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Stars cast in movie filming here
Lead roles to be played by Merriman, MacDowell, Quinn
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Published: October 8, 2008
The lead roles have been cast for the independent film The 5th Quarter, which will start filming in Winston-Salem on Oct. 16.
The film will follow the 2006 championship football season at Wake Forest. It focuses on the story of Jon Abbate, a linebacker who devoted the season to the memory of his younger brother Luke, who was killed in a car wreck.
Ryan Merriman will play Jon Abbate, and Aidan Quinn will play his father, Steven. Andie MacDowell is in final negotiations to play his mother, Maryanne.
Merriman's films include The Ring Two and Final Destination 3. In 2005, he filmed the movie Home of the Giants in the Triad. He most recently appeared in the miniseries Comanche Moon.
Quinn has appeared in such movies as Legends of the Fall, Avalon and Practical Magic. MacDowell's film credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day. She was also the recipient of the RiverRun International Film Festival's "Master of Cinema" award in 2003. She lives in Asheville.
Other casting for The 5th Quarter includes Michael Harding as Coach Jim Grobe and Stacy Earl as Maryanne's sister.
Director Rick Bieber, who also wrote the screenplay, said he looked at several actors before deciding on Merriman as the best choice to play Jon Abbate. He not only had the acting skills needed, but also was a good match for the real Abbate's physical type. That was important considering that the film will incorporate real football footage with new footage.
For the parents, Bieber said, "It's just such a gut-wrenchingly emotional story that it takes a couple of very brave actors. Having said that, I was extremely stubborn in only being interested in a few actors, and Aidan and Andie were always at the absolute top of that list."
The film's executive producers are Robert McCreary, a graduate of Wake Forest, and Alan Cohen.
Filming will run through late November, Bieber said.
Auditions for stand-ins and extras for the film will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Altair Casting and Production Services, 710-E Coliseum Drive. For more information, call 725-0808.
■ Tim Clodfelter can be reached at 727-7371 or at tclodfelter@wsjournal.com.
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