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Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that features Space Camp will air on ABC

Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 8:11 AM     Updated: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 8:26 AM

By Marian Accardi, The Huntsville Times

Actors Jessy Schram, left, John Corbett and Cynthia Watros during the filming for the movie, “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that features the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp will be broadcast on ABC on Jan. 29, with premieres scheduled in five cities, including Huntsville, before then.

And, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, the center’s CEO, believes exposure from the movie, “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” will drive up the number of Space Camp bookings.

“I hope next month, we can take your breath away,” Barnhart said Wednesday at a meeting of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission’s executive committee. The center is already getting calls, she said, since the release of a trailer for the movie, which stars John Corbett.

The movie is based on a book by the same name by Mike Kersjes, a high school football coach and special-education teacher from Grand Rapids, Mich., who worked with another teacher to bring some special-needs students to Space Camp in 1988. Kersjes wrote the book with Joe Layden.

“It’s perfection,” Barnhart said of the movie. “I know I’m biased, (but) it’s right on target. It’s beautifully told and the characters are engaging and well developed.”

The center’s goal is to sign up 10,000 trainees in the 2012 fiscal year for its most lucrative weeklong Space Camp programs: Space Camp, Space Academy, Advanced Space Academy and Aviation Challenge, and the 12-day Advanced Academy and Mach 3 programs.

“We’ve booked more than half our goal,” with 5,346 people registering or making reservations for the camps so far, Barnhart said.

On Jan. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m., there will be a reception and movie showing at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration’s theater. Tickets are $100 per couple, and the cost includes heavy hors d’oeurves, an open bar and an autographed copy of the book and movie poster.

Another movie showing will be at 7 p.m. at the Davidson Center’s Saturn V Hall. Tickets are $10 a person, with a cash bar, book signing and food available for purchase.

For tickets, visit spacecamp.com/smilemovie.

Other premiere events are in Houston today, Chicago on Sunday, Grand Rapids on Monday and Los Angeles on Wednesday.

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Filming starts on Hallmark Hall of Fame movie about special Space Camp

Published: Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 2:11 PM     Updated: Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 2:18 PM

By Marian Accardi, The Huntsville Times

Robin Conn, The Huntsville Times

Hallmark Hall of Fame movie crew and extras get ready to shoot a scene during a break in the filming of Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “A Smile as Big as the Moon” Wednesday Oct. 19, 2011 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)Hallmark Movie Filming gallery (28 photos)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The U.S. Space & Rocket Center was transformed into a movie set today as filming started here for a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that will premier on ABC in January.”A Smile as Big as the Moon,” based on a book by the same name, tells about a high school football coach and special-education teacher who works with another teacher to bring a group of special-needs students to Space Camp in 1989.

“I love Mike’s story,” said John Corbett, who plays the former coach/teacher Mike Kersjes, who wrote the book with Joe Layden. “I think people will be touched by it.”

Corbett, who appeared in another Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions movie, “November Christmas,” in 2010, said it’s “a great honor” to be involved in another Hallmark project.

Some of the shooting on a chilly, overcast morning took place outside the entrance to the space center. In the scene, Corbett and Jessy Schram, who plays teacher Robynn McKinney, who teams up with Kersjes, meet Cynthia Watros, who portrays Space Camp Director Deborah Barnhart. Barnhart was the Space Camp director at the time of the special camp and is now CEO of the space center.

The movie is “a story of hope,” Schram said during a break for the cast before filming resumed for another scene. After reading the first 10 pages of the script, “I fell in love with the characters.”

Schram has appeared in “Falling Skies,” “Hawthorne,” “Veronica Mars” and other TV series and in the Hallmark Channel’s “Jane Doe” movies.

Corbett, who was in “Northern Exposure” in the early 90s, played Aidan Shaw on HBO’s “Sex and the City” and the movie, “Sex and the City 2.” He starred in the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and is appearing this year in the TV series “Parenthood.”

Watros, whose TV credits include “Lost,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “House M.D.,” was also impressed when she read the script by Tom Rickman.

“It’s a wonderful story — a teacher who believes in his students” and doesn’t put limits on them, said Watros.

In the movie, some of the special-ed students are played by young actors who have Down syndrome or autism. Space center spokesman Tim Hall said some students from Lee High School and Madison Academy were playing extras during today’s filming.

Kersjes, who now lives in the Huntsville area and is a senior systems analyst with Venturi Aerospace, is a technical adviser with the movie.

“Everybody is working very hard to make it as authentic as possible,” Kersjes said. “The crew and cast are bending over backwards to make this movie just like the book. I can’t be happier.”

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Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on book about special Space Camp

Published: Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 6:30 AM

By Marian Accardi, The Huntsville Times The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Twenty-two years after a Grand Rapids, Mich., high school football coach and special education teacher first brought a group of special-needs students to Space Camp, a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie is being made to tell about that journey.

Filming for some portions of “A Smile as Big as the Moon” will start at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center next Wednesday, and about 100 cast and crew members are expected to spend about two weeks here working on the project, said Tim Hall, the center’s spokesman.

The story is based on the book, “A Smile as Big as the Moon: A Teacher, His Class and Their Unforgettable Journey,” written by the former coach and teacher Mike Kersjes with journalist Joe Layden and published in 2002.

“It’s a real Hallmark story,” said Dr. Deborah Barnhart, the space center’s CEO who was the director of Space Camp at the time of the special camp. “I’m thrilled about the authenticity and fidelity of the story.”

Barnhart is also excited about the exposure the film will bring to the space center and the city.

The movie will air on ABC on Jan. 29, Kersjes said.

Efforts to get a film made with some other production companies didn’t work out.

“By the grace of God and my agent working hard for me, we found a home for it,” said Kersjes, who is serving as technical adviser. Kersjes is in Wilmington, N.C., this week for filming until the cast and crew members move to Huntsville. “Everyone is so dedicated to making this movie.”

Kersjes, 58, has lived in the Huntsville area for the last 10 years and is a senior systems analyst with Venturi Aerospace.

In 1989, Kersjes founded Space Is Special, a nonprofit organization to help special education students enhance their science and math skills using space as a motivational theme. The organization, he said, has been able to send close to 3,000 youngsters in all from across the country to Space Camp.

Kersjes will be portrayed in the movie by John Corbett, who may be best known for his role as a radio DJ on “Northern Exposure” from 1990 to 1995. Other credits include his role as Aidan, Carrie Bradshaw’s boyfriend, on HBO’s “Sex and the City” and the movie, “Sex and the City 2.” He starred in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”

Cynthia Watros, who has appeared in numerous TV series including “Lost,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Titus,” will play Barnhart.

The director is Emmy Award-winning film director James Sadwith whose credits include two CBS mini-series “Elvis” and “Sinatra.”

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“MARS” To Open New LA Film Series
August 15, 2011

LA based Downtown Independent has just announced details of their new programming series, Film Finds, which aims to deliver the “most unique, bold and original voices in independent film”. Proving they walk the walk, the series kicks off in stellar style with Geoff Marslett’s debut feature MARS, from SXSW 2010.

Each Thursday from September 1st, Film Finds will screen a self-distributed film by an Emerging Filmmaker in Downtown LA, ahead of a DVD/VOD release. Screenings will be accompanied by a complementary short film, followed by a party and a chance to meet the filmmakers.

Full sized image is posted in the photo gallery.

Full sized images are posted in the photo gallery.

Full sized images are posted in the photo gallery.

Full sized images are posted in the photo gallery.

Full sized images are posted in the photo gallery.

  

Full sized images are posted in the photo gallery.