Saturday, July 01, 2000
Re-enactor ready for 'Patriot'
By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HANOVER TWP. — Larry and Mary Ellen Burns will be the first in line to see Mel Gibson's new film The Patriot.
That's because the Butler County man was a hard-working extra in the Revolutionary War epic.
“We were citizen-soldiers who had our socks knocked off by the Brits,” he said. “Then Mel rushed in and rescued us. We re-enactors who worked on the movie call it "Braveheart Comes to America.”'
Mr. Burns saw an advertisement for extras in a re-enactors' magazine. He applied with a photograph of himself in character, and soon he was headed for the set in Rock Hill, S.C., near Charlotte, N.C.
“The first week was fun,” he said. “The next week was a drag. We worked from 3:15 a.m. until dark. There was a line for everything: wardrobe, equipment, food. It wasn't very glamorous. The artillery and fake bombs made it difficult to see anything for five minutes after an explosion. The director was going to use a computer to make even more smoke.”
Mrs. Burns, who often participates in re-enacting trips, laughs at what her husband told her on the telephone every night:
“I ran up a hill 18 times today. Mel ran up once. He used a stunt double most of the time, and he earned millions of dollars. I earned $150.”
Mr. Burns took his own period clothing with him, and earned extra money for it. But when he arrived on the set, the movie people wanted him to look “scruffy.”
He makes his own clothes (he learned valuable tips from a sewing class) and uses the re-enacting name of Simon Pure, an innkeeper.
“Most of the re-enactors make their own clothes,” Mrs. Burns said as she sewed a colonial jacket for her grandson.
As for Mr. Burns' film appearance, the couple are waiting anxiously to see if his scenes survived the editing process. “You never know about the movies,” Mr. Burns said.
MASON — If you haven't stopped at the post office lately, you're in for a surprise.
The small, older post office on U.S. 42 has given way to a new, 20,000-square-foot version at U.S. 42 and Snider Road.
The change is symbolic as much as practical. The old post office opened in the 1950s. It couldn't keep up with Mason's tremendous growth.
HAMILTON — “Reading and All That Jazz” is back by popular demand.
The Lane Public Library, 300 N. Third St., will play host to jazz and reviews.
Admission free. Brown-bag lunches welcomed.
Reviews: Lori Rehm, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, July 11; Traci Anthony, Toxin by Robin Cook, July 25; Allegra Brown, Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende, Aug. 8; and Jack Cornett, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Aug. 22.
HAMILTON — Free arts classes will be available through the Fitton Center's “Arts in Common” program.
Locations: Booker T. Washington Community Center Park, July 3-7; Eastview Park, July 10-14; Ford's Park, July 17-21; Elijah Morgan Farm, Fairfield, July 17-21; Middletown Community Center Park, Middletown, July 24-28.
Hamilton times are 9-11 a.m. Fairfield and Middletown, 1-3 p.m.
Randy McNutt's column runs on Saturday. He may be reached at 860-7118 or at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246.
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