Roll 'em: Movie gets reel serious

Larimer deputies put end to filming, fearing it's bad boys, bad boys

Sarah Langbein, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

LARIMER COUNTY - A group of independent filmmakers "set themselves up for a bad situation" when they began shooting violent scenes for their movie in a public park, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Making matters worse, they said, Twelve Monkeys Dancing Films failed to notify anyone that what played out early Saturday evening - including a hostage situation and a man being pistol-whipped - was part of a movie, not reality.

"They put themselves in serious danger," Major Justin Smith said, adding that their "stupidity" drained crime-fighting resources and scared people in the park.

But lead actor Chris Borden said onlookers knew they were shooting a movie, and it should have been clear to law enforcement officers, who later had him in handcuffs.

Just after 4 p.m. that day, the sheriff's office was called with information that a woman was handcuffed to a sedan in the parking lot of the Carter Lake Sailing Club.

About eight deputies and park rangers set up a perimeter around the parking lot, hidden from the group. They called medical personnel and asked them to be on stand-by. Some park visitors ran from the scene, they said.

As the cast acted out scenes for the filmmakers' latest endeavor, Different Kinds, authorities tried to sort out what they were witnessing.

First, they watched as a man brandished a gun and pistol-whipped another. Then they spotted a medium-size video camera, which added to their confusion.

Was it a movie set? Or was it a real crime being captured on tape?

It's been done before, Smith said, referring to a Kansas murder recorded by the killer.

Deputies called out to the group, telling them to get on the ground and put their hands where they could see them, said Cpl. Scott Shellhaas, the supervisor on scene.

"They were surprised to see us there," he said.

The sheriff's office said they received different levels of cooperation from the actors and crew, who tried to explain they were filming.

Borden, who spent much of Monday talking to reporters, took most offense with the sheriff's office characterization of his film company: amateur.

"That's a bald-faced lie," Borden said. "We're serious filmmakers. This is not amateur stuff going on here."

As for whether they notified the proper people that they'd be shooting the violence-filled scenes, Borden said they selected an "isolated" place in the park to film. A park ranger watched as they set up, and passers-by even commented, "Oh cool, they're shooting a movie," he added.

They had no permit to film there - they just paid to get into the park, according to the sheriff's office.

Borden and director Eileen Agosta were cited for the incident. Borden was ticketed for disorderly conduct, and Agosta was cited for accessory to disorderly conduct.

After the event, sheriff's deputies confiscated a fake gun, which was shown to reporters Monday. Next to it was the real thing. When asked to pick the genuine handgun, the reporters picked the replica.

Smith and Shellhaas defended their actions, saying they didn't rush into the situation and kept everyone out of harm's way.

"It shows great training," Shellhaas said. "It shows great restraint and great discernment."

Colorado dreamin'

Excerpts from plot summary of Different Kinds:

• "It was supposed to be a simple road trip - at least, that's what Natalie and Kate thought when they first hit the network of highways winding across the Front Range, drawing them into the Rocky Mountains. Two girls, a full tank, and nothing between them and wherever but the open road.

• "Five hundred miles away and approaching fast, Jared and Sal are en route to Denver, returning from a trip that may be better left unspoken of. The dynamic of their relationship has changed, and the cargo they're carrying may be too much for them to handle.

• "The further the girls drive, the closer the guys are . . . and it's all leading up to a meeting none of them could have anticipated. . .

Source: Twelve Monkeys Dancing Films Web site, www.tmdfilms.com