Movie filmed in Utah County tells of the worst student body president
A grip walks away from a truck on the set of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
The film crew on Tim Timmerman, Hope of America changes lighting and equipment for the next shot at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Joel Remke, cinematographer on Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, lines up a shot at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Joel Remke, cinematographer, and actor Eddie Perino bide time between takes on the set of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, lines up a shot at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Tim Timmerman, Hope of America director Cameron Sawyer talks over a scene before it's filmed at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Director Cameron Sawyer, center, talks with his crew between takes of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Production lights sit outside a basement window of a home in Orem used for the set of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Eddie Perino, star of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, writes in a notebook with a camera over his shoulder for a scene in the upcoming film, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Cinematographer Joel Remke peers through a viewfinder on set of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Actress Marlys Miller-Fladeland stands in costume in the front door of a home in Orem being used for the set of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Eddie Perino, star of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, acts at the end of a scene while filming, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Eddie Perino, star of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, practices lines between takes, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Eddie Perino, star of Tim Timmerman, Hope of America, is seen through a viewfinder of a camera on set, at a home in Orem on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
OREM – Cameron Sawyer has returned to the scene of the crime, so to speak. A graduate of Orem High School, he went to film school in Los Angeles. But he is back in Orem, filming a movie with a script he wrote about “the worst student body president ever.”
He said it is semiautobiographical and is based on his stint in the same position at his school.
There is a place for a teenage romantic comedy, he said.
“We are seriously lacking in that kind of entertainment,” he said. “We want to be able to bring the high school comedy back.”
It’s not just about his experiences in school but about the whole era.
“We are referencing a lot of local things and the time of the ’90s,” he said.
Most of the filming is happening in Provo and Orem.
“People will recognize things from local Utah landmarks,” he said. “We are using three high schools — Mountain View, Timpanogos and Alta — but the majority is at Mountain View High School.”
There are also shooting locations at residences in the area and some locations in Ogden.
Sawyer graduated from OHS in 1995. His sister, Courtney Sawyer, graduated in 1997. She serves as producer of the film, which is titled “Tim Timmerman, Hope of America.”
“He pulled a lot of pranks in high school and didn’t take it seriously,” she said of both her brother and the film’s main character.
They both settled down.
“Cameron learned from that experience,” she said. “He is doing really well.”
In the movie, Tim meets a girl and they find out about the Hope of America award.
“He wants to go to Yale and it would be a nice learning experience to put on his application,” Courtney Sawyer said of the honor.
The Sawyers have their own studio called “Picture Picture Films.” Cameron Sawyer is the writer and director of the current project. He is also known for directing “She’s a Fox.” That movie is available on Vimeo or YouTube.
“It gives a taste of what his style is,” Courtney Sawyer said.
There are both Los Angeles actors and local ones involved.
Tim Timmerman is being portrayed by Eddie Perino. Chelsea Maidhof plays Sydney, the student body president of Timmerman’s rival school. Drue Knaff plays McKenzie, who lost to Timmerman in the elections and is now his vice president. Laird Macintosh plays McKenzie’s father. Other actors include Andrew Caldwell, Henry Monfries, Seth Meriweather and Stephanie Drapeau.
“They are all up and coming actors from Los Angeles,” Courtney Sawyer said. “It is a good cast. They are extremely talented.”
Morgan Lund of Salt Lake City will portray the principal of Timmerman’s school and veteran Utah actor Bryce Chamberlain plays the head of the foundation who is presenting the Hope of America award.
There are approximately 150 speaking parts in the movie, she said.
“It is a really ambitious project,” she said.
They plan on taking the production on the film festival circuit and hope to have all editing and post production completed in time for the Sundance Film Festival in 2016.
There are several reasons the siblings chose to film in Utah. One is that it is set in the area in the early ’90s and even has a ski theme included.
“I know the area really well because I grew up here,” Cameron Sawyer said. “We have a lot of resources here.”
“Utah also has an amazing tax rebate,” he said. “We get back 20 percent of every dollar we spend in the state.”
One of the requirements to get that rebate is that 85 percent of the cast and crew comes from the state, he said. That’s not hard.
“Utah is just filled with talent,” he said. “We knew that we would have a really large talent pool to select from, along with a large pool of technical people.”
Filming is expected to continue through the first week in May.
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