LAKEVILLE ~ As popular actors on the local theater scene, Glenn Fournier and Kathleen Bousquet are familiar to Attleboro area audiences from amateur productions ranging from "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" to "Chicago."
Soon, the two Mansfield actors may be receiving wider recognition - as stars in an independent feature film.
"It's a lot different from being onstage," said Fournier, who plays Jack Mello in the movie "Run Grammie, Run!" which filmed a scene last week on Long Pond in Lakeville. "In a play, the previous scene builds up the emotion for the scene that follows, so you have that preparation.
"In a movie, you might film the last scene before you do the one that leads up to it. You sometimes find yourself thinking, 'what's my motivation, here?'"
Fellow Mansfield resident and former Miss Massachusetts Kathleen Bousquet, who plays Fournier's wife in the film, said she also had to make some adjustments.
"In a play, you spend weeks and weeks rehearsing," she said. "In the movie, there's much less preparation. You don't have to memorize as much, but you have to be ready.'
Fournier and Mello are just two among several area residents in front of and behind the cameras making "Run Grammie, Run!" the rookie effort by producer-director David Singer.
The feature-length film relates the story of an septuagenarian determined to run the Boston Marathon and her equally quirky family.
North Attleboro college student Ashley Root stars as the youngest member of the title character's family, and Norton resident and recording studio owner Jay Fernandes plays an emcee at a function portrayed in the event.
Fernandes, along with Mansfield resident and composer Keith Hayes, were also responsible for the original music in the film.
Norton's Jay Fernandes belts out a celebratory tune during filming of "Run Grammie, Run!" in Lakeville. Jeff Phillips (in wheelchair), is embraced by Marianna Scarpellini.
Taunton's Josh, DeCarlo, a professional skateboarder and trick riding specialist, stars as Root's boyfriend.
Raffy Lopez, a recording studio engineer from Attleboro, worked on the audio portion of the film and also had a walk-on part as a truck driver.
Last week's filming occurred at the Island Terrace Nursing Home, a converted brick and stucco mansion on the shores of Long Pond once owned by Boston philanthropist William Eaton.
"Run Grammie, Run!" is being filmed in high definition and is scheduled to premiere in January.
Singer hopes to market the movie over cable television and the Internet. A shortened version of the 84-minute film also will be released free to local cable outlets throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Most of last week's scenes were shot on the grounds of the nursing home, where a gigantic party tent was set up to facilitate filming of a fundraiser and fashion show portrayed in the movie.
Root, a 2005 graduate of North Attleboro High School, has played numerous roles in school productions but never expected to be tapped for a film.
"It was just a total surprise," said the teenager, who plans to enroll next fall at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
She said "Run Grammie, Run!" is an unusual combination of family drama with music that at times make the film resemble a musical comedy.
"It's a nice family story," she said.
Root said she particularly likes that the film revolves around an older woman's determination to succeed.
"It's very empowering," she said.
Ashley Root of North Attleboro plays an extra in this scene at Island Terrace Nursing Home.
At the heart of the movie's musical score are songs written by Fernandes and Hayes, a long-time rock 'n' roll musician and keyboardist with such bands as Air Supply.
Fernandes, a Berklee graduate, formerly toured with the regional band "The Probers" and now runs the Saucer Sound recording studio in Norton.
Singer said the music was such an integral part of the film that recording began much before filming.
"One thing you'll notice about successful films is that they never have bad sound," Singer said.
Former Miss Massachusetts 2004 Erika Ebbel, center, goes over her lines as the news anchor of fictional Channel 84 prior to a scene.
Producer-director David Singer, left. takes time out from movie logistics to be interviewed by reporter-movie extra Rick Foster.
RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0428 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.
