was particularly drawn to Chris’ writing and similar passion to make a film about growing up in northwest Ohio.”
Without local support, Cooper said a studio might try to shoot it more cheaply at “some lake in Saskatchewan.” The producer estimates the budget will be less than $1 million, and he plans to scout the Put-in-Bay islands for shot locations this summer.
Still, a long time may pass before filming begins. “A project like this can take 10 years to develop,” said Cooper, who is actively seeking local investors. “One of our biggest concerns is not only to make a great story, but to give something back to the community.”
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comment left by Pamela Crabtree on May 26th 2007 at 07:21pm:
I truly believe these two local gentlemen can find a company to film this treatment. Both are to be commended for their loyalty to the hometown area.
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Comment (no HTML tags and 500 character limit):
You are welcome to spread my poems by whatever means... they are yours... unless you make some money off of me and then I would like some. Is that too much to ask? No. I have a family, too;.
Toledo native C.J. Bahnsen turns screenplay writer with film titled "Put-in-Bay"
Toledo native moviemakers hope 'Put-in-Bay' film takes off
by Rick Claypool
published May 23rd 2007
What are the chances? Two Toledoans, a pair of St. Francis de Sales alumni who graduated four years apart yet never met one another, get swept up in the star-studded world of Hollywood filmmaking. Producer Kevin Cooper, executive producer of the praised 2003 film “Secondhand Lions,” starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, met Chris Bahnsen, a freelance writer for the O.C. Weekly and contributor to the LA Times and New York Times (and Toledo City Paper editor in 2000) on the front lines of the pop culture heartland.
Think they’d turn their backs on their hometown and never look back? Think again. Bahnsen wrote a screenplay titled “Put-in-Bay,” set on South Bass Island and Toledo. Cooper nurtured the project as creative producer. Now they’re working hard to attract a director, actors and investors, hoping they’ll be able to shoot the film in the Midwestern city they’ve called home.
“I always wanted to do a story about Toledo,” said Bahnsen, a graduate of the University of Toledo’s English program. “And I’ve always had a thing for Put-in-Bay. I didn’t appreciate living on the water — the Ottawa River, the Maumee, Lake Erie — until I moved to California. I could have set the story at the ocean, but I really wanted to write a fresh-water story.” Today, Bahnsen, a regular contributor to Diving Magazine, is obsessed with all things aquatic.
Though it’s Bahnsen’s first venture into screenplay writing, freelancing has offered him ample opportunity to live through story-worthy experiences. A prime example: swimming in a shark cage. “I did a travel piece at Guadalupe Island, 120 miles south of Baja California. It’s a great white shark haven. You’re breathing through this hooka, and the claustrophobia from being in a cage under water can get to you even before the sharks arrive.”
In “Put-In-Bay,” an overly amorous fresh-water surfer named Bobby leaves his parents behind on mainland Toledo to goof off and live with his estranged grandfather on South Bass Island. There, he falls for a tough-as-nails beauty and fish farmer named Maricruz.
Bobby pursues her while working for his grandfather’s fishing business — hardly goof-off time. In the process, he gets swept up in the fight to preserve the business, which is threatened by a greedy mayor eager to “develop” the quaint island into a resort destination for the wealthy.
“This screenplay is part ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High,’ part ‘Breaking Away’ and part ‘Flamingo Kid,’” said Cooper.
“I was particularly drawn to Chris’ writing and similar passion to make a film about growing up in northwest Ohio.”
Without local support, Cooper said a studio might try to shoot it more cheaply at “some lake in Saskatchewan.” The producer estimates the budget will be less than $1 million, and he plans to scout the Put-in-Bay islands for shot locations this summer.
Still, a long time may pass before filming begins. “A project like this can take 10 years to develop,” said Cooper, who is actively seeking local investors. “One of our biggest concerns is not only to make a great story, but to give something back to the community.”
email this article to a friend or foe
read comments on this article
– Their email address
– Your email (so that they can respond to you)
Optional additional message (placed before the article link):
comment left by Pamela Crabtree on May 26th 2007 at 07:21pm:
I truly believe these two local gentlemen can find a company to film this treatment. Both are to be commended for their loyalty to the hometown area.
write a comment on this article
– Your Name (or nickname or screenname)
Comment (no HTML tags and 500 character limit):
You are welcome to spread my poems by whatever means... they are yours... unless you make some money off of me and then I would like some. Is that too much to ask? No. I have a family, too;.
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