LON SLEPICKA
Firehouse.com News
If a blaze rages in Baltimore, Chief William Goodwin may well call on John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix for a little help and actually, they may be able to provide it.
The two are the stars of the Touchstone Pictures production of "Ladder 49" which will start filming soon in the city. Phoenix plays a dedicated firefighter caught in the debris of a fiery explosion and while waiting to be rescued, contemplates his life with old friend and chief played by John Travolta.
Both have spent time at the city training academy, "trying to teach them what we do, what we learned when we started out," according to the chief.
Actors 'Slaying the Dragon'
Phoenix actually jumped in with an academy class in December and put in a good deal of time, graduating with the class. For the last couple of weeks he has been working a shift with a west Baltimore truck company.
And Travolta and other actors have joined him with some evolutions at the training center saying, "I’m trying to cram 20 weeks into 20 days."
"It’s a whole other universe of experience," Travolta said in describing his trip through the maze and how he and Phoenix knocked down some fires, or as he and Phoenix grinned and said together, "slayed the dragon." He said he lost the hose line in trying to make an exit. "How do they [firefighters] do it?"
Both are humbled by their experience so far and both are aware of the importance of learning the job so they can portray it correctly in the film. "Every time I see a fire I see some great conflagration," Phoenix said. "And then the other guys say, oh, this is nothing."
The success for some movies is how well they portray reality and firefighter moviegoers will be watching critically. But for BCFD Training Division Chief Dennis Howell, Phoenix could be the real deal. "I would put him on a truck tonight. He’s good. Real good."
Leading Actress Has Firefighting Family Connection
And on the softer side there is another firefighter connection in female lead Jacinda Barrett who’s firefighter father just retired after 33 years.
Barrett, who plays the wife to the Phoenix character, said, "I feel like it is my parents story."
Raised in Australia where her father was with Brisbane, Australia Airport Crash and Rescue, Barrett remembers how proud she felt when she saw him on television or in the newspapers. She loved being around him and firefighters who showed great love and respect for each other.
But Barrett said her father never talked a lot about the job at home and she has come to realize that is part of the character of many firefighters. "It was like pulling teeth to get him to talk about work," she said.
The couple in the film has two children the same age difference as she and her brother. She said her wife character "has a bit of fear in her life, fear for her husband," which she said she doesn’t remember as any part of her mothers character.
She asked her mother to write down he feelings about such things to give her some insight into the part. "But I do remember the strong friendships my mother had with other firefighter wives." Her father got through the first ten pages of the script then jumped to the end to see how it all turned out. They are excited for her she said.
Old Engine 35 House May Be True Star
There may be another star in the making for the movie. Renovations are underway on the fire station at 1749 Gorsuch Avenue that went off-line in 2000. It last ran Engine 33, Medic 3 out of its bays and was reportedly built in the 1890,s.
With ornate tin ceiling and tile mosaic walls are being cleaned up and the second floor bunkroom is being fitted out with steel beds. No less then five fire poles run between the two floors. The house will be something special left over when the filming is done.
John Travolta was quite clear why he chose this film and this part noting that in these recent years that firefighter appreciation is at the highest level. "And Baltimore is famous for having excellent firefighters. Even New York will say that."
For Chief Goodwin it has been a wonderful experience so far. "We have gotten to bond with these individuals which has uplifted all of us. These outstanding people will portray the outstanding people of our department."
The Touchstone/Buena Vista Pictures film is being directed by Jay Russell and produced by Casey Silver. Filming is scheduled to begin March 25 and last several months.
Thousands of firefighters and their families showed up recently for a casting call at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Travolta said there would be room for "extras" in the filming. The film is scheduled to hit the movie houses in early 2004.