LAKEVILLE ~ Residents of the Island Terrace nursing home were treated to a not so ordinary annual picnic this week as the filming of "Run Grammie Run" took place along with a fashion show on the nursing home's grounds.
In the shade of a party tent, overlooking cranberry bogs and Pocksha Pond, a handful of past and current Miss Massachusetts' and Miss Rhode Islands strutted past residents in glamorous pageant gowns. Sprinkled in between were the equally glammed up actors and actresses starring in "Run Grammie Run."
The film follows the lives of four generations of women in the fictional Wilde family. Grammie, who is played by Louise Rosetti, wants to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The family' is shocked by Grammie's ambitious proposal but gradually accepts her endeavor, and in the process, each discover "hidden reserves and talents that none of them suspected they had," according to the program pamphlet.
"This is the story of four generations of women living in the same household, how they resolve their 'men' problems. and how a family can come together to reach a common goal," says the pamphlet.
According to director and producer David Singer, who is also the "techno guy" at Island Terrace and the husband to one of its co-owners, the movie came to life through a series of coincidental discoveries.
"I was at Jay Fernandes' studio, Saucer Sound, auditioning bands and singers for another movie project," Mr. Singer said. Mr. Fernandes; by the way, plays the Emcee at the fashion show. "While auditioning, we came across a song that could generate an entire movie with an idea of summer love stuck. The idea stuck and in the process it evolved. I said I needed a family in it, and then it evolved to four generations of a family. Then we asked what Great Grandma's role could be, and then there was the marathon idea."
WALLACE WILDE, played by Jeff Phillips, is unveiled as the anonymous benefactor supporting many women-owned businesses, including his wife's. His character is also Grammie's son-in- law who was injured in a car accident thirty years ago leaving him confined to a wheelchair. Behind him, Jay Fernandes, who plays himself as Em-cee of the gala event. Behind him are the Island Terrace residents and guests along with two girls in gowns, Vanessa Henderson (left) and Nicole Foti (right).
Louise Rosetti, "Grammie," is a runner in real life. She turns 85 next week (but her character is 75) and continues to run in countless 5Ks and other short road races. "This year," Mr. Singer said, "she said she was slowing down and only going to run about 100 races."
A Saugus resident, Ms. Rosetti, nicknamed the "ageless wonder," has been running for 35 years, she started running in her fifties. She was an Olympic Torch Bearer in 2000 and has founded The New England 65-Plus Runners Club.
"Running," she says, "has made life wonderful." She is an avid proponent of women's running and even has a 5K' named after her, which she ran this past Wednesday.
LOUISE ROSETTI stars as Grammie in "Run Grammie Run" and models her mauve long sleeved gown for the fashion show. She is escorted by Jim Wrynn, "Bud Wise" her love interest in the film.
"Our two oldest male lead actors," said Mr. Singer, "actually joined the cast because of their deep respect for Louise as a runner. They are runners themselves, they've both done the Boston Marathon before."
The other characters in the movie are dealing with their own struggles, almost as dif-ficult as qualifying for a 26.2 mile road race at the age 005. Grammie's daughter, Elaina Wilde (played by Marianna Scarpellini) is described as a self-made business woman who learns (at the taping at Island Terrace) that her husband, Wallace Wilde, is the anonymous benefactor that's been supporting her business as well as many other women's businesses. The Angel Funding Foundation is the name of Wallace's organization.
DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER DAVID SINGER checks his equipment as he sets up a shot with Marianna Scarpellini, who plays Elaina Wilde and her stage husband, Wallace Wilde (played by Jeff Phillips).
The fashion show event is thrown by the Angel funded businesses. Island Terrace residents and guests were encouraged to participate in the filming of the fashion show and benefactor unveiling scenes. When Wallace wheeled out, the crowd applauded, whistled, stood up and patted him on the back since the audience was supposed to be comprised of women who's businesses received support from Wallace.
Caroline Wilde-Melo (played by Kathleen Bousquet) is Grammie's grand-daughter and an international flight attendant who has been separated for her husband for ten years and is about to make a real decision about her marriage.
Grammie's great-grand-daughter, Maria Melo (played by Ashley Root) is a high school soccer player and an "A" student who thinks her mom (Caroline) and her dad are having problems because they are so alike, so she falls for her polar opposite, Renato (played by Josh DeCarlo). Renato aspires to be a high school dropout and professional skateboarder.
The film is scheduled for a January 2007 release to local television stations. "A 58 minute version will be given to the local access channels for the communities that our actors live in," said Mr. Singer. "That will cover between 30 and 40 tow Saugus to Middleboro and down the Cape."
From there, fans given information to purchase DVDs of "Run Grammie Run" that will include bloopers, cast interviews, and other behind the scenes clips.
