Fallsnewspress.com - Young Fallsite shares filming experiences on '25 Hill'

Ryan Braziel, wearing a wig underneath the white helmet, is settling into the stock car for the movie “25 Hill,” which centers on the Akron Soap Box Derby. In this scene, he is acting as stunt double for Nathan Gamble, who stars as 11-year-old Trey Caldwell.

by April Helms

Special Products Editor

Ten-year-old Ryan Braziel will have no shortage of things to talk about with his classmates when he returns to school.

The young Cuyahoga Falls resident did some of the typical things children enjoy, such as playing baseball. But he also will appear in the movie "25 Hill," not only as an extra, but as a sort of a stunt double for one of the main actors.

"25 Hill," spearheaded by Corbin Bernsen and about the Akron Soap Box Derby, stars Nathan Gamble (Marley & Me, The Dark Knight), as 11-year-old Trey Caldwell, Ralph Waite (The Waltons), who plays Ed, a groundskeeper at the Derby, and Bersen as Roy, a one-time soap box derby champ.

Many scenes were shot locally, including at Derby Downs in Akron and in Silver Lake.

Braziel said he competed this year in the Akron Soap Box Derby in the Super Stock division.

"We were just going to use my car for the background [for the movie]," said Ryan. "But then my dad sent a picture of me, and they thought I looked like [Gamble]."

Ryan said he drove down the hill for the last race in the film "standing in' for Gamble, for a scene in which Gamble's character is racing.

"I was wearing a white helmet," he remembered.

The filming days were "long and hot, but I think it was worth it," Ryan said.

A typical day started at around 7 a.m. with breakfast at the concession stands, followed by getting ready for the filming, he said.

"It's like hurry up and wait," Ryan said. "That's what everyone says. For example, we have to go to the top of the hill, then they find something wrong, and we wait for a half hour. Then we shoot, then there's something else and we wait again."

Ryan said he did get to meet the actors.

"They signed my car," he said, adding they signed on the inside of the car.

As for the actual Soap Box Derby races, which took place July 24, Ryan said he placed eighth in the first rally.

"Then in the second, I got my butt kicked," he admitted. Later, he said, when he and his family took the car home, they discovered the bolt was broken in the back.

In school, Ryan said he enjoys math, science, English and physical education.

Mary Ethridge, who handled publicity for "25 Hill" locally, said the filming has been completed.

"Next comes going through the footage and editing it, which Corbin says takes a lot of time," Ethridge said. "We have some incredible film. Corbin was just amazed at the spirit of cooperation in the community. He couldn't have done it without those who came out day after day to be extras or who volunteered to help. The storyline is about the way people can come together to make something special happen and, in this case, life imitated art. It was truly a community project. We're all so grateful for the support we received. The people of Greater Akron have a big heart and it showed all during this project, he said. I personally am so proud of my hometown."

In "25 Hill," Trey's dreams of Derby victory fade when his father Thomas, played by Tim Ormundson (Psych, Judging Amy) is killed fighting in Afghanistan. But Trey begins to rebuild those dreams with the help of a reluctant hero, a one-time derby champ Roy (Bernsen), who is contending with his own terrible heartbreak. A deep friendship is forged and wounds are healed under the dim light of a backyard garage, but the duos hopes are threatened when the Derby's demise appears imminent.

The movie is tentatively scheduled for a premiere in July 2011.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

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