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The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee |
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Film production training sets stage for new direction for boys' choir By Jill Elish The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee is taking its performing abilities in a new direction -- video, television and film production. The Boys' Choir, a community outreach program of Florida State University's School of Social Work, will be working with veteran actor Ralph Wilcox over the next seven months to learn all aspects of the film industry -- and possibly even have the chance to act in a feature film. Wilcox is Southwest Georgia's film commissioner and executive director of HennyPenny Video/Television Production Company, Inc., based in Colquitt, Ga. "Artists are everywhere and sometimes all they need is to be exposed to the opportunity," Wilcox said. "I just feel so excited about this history-making opportunity." Wilcox, a 30-year veteran of theater, television and feature films, has had roles in movies such as "China Moon," "Palmetto" and the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon." He had recurring roles on television series such as "Sea Quest DSV 2025," "Bustin' Loose," "Happy Days" and "Good Times" and was a member of the original company of the Broadway show "The Wiz." "We are delighted with this latest endeavor by the Boys' Choir into the performing arts and are pleased to have the involvement of Ralph Wilcox and the opportunities his training center will provide the kids," said School of Social Work Dean Bruce Thyer. "I'm sure this will be another successful undertaking by our talented choir." Boys' Choir Director Earle Lee said the collaboration marks an exciting new direction for the 123-member choir and will help the group as they prepare to stage a production of the musical "Five Guys Named Mo" here in Tallahassee this spring."This just opens another door for us," Lee said. "I just continue to try to find new opportunities for the boys." At HennyPenny, a non-profit company and training organization, the boys will learn cinematography, lighting, sound, hair, make-up, wardrobe, script writing and acting. They will meet with Wilcox four to five times per month through April. The training sessions will be partially funded by a grant to the Boys' Choir from the Surdna Foundation and will include a demo tape that the choir can use for promotional purposes. Wilcox, who has long been interested in using the arts as a way to improve the lives of young people, said the boys impressed him at their first meeting during a tour of his studios and an overview of the program. "What immediately struck me about these boys was the discipline they have," he said. "I was awestruck by the attention they paid to the task at hand. That's such a critical component if you are to be successful in this industry. You have to be focused and passionate, and it also takes organization and cooperation. I was also impressed by their honesty. They knew what areas they wanted to learn and what kind of things they were suited for best." The boys will have the opportunity to work on the HennyPenny production "Roller," a feature film set in the South in the 1950s. Wilcox describes it as a coming-of-age story that depicts the friendship of a young white boy and an older black man who serves as his mentor. In addition to opportunities for the members of the Boys' Choir to serve as extras, the storyline may even lend itself to scenes in which the choir can perform, he said. Over the next several months, HennyPenny also will develop -- with assistance from the boys -- a treatment for the "Thomas A. Dorsey Story." Dorsey, who died in 1993 at the age of 93, was a musician and songwriter of classic gospel songs such as "Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley." The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee was founded in 1995 for boys ages 8 to 18 who live in neighborhoods with limited social and economic opportunities to foster academic excellence, build character and self-esteem, develop interpersonal skills and acquire skills for the future. Every graduate of the program has been accepted to college. |
