Feature: Spartans in Hollywood, Part III

            As in a Hollywood mystery melodrama, the narrative unfolds, and hidden realities gradually emerge. Such is the case with the Spartans in Hollywood. When I first began exploring this subject for two earlier articles with two co-authors, Gary Hoppenstand and Robert Bao, I was astonished at not only the large numbers of Spartan alumni who had become major players in the American film industry, but, also, at the substance and quality of their legacy. And with each article, Gary, Bob and I learned of even more Hollywood Spartans and their incredible contributions to the most important art form of the Twentieth-First Century. And what is the “secret of their success”, as the late Jim Cash,’70, M.A.’72, would assert?

            Another Spartan great, Craig Murray,’76, has provided the answer. Craig vouches for the professionalism of Spartan alumni: these creative individuals bring to Hollywood a solid work ethic nurtured not just in Mid America, but, more specifically, on campus. Spartan players know what to do and how to do it, in and out of the classroom, and, once settled in California, they patiently “take” endless meetings wherein they successfully “pitch” their projects. And more—Hollywood Spartans have established a virtual “colony” in the Los Angeles area.

            Such Spartans are continually networking. A supreme marketer like Dana Precious,’85, of Columbia/Sony is promoting fellow Spartan alumnus Sam Raimi’s latest film, the much anticipated Spider-Man; again, Dana hired as interns two up-and-coming Hollywood Spartans, William Shaw,’00, and current student Jerald McClain,’03. Craig Murray comes up with the name of Hollywood executive Bill Mechanic,’73,’s new production company, Pandemonium. Between acting stints, Steve Van Wormer,’92, serves as a writer on projects for Craig’s company, Craig Murray Productions.

            Caring and sharing, Spartan alumni have become a dominant force in shaping the future of the American cinema, having already contributed to a long list of markedly influential films since the end of World War II. Now, it is no longer a hidden truth. In Hollywood, the name of Michigan State University rules! From the first generation of Hollywood Spartans—those who attended in the 1940’s and 1950’s--, James Caan, who came to MSU in 1956, recently portrayed the ship’s Captain in Fox’s telefilm A Glimpse of Hell, based on the tragic explosion aboard the USS Iowa in 1989. This film, which co-starred Robert Sean Leonard, was broadcast on Sunday, March 18, 2001, the same evening as a representative of the second generation—those of the 1960’s and 1970’s—, Robert Urich, M.A.’70, appeared in another telefilm, CBS’s For Love of Olivia, the sequel To Dance with Olivia (1997), starring Lou Gossett, Jr.

            Indeed, the night of March 18th made for a Spartan television spectacular. Charles Cioffi,’57 M.A.’63, continues to deliver signal performances. In March, 2001, Charles played Sidney Ritter, a Hollywood mogul, in the latest Columbo installment starring Peter Falk and entitled Columbo: Murder With Too Many Notes. In a Frasier episode broadcast on April 17, 2001, Charles appeared as a member of the Crane brothers’s wine tasting club. Also, the Bravo network has been broadcasting reruns of the classic Thirtysomething programs (1987-1991), wherein Charles appeared periodically as the charming father of series regular Ellyn Warren (played by Polly Draper).

            Edward Feldman,’50, continues to flourish as a top level Hollywood producer. For instance, he produced the summer hit Cats and Dogs (2001). The second generation of Hollywood Spartans, having already made its mark in dozens of ways, is still at the top of its game.

            Again, power player Bill Mechanic, after leaving the Fox studio in 2000, recently founded Pandemonium. Broadly admired in the film industry, Bill promises to nurture landmark films, now that he is fully independent. Bill is passionate about film art and, also, an extraordinary film scholar: like the legendary David Selznick, Bill is the executive as artist. Pandemonium’s first film is tentatively entitled Men of Iron and will go before the cameras in early 2002: it tells the story of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, from the Western or Rocky Mountain side (the Central Pacific Railroad). It is to be directed by the renowned John Woo. Films still coming out of Bill “pipeline” from his Fox era are Tim Burton’s remake Planet of the Apes (2001), the Spielberg/Cruise vehicle Minority Report, the animated feature Ice Age and another take on Jack the Ripper, From Hell. Bill’s wife is Carol Mechanic,’73, the Vice President of Original Programming for Showtime. Bill and Carol have a daughter, Erin. And Bill’s brother Mark is also a Spartan alumnus.

            Bill and Tom Leach,’77, the owner of Video To Go at the Frandor Shopping Center near campus, became fast friends when they were both undergraduates. While Tom supervised the RHA screenings, Bill, then a State News reporter, would write mini-reviews for many of the films. Tom, another of those Hollywood Spartans who reside in the Lansing area, has been a wonderful facilitator and coordinator for Hollywood Spartans, especially involving film programs on campus. It was Tom who, in 1998, helped bring Bill back to campus where Bill gave a talk “kicking off” the first East Lansing Film Festival.

            Again, in the early 1970’s, Tom became close friends with both Jack Epps, Jr.,’72 and Jim Cash as he worked with them on several projects. In the later 1970’s, Tom, then a member of the RHA Board, aided Rob Tapert,’78, and Sam Raimi in obtaining an RHA grant of $500.00 to make their first film entitled The Happy Valley Kid. As well, Tom’s daughter Michelle,’90, worked for Disney studios for many years as an compensation analyst, and Tom’s son Justin, an animator now residing in Japan, worked under the aegis of Bill Mechanic while Bill helmed Fox Films; Justin was employed by the animation company called Blue Sky when it was purchased by Fox. Tom’s wife Bernie is also a Spartan alumna.

            Anthony “Phil” Heald,’70,’s fame is growing immensely for his work as Scott Guber, the Vice Principal in David E. Kelley’s popular new television drama, Boston Public. In an Associated Press article, Frazier Moore has saluted Phil’s talent. Heald’s performances in Boston Public provide a capstone to a long career in film, stage and television. Recently, Phil, once a Broadway star, has delivered impressively at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. For his illustrious career, Phil received the MSU Distinguished Alumni Award during the festivites at Homecoming weekend in the Fall of 2001. Among his sponsors for this honor were the former Chair of Theatre, Professor Frank Rutledge, and the current Chair, Dixie Durr. Phil has brilliantly represented his campus.

            Sam Raimi, who attended MSU in the late 1970’s, is now fully established as a director of the first rank. His film The Gift (2001) was an artistic success: it is a supernatural thriller, a kind of detective yarn, starring such celebrated actors as Cate Blanchette, Keannu Reeves, Hilary Swank, Greg Kinnear, Giovanni Ribisi, Katie Holmes. The film features Sam’s “gift” for creating powerful “dark” images essential to this Southern narrative partially scripted by Billy Bob Thornton. Blanchette’s luminous performance as a psychic has been universally acclaimed. A supreme professional, Sam’s productions are always eagerly awaited in the Hollywood community: no current director offers more original cinematic visions. There is much buzz about Sam’s next film, Spider-Man, starring Toby McGuire and Kirsten Dunst. Sam’s partner Rob Tapert’s beautiful wife, Lucy Lawless, recently appeared for the last time as the legendary Xena in the concluding episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, a program co-produced by Sam and Rob.