RoundAbout Madison - Movie Madison 1-05

Jim Caviezel prepares to shoot a scene in the cockpit of the Miss Madison unlimited hydroplane.

Movie 'Madison' to finally hit cinemas in spring, sources say

MGM plans a limited release initially

By Don Ward
Editor

(January 2005 ) – The long-awaited release of the hydroplane racing movie “Madison” may become a reality in April 2005 if an agreement with MGM Studios for a limited release holds up.
The movie would be released April 22 in six to 10 cities initially, then could be expanded to additional cities, depending on its success, according to a source close to the production team. The movie would be shown in Madison, Ind., theaters, with a special preview showing that is in the planning stages at the Ohio Theatre in downtown Madison, sources say.
Betsey Vonderheide, special projects administrator for Madison Mayor Al Huntington, said she has been contacted about holding a premiere showing in Madison. Film consultant Tony Steinhardt of Madison said he, too, has been told about the deal through his contacts with the production company.
Ohio Theatre owners Tony and Laura Ratcliff, however, said they have not yet been contacted by the movie production team or city officials about holding a premiere. They added that a movie industry trade magazine, Independent Marketing Edge, to which they subscribe had listed "Madison" as an upcoming movie to be released.
"This is the first time we've seen one of the trade publications mention it, so that is a good sign that it might actually be coming out this time," Laura Ratcliff said.
The movie “Madison,” starring actors Jim Caviezel, Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern and Paul Dooley, was shot on location in Madison in the summer and fall 1999, including race scenes filmed during that year’s Madison Regatta festival. Additional filming took place in Indiana and on the West Coast.
Since the film’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2001, two distributors had contracted to release the film only to be acquired in larger sales, scuttling distribution plans.
A spring release could also help the movie’s popularity by coming out prior to the 2005 Unlimited hydroplane racing season, which begins in June.
Written by brothers Scott and Bill Bindley of Indianapolis and directed by Bill Bindley, the movie is loosely based on the true story of the late Miss Madison Unlimited hydroplane driver Jim McCormick’s Cinderella victory in the 1971 Gold Cup race in Madison. The heartwarming story features dramatic race scenes that climax with the final Gold Cup race.
Many of the film’s extras were selected from Madison area residents. Seymour, Ind., rock singer John Mellencamp narrates the film as the adult voice of Mike McCormick, Jim McCormick’s son, through whose eyes the story is told. Madison’s own singer-songwriter Rusty Bladen wrote a song that was recently bought for use in the movie. Bladen said he was told that his song, “Ride That River,” will be playing over the car radio in one scene.
An initial cut of the film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where it was well received by an enthusiastic audience. Since then, it has premiered at the 2001 Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. It had a private showing at the 2002 Indy 500 Festival, where Caviezel also appeared.
When the movie “Madison” was made, Caviezel had appeared in a few films, including “The Thin Red Line” (1998) and “Frequency,” which came out in 2000. Since then, Caviezel has been in several more films, including “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) and “High Crimes” (2002), the latter co-starring with Kentucky native Ashley Judd. Caviezel’s big break came later when director Mel Gibson selected him to star in the 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ.” On the heels of playing Christ, the devout Catholic from Mount Vernon, Wash., starred in “Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius,” playing the famous golfer, and “Highwaymen.”
Caviezel is expected to appear in Madison for the premiere party in April, pending his schedule, sources say.

• Watch for updates about the movie’s release on RoundAbout’s “Madison” movie page at: www.roundaboutmadison.com.

• Editor’s Note: You can view the movie trailer in its entirety online at:
www.madisonthemovie.com/madison.html. Click on “Madison.”

“Madison” Movie Credits
Made in USA, 2001
Release Date: Late Summer 2004
Distributors: MGM
Runtime: 94 min.
Executive Producers: Carl Amari, Chris Dennis, Steve Salutric, Roy Millonzi
Producers: Martin Wiley, William Bindley
Co-Producer: Lisa Lloyd
Screenwriters: William Bindley, Scott Bindley
Director: William Bindley (Credits: “The Eighteenth Angel,” “Judicial Consent”)
Principal Cast: Jim Caviezel (Jim McCormick), Jake Lloyd (Mike McCormick), Mary McCormack (Bonnie McCormick), Bruce Dern (Harry Volpi), Paul Dooley (Mayor Don Vaughn), Brent Briscoe (Tony Steinhardt).
Additional Cast: Frank Knapp (Bobby Humphrey), Kristina Anapau (Tami), James Andelin (Merle), Reed Diamond (Skip), Mark Fauser (Travis), Richard Lee Jackson (Buddy), Matthew Letscher (Owen Henderson), Cody McMains (Bobby Epperson), William Shockley (Rick Winston), Vincent Ventresca (Walker Grief), John M. Watson Sr. (Walter).
Storyline: A somewhat fictionalized account of a true story about an Unlimited hydroplane driver’s surprise victory in the 1971 Gold Cup at Madison, Ind.
Official website: http://www.madisonthemovie.com