London, ON. - Over the next week, Western's campus will be transformed into 1950's West Point for the film Codebreakers. The picture is being produced by a Canadian company for ESPN.
Based on a Sports Illustrated article by noted sportswriter Frank Deford, Codebreakers outlines the true story of a cheating scandal at West Point in the early 1950s which led to the resignation of 90 cadets, many of whom were football players. Filming will begin Monday, June 20, 2005 and as many as 175 people will visit the set before filming wraps on June 21.
One element identified in the City of London's Creative Cities Task Force report for building the City's reputation as a cultural and artistic centre was to seek out opportunities to attract the film industry to the community. "London is very proud to be home to Western, which is well known for its beautiful campus," says London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco. "London embraces this opportunity as it reinforces the City's commitment to culture, creativity and innovation."
"London is a thriving creative centre and we are thrilled about the contributions Western's community, including students, professors and researchers have made to foster such an environment," says David Estok, Western's Associate Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs."
"The inspired architecture and high level of maintenance of the grounds at Western are remarkably similar to West Point's, and with the help of some computer imagery we should be able to create a completely believable West Point campus right here in London, Ontario," says David Flaherty, location manager for Downfield Production Inc.
Scott Glenn, Zachery Ty Bryan, Jeff Roop and Corey Sevier headline the movie's cast. Glenn is best known for his roles in such blockbuster films as Training Day, Backdraft, The Silence of the Lambs, The Hunt for Red October and The Right Stuff. Bryan played Tim Allen's eldest son on the hit television series Home Improvement and, like Roop and Sevier, has made multiple television and movie appearances.
This is not the first time a motion picture has been filmed at Western. In 1976, parts of Second Wind, co-starring Lindsay Wagner of Bionic Woman fame, were filmed on campus. The movie told the story of a successful man who took up jogging as a hobby before his desire to excel at long-distance running interfered with his career and family.
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Media Contacts:
David Estok, Associate Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs, The University of Western Ontario, (519) 661-2111 ext. 85469, destok@uwo.ca
Ruta Pocius, (Acting) Associate Director (Media Relations), The University of Western Ontario, (519) 661-2111 ext. 85468, rpocius@uwo.ca
