Hollywood cameras are set to roll this September at the local
Renaissance Faire held at Casa de Fruta, where filmmakers plan to
shoot a romantic comedy starring Jack Black.
Gilroy – Hollywood cameras are set to roll this September at the local Renaissance Faire held at Casa de Fruta, where filmmakers plan to shoot a romantic comedy starring Jack Black.
The film, “Ye Olde Times,” tells the story of two rival Renaissance Faires, and two young actors who team up to save their Faire from an outside takeover. Jack Black plays Professor Gordon Shockworthy, the tale’s narrator; the two romantic leads have yet to be cast. Black is known for wacky comic performances in films such as “Nacho Libre” and “School of Rock,” as well as his crass parody-rock band “Tenacious D.” Actors Cary Elwes, Missi Pile and Will Arnett, best known for the television series “Arrested Development,” have also signed on; Tim Robbins plans to make a cameo appearance.
Filmmakers first approached the Northern California Renaissance Faire more than two years ago, said Lisa Stehl, general manager of Play Faire Productions, which stages the local event. Producers had intended to begin filming in September 2006, but delays pushed the production to this year. Now, the production is “80 percent there,” and will likely begin filming this fall, Stehl said, during the annual event planned for Sept. 8 through Oct. 14 at Casa de Fruta, about 15 miles east of Gilroy in unincorporated Santa Clara County.
“They’re very, very close,” she said, “and they’re very, very serious.”
Co-producer Scott Reed said the local Faire was the ideal setting for the film, though the story doesn’t take place in Gilroy or Hollister.
“Originally we talked about building our own Renaissance Faire and realized there was no reason to do that,” Reed said. “One of the options that became available was to shoot the movie at another Renaissance Faire in Southern California, but Hollister’s is a million times better. It’s superior to every other Renaissance Faire we’ve seen – and it’s not corporate-owned, which gives it more camaraderie.”
The site has only two downsides, he added: There’s no nearby airport, and high-end hotels for big-name stars are scarce.
Filming shouldn’t disrupt the Faire, Stehl said. Because Play Faire is a production company, a film crew of 25 to 100 fits in easily, she said.
“We already have a lot of the same facilities they would need,” Stehl said. “We just don’t film it … Plus, they’re not going to disturb our acting and stage performances, to catch the true feeling of the Renaissance Faire.”
The Faire itself supplies “a built-in crowd with thousands of extras” on weekends, added Reed; for smaller scenes, the crews have the full run of the Faire on weekdays, when the festival is closed to the public. Visitors to the Faire will become de-facto extras: Tickets to the festival include a release notification that permits filmmakers to use images of Faire-goers, Stehl said.
Crews expect to film for three or four weeks, not the full duration of the six-week Faire. With a budget of less than $10 million, the film is considered cheap, said Reed.
The film was written by first-time director Rob A. White, a friend of Stehl’s, and will be co-produced by Ron Singer and Patriot Pictures’ Michael Mendelsohn. Reed has previously worked on major films such as “Donny Darko,” “Fast and the Furious,” and the “Blair Witch Project.” Singer worked as a line producer on the film “Desert of Blood.” Both have more than 15 years of industry experience.
Because the filming will take place in unincorporated Santa Clara County, producers didn’t need permission from city officials in Gilroy or Hollister to move forward. Casa de Fruta owners, who lease the property to Play Faire Productions, have already approved the filming. Gilroy Visitors Bureau director Jane Howard was surprised – but pleased – to learn about the film.
“This is exciting news!” she said. “Now why would they forget to call us?”
Though the filming will take place outside Gilroy city limits, the crews could provide extra revenue for the city, said Gilroy city spokesman Joe Kline.
“In the seven years I’ve been here, we haven’t had a film made here,” Kline said. “but for cities that do a lot of this, it’s quite a revenue-generator for them.”
