[ back ]
Talent runs deep off Bell Road
(by Barbara Christian - November 03, 2011)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Talent runs deep off Bell Road
Ripley said it first and best -- "Truth is stranger than fiction." And we have some of that strange truth going on right here and right now.
You have no doubt been reading about our own Tyler Davidson, a local man who went to Hollywood to become a movie producer ... and did. In a big way. His latest film, "Take Shelter," a psychological drama, which opened in the Cleveland area last week, is on track for an Academy Award.
Well, that's the buzz, and as you who follow this stuff know, where there is buzz there are generally awards. If not an Oscar, then Tyler's work on this particular movie is going to get him recognition when the "Indies" independent film awards are handed out early next year.
And just a couple of weeks ago, in Los Angeles, "Take Shelter" was nominated for another big recognition, a Gotham Independent Film Award for best feature film.
In fact, "Take Shelter" has been winning recognition and awards right and left. The film took awards at the Cannes Film Festival and kudos at the Sundance and Toronto film events.
True to his Buckeye roots, Tyler's film was shot entirely in Ohio and partially in Chardon.
Now, it's not that a local boy makes good in Hollywood that's the big story here. It is news, of course. But what makes it stranger than fiction is that one small high school, Chagrin Falls High School, one without a film program, could produce three big names with big-deal credentials.
Three, you ask? You bet. Besides Tyler, there is film and tube funnyman Tim Conway, who will always be our first, and Lee Unkrich, who last year won the Oscar for direction for "Toy Story 3."
As most of you already know, Tim grew up on East Orange Street, but what makes the Tyler and Lee connection special, aside from their high schools, is that both hail from South Russell, on streets off Bell Road a stone's throw away from each other.
Truth really would be stranger than fiction if Tyler won the Oscar this year. Really? what are the chances two South Russell natives living off Bell Road, both Chagrin Falls High School graduates, would win back-to-back Academy Awards? I mean, what are the chances?
Moving on: A few years ago, Tom Mattern, also of South Russell, then director of the schools' alumni association, put together a list of grads now working in the film industry in one capacity or another. It was very complete, very long and very impressive.
Not sure if up-and-coming actor and Chagrin Falls High School grad John Charles Meyer was on the list at the time, but he should be if Tom ever decides to update the roster.
On Oct. 24, John guest starred in an episode of the hit TV series "Mike and Molly" and is in the soon-to-be-released movie "The Millennium Bug."
And, by the way, John, in addition to graduating from Chagrin Falls High School, grew up on Ridgewood Road right off Bell Street.
Nurture or nature? Is talent in the air or the aquifer? One thing is sure, some truths are way better than fiction.
[ back ]
