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This just in: The car is an "August: Osage County" star
Published: 9/27/2012 3:23 PM
Last Modified: 9/27/2012 3:23 PM

Peggy Spence Fry as she appeared in one of the many successful runs of "Always Patsy Cline" at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. In "August: Osage County," her car is the star.

Peggy Spence Fry, a longtime veteran of the Tulsa stage, went to Tulsa Promenade call for extras for the filming of "August: Osage County," now taking place in Osage and Washington counties.

She didn't make the cut -- at least yet. But her 1996 Toyota Avalon did.

Here's her story: "I went to the cattle call for extras and got signed up for the casting company's email notices as a result. They had a call for pre-1998 cars, so I got a picture taken and sent it in. My car is black and they asked me if I'd like to have it be an extra for an exterior scene. So of course I said yes."

She drove to the tiny Washington County town of Ochelata, south of Bartlesville on Tuesday and parked in front of Ochelata First Methodist Church. While she provided her car for on-camera purposes, she was taken inside the church along with other "car extra" owners.

"I got to see all the leads, even walked right by (producer) George Clooney and Julia Roberts near enough to almost brush them as I passed and didn't geek out. I didn't even look at them -- they were busy working and didn't need an extra gushing at them.

"Oh, the control that took," said the star of several stage plays at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, including her multiple appearances as the co-lead (she played the super-fan) in "Always Patsy Cline."

She and others were asked to not take photos, but she can remember the other stars she saw: Meryl Streep, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Ewan McGregor, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson and Margo Martindale.

"I spoke to Margo Martindale (a film veteran and an Emmy-winner last year for "Justified") because she was friends with another of the car extras, Steve Raiford (another Tulsa resident and past theater performer). She was really friendly, and I told her that I really enjoyed her work."

She was hoping to see cast member Benedict Cumberbatch ("I loved him so much in the 'Sherlock' series"), but he was not present, and neither were Sam Shepard or Misty Upham, the remaining cast members.

"I was just happy to be able to see them and let my excitement be internal," she said. "When the extras were gathered in a room of the church watching through the windows we did get a little goofy about it.

"Everyone involved was so nice, and totally professional. It was a very well-oiled machine and completely fascinating to watch. The only thing that would have made it perfect for me was to have been on camera. But at least my old car got to be!"

On this day, the car was the star.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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