The WRAP BEER community is forever thankful for Gerald’s dedication, effort, and success!!!Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.
If the movie studio at 1223 North 23rd Street is anything - it’s an engineering marvel. Exposing motion picture film requires a significant amount of light, and therefore an enormous number of electrons arriving at the right place at the right time. Six stages that became nine - and then ten - needing studio distribution, house lights and air conditioning for the sub-tropic climate of the Cape Fear. A five-block-long backlot - christened as New York City’s Chinatown - with 400 neon lights. Construction mills and SPFX welding shops among the total of 22 buildings - rising from the swamp - in need of power, office lights, and HVAC.Gerald Waller, our only Studio Engineer - guided by his training, his instincts and the strict North Carolina Electric Code - figured it out.The WRAP BEER community is forever thankful for Gerald’s dedication, effort, and success!!!Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.
It may be said that any great cinematographer is only as good as their gaffer. And many cameramen have enjoyed having Lynn ”LD” Dodson by their side. And whereas the movie industry can often alter one’s personality, either for better or worse, LD may be the very exception to that norm. In a business where every job, every day, and every minute is different . . . LD has managed to remain the same Shelby boy that Jock Brandis recruited back in 1984. Veteran electrician Rusty Edmondson bears witness as Wrap Beer! once again hosts two members of The Tribe - albeit from opposite sides of the track - and this time showing in 3-D!!!No rubber chickens were harmed in the making of this podcast. Theme music by Turbo Pro Project. End-credit song, “Chasin’ Down a Dream!” by Mama Said.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
The long roads from Rome, Toronto, and Shelby, North Carolina come to intersect in Wilmington where Jock Brandis has been seen directing traffic. Recruited by Dino himself, Jock arrived on “Cat’s Eye” and began to employ his many talents - wrought with his own particular brand of Canadian persnicketiness. Very few people on this planet can carry the accolade of genius - and most folks on the Cape Fear, and many folks around the globe know - that Jock is one of them. Jock is joined by his partner-in-crime, Rob Hill, who bears witness to a life of wonder and giving - on the road less traveled - that just happens to pass through Wilmington, North Carolina.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
In the “mouse maze” of offices at DEG Studios, brothers Vick and Johnny Griffin were often mistaken for each other by the sound of their voice. Beyond the studio gate, the Brothers Griffin pioneered the art of Location Management in a town that was reckoning with a new visitor. Movies are made on the studio lot - and even more so - on the streets, neighborhoods, and homes of the host city. And that is where Vick and Johnny ply their craft - as the first handshake and last good bye as the circus moves in, takes over for a spell, and then moves on. Tar Heel born and bred, the Griffins helped pave the way for the film industry’s enduring success, on location - not vacation - on the Cape Fear.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
From their tobacco-enhanced headquarters at 1223 North 23rd Street, The Telemedia Group offered a myriad of support services - not only to the burgeoning film industry - but to the larger community as well. Mike De Vries Francine DeCoursey and crew served up video production and editing, EPK, and Screening Room Transfer and Projection. Meanwhile, Francine set her own “win win” course for utilizing extras casting as a tool to serve the community and the industry. And the best part is that they have been laughing and giggling the whole darn way.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
After meeting Tantar on the set of Firestarter, Fred Pickler strolled into the film industry as a savvy supplier of specialized props. In doing so, he wandered into one of the most iconic “badman” performances in cinematic history – the role of Detective Tom Gordon, aka Yellowman - in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. And such serendipity could not have happened to a nicer guy and one of our finer examples of a Wilmington filmmaker. Fred is joined by his career-long colleague and friend, propman Vernon Harrell as we witness a small portion of Fred’s wonderous life.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
Grip /ɡrɪp/ noun1a: a strong or tenacious grasp had a good grip on the tennis racketb: strength in grippingc: manner or style of gripping the balanced grip of an expert golfer2a: a firm tenacious hold typically giving control, mastery, or understandinghas the country in his gripb: mental grasp can't seem to get a grip on 3 : a part or device for gripping4 : a part by which something is grasped especially: HANDLE5 : SUITCASE6 a: a stage worker who handles scenery, properties, or lights: STAGEHANDb: a technician on a motion-picture or television set who handles and maintains equipment (such as cameras and their dollies and cranes)7 Jeffrey “Moose” Howery, Bobby Huber, Dennis Zoppe, Scott DavisTheme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!More to come!
Handpicked by Dino and Martha to manage the day-to-day operations and outreach, Jayme Bednarczyk’s genuine warmth and kindness permeated the DEG Studio lot from the very beginning. In so doing, she set the tone for a growing crowd of young filmmakers that were “learning the ropes while swinging from them.” Meanwhile, a small town on the the Cape Fear needed the same nurturing when the circus came to town, and decided to stay. To this day, Wilmington and its crews are known for their congenial nature and polite professionalism. And we all can thank Jayme for that.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Albert Blackshaw RIPAlonzo WilsonArnold Schwartznegager Barbara D'AlessandroBernard Williams RIPCarolina De LaurentiisClifford CaponeDino De Laurentiis RIPFred C. CarusoHannah BlockHeather McIntoshHerbert W. GainsJim HuntLyn LucibelloMartha De Laurentiis RIPMichael MenziesPierce BronsonRaffaella De LaurentiisRichard GereSteve GuttenbergSylvester StalloneEdward 'Tantar' LeViseur RIP
Dr. Jones returns to WRAP BEER! with more tales of the wild, the weird, and the deep. Scott Davis blasts off from the dunes of Wrightsville Beach before landing a loving tribute to the life and work of John Verardi, first assistant cameraman - as told by John’s friends and the very community of WRAP BEER! Cheers to Johnny V!With Chuck Potter on the guest bar stool.Theme music by Turbo Pro Project.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Albert Blackshaw RIPAlonzo WilsonRobert V. GirolamiBobby HuberButch TrueloveDennis Zoppe Dick RankinDino DeLaurentiisEd HarrisFrank PearsonGeorge StokesHarold SchneiderHerb GainsHugh Scaife“Indian”James WadeJammie OrendorfJames CameronJim DyerJim HarringtonJohn FergusonJohn LindleyJohn TravoltaKelly R. TenneyKen PowellLeslie Dilley“Lizard”Mark Robert EllisMary Carol PalmerMichael CiminoMike TollinMorton ZwickerSanders BrothersSara FlamScott "Scooter" Hillman Steve GravesStuart NeumannTom NesbitVince Vaughn
NNew Episode Drops March 25 and Weekly Thereafter!007 - “The Dr. Is In Again!” - Tom Jones, Jr. with Chuck Potter on the guest bar stool.008 - “What Can We Do for Each Other?” - Jayme Bednarczyk009 - “There’s No ‘I’ in Grip!” Jeffrey “Moose” Howery, Bobby Huber, Dennis Zoppe010 - “gelber Mann!” - Fred Pickler with Vernon Harrell on the guest bar stool.011 - “Telemedia Saves the World!” - Francine DeCoursey & Michael DeVries012 - “Two Bros. Griff” - Vic & Johnny Griffin
Guest: CHUCK POTTERHailing from Mississippi, Louisiana and Nashville . . . Chuck Potter passed though Wilmington on his way to New York City . . . and an esteemed career as a set decorator. But he keeps coming back!!!! Chuck’s stories are as rich and delicious as the homemade gumbo he serves up at his home in Wilmington.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Alex McDowellBarry LevinsonBen AffleckBenny HillBeth RubinoBrad PittBrain StultzChris CrowderDave BeavisDolly PartonFrank Sinatra RIPFred SchwoebelGeorge DeTittaGeorge LucasGretchen Rau RIPJama Ball RIPJosh PateJonas PateKevin BaconKip BartlettLarry SaulsLester CohenMartha PineauMel Smith RIPNat King Cole RIPPatrick FuhrmanPeter JacksonRodney Dangerfield RIPSandra BullockShecky GreeneSteven SpielbergStuart WurtselTantarTara CashTim McKinnaVernon HarrellAnother Round! Other Mentions on WRAP BEER!Beautiful Mt. Airy LodgeThe Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)Carroll Music CompanyCorbett LumberThe Electric SlideEric RudolphPaddy’s HollowAlabamaForces of Nature (1999)Homeland (2011-2020)The Inkwell (1994)JawsKing Kong Lives (1986)Love Field (1992)The Lovely Bones (2009)A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994)Marie (1985)New Jersey Drive (1995)Pretty Woman (1990)Radioland Murders (1994)Sanford and Son (1972-1978)Sex & The Other Man (1995)Shag (1988)Simple Justice (1989)Sleepers (1996)Surface (2005-2006)The Choice (2016)The Crow (1994)The Shining (1980)
GUEST: TOM JONES, Jr.Mr. Jones joined the migration from Shelby and spent four decades building scenery in Wilmington and beyond. Famously cool and calm in the most strenuous conditions, ie. “The Abyss,” Mr. Jones has finally become . . . well . . . famous.Dino DeLaurentis RIPMartha Delaurentis RIPAlicia KeyesAtilla Salih YücerBarbara D'AlessandroBill CollinsWilliam Ladd SkinnerBob KnowBrian KontzCaptain KretschmerCharlie SkourasChester SpierChris HolcombeChris NelsonCliff WerberDave BubbDavid Gordon GreeneDonald Pleasence RIPEarl OwensbyFred Thompson RIPGary Wissner RIPJeffrey SchlatterGeorge AlsinaGeorge SimcoxHerbert W. GainsJames F. OñateJennifer HudsonJim HensonJimmy DeanJoe DigaetanoJonas PateJosh PateKaren StewardKen PaddingtonKen PowellLawrence Ross ShepardLauren Shuler DonnerLeslie DilleyLinwood Taylor RIPLloyd AhernMichael MyersMichael StringerMike TollinNick LawPaul DavisPaul OliverPeter DurandQueen LatifahRev. Pete LinkRoger ScruggsRon Cobb RIPRoy Smith aka "The Splinter" RIPSam BrownShawn ClarkTantarVernon HarrellVic SimpsonAnother Round! More mentions on WRAP BEER!Army Wives (2007-2013)Black Knight (2001)Bull Durham (1988)Cat's Eye (1985)The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999)Firestarter (1984)From The Hip (1987)Halloween Kills (2021)Homeland (2011-2020)Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll (1980)Manhunter (1986)Maximum Overdrive (1986)No Mercy (1986)Paper Towns (2015)Raw Deal (1986)The Secret Life of Bees (2008)Summer Catch (2001)The Abyss (1989)The Strangers (2008)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)Year of the Dragon (1985)Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)Chatham A's
Guests: MICHELLE JOHNSON & ROBBIE BECKWith ten feature films “in-the-can,” and five more being produced, DEG Studios in Wilmington was now a beacon of hope for wanna-be filmmakers in the south and beyond. And yes, giant apes were harmed. . . .Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Dino DeLaurentis RIPMartha Delaurentis RIPAdrian LyneAlex Thomson RIPBeth GilesBrendan SmithBrian HensonCarlos Omar GuerraCharles TorbettCharlie KaufmanDavid Mamet Ellen KurasGary OldmanGary WheelerGary Wissner RIPJeff GoodwinGeoffrey TockHarold PinterHoward AthertonHugh Scaife RIPJeffrey L. KimballJim CarreyJim Henson RIPJohn BromellMissy Berent RickerVladimir NabokovNicolas Roeg RIPNobby ClarkRoy Forge SmithStanley KubrickStephen SchiffSven Nykvist RIPEdward 'Tantar' LeViseur RIPTheresa RussellTony Teiger RIPANOTHER ROUND! Other mentions on WRAP BEER!Airlie GardensARRIPANAVISIONSkywalker RanchSpy MagazineSaint James ParishWooster HouseBlue Velvet (1986)Bull Durham (1988)Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)Excalibur (1981)What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)Insignificance (1985)King Kong Lives (1986)Lolita (1997)Manhunter (1986)Matlock (1986-1995)Monty PythonNoble House (1988)Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)The Abyss (1989)The List (2007)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)Track 29 (1988)Upload (2020 -)
Guests: VERNON HARRELL & JOHN BANKSONAfter Dino & David Lynch’s “Dune” flopped at the box office, Lynch arrived in Wilmington to produce “Blue Velvet” on a drastically reduced budget. Cinematic history was made, and a 60 lb festering Amberjack was reeled in . . . .Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Dino DeLaurentis RIPMartha Delaurentis RIPFred ElmsEdward ‘Tantar’ LeViseurBackseat BonnieBrad DourifBrian StultzDean Stockwell RIPDennis Hopper RIPDoug DuRoseFrancine DeCourseyFrancine MercadanteFred CarterFred Caruso Fred PicklerJack NanceJeff GoodwinJerry Clower RIPJesse HelmsJohn WentworthMartha CoolidgeJeff ‘Moose’ HoweryPat HillPeter Falk RIPWelch LambethWombatAnother Round! - Other Mentions on WRAP BEER!Eraserhead (1977)King King Lives (1986)Manhunter (1986)Miami Vice (1984-1989)Rambling Rose (1991)Barbary CoastHarrell’s Department StoreCroniesDixie GrillKaties Bar & GrillSundropHelga
Guests: JEFFREY SCHLATTER & RUSTY EDMONSON“If it hadn’t had happened already, I would tell you that it couldn’t be done.” - Bill Arnold, NC Film Office. In the 1970’s, Earl Owensby filmed over 35 feature films at his home-grown studio in Shelby , NC. When Dino Delaurentiis came to North Carolina, he first visited The EO Corporation before deciding to settle in Wilmington. He was followed by dozens of experienced EO employees who migrated to the Cape Fear.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Dino DeLaurentis RIPMartha Delaurentis RIPEarl OwensbyJames TomaroMark OvertonMike AllenRev. Pete LinkGreg HullCharlie SkourasCraig StearnsTommy Ray SullivanJohn FergusonDon GoldmanNello FilippiniJock BrandisGeorge C. ScottFrank Capra, Jr.Vic SimpsonDanny KiserPeter LarkinGilbert TaylorJim BrinsonGeoffrey S. GrimsmanJeff Ginn RIPGiorgio Postiglione RIPMichael Stringer RIPHarold Michelson RIPSir Ken Adam RIPEdward “Tantar” LeViseur RIPChris MengesJeff JarvisEmilio Ruis del Río RIPGus Ramsden RIPJohn Jay MooreSilvana ManganoRaffaella De LaurentiisDavid LynchJoe DuntonOne More Round! - Other mentions on WRAP BEER!Estudios ChurubuscoCinecittaDDL Food ShowChallenge (1974)Walking Tall (1973)Reuben, Reuben (1983)Marie (1985)Apocalypse Now (1979)Cat’s Eye (1985)Prancer (1989)The Crow (1994)Golden Years (1991)Betsy’s Wedding (1990)Date with an Angel (1987)Year of the Dragon (1985)The Dead Zone (1983)Dune (1984)Total Recall (1990)The Abyss (1989)The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)
HOSTS SCOTT DAVIS AND JOHN D. KRETSCHMER On July 13, 1983, the Morning Star headline read, “Firestarter” Set to Film on Location in Wilmington.” The town would never be the same. Hosts SCOTT DAVIS and JOHN D. KRETSCHMER introduce “WRAP BEER!” and recount their very first days, and the dawning of a new era on the Cape Fear.Buy Them A BEER! - Folks who were mentioned on WRAP BEER!Dino DeLaurentis RIPMartha Delaurentis RIPElliott Schick RIPChris MengesJohn T. Kretchmer (the creative one)Frank O’SheaRick Barefoot RIPBobby HuberJohn CopemanJohn BanksonJeff JarvisDon Ansell RIPWard WeltonBobby TestermanJay MichaelRichard Elam, Jr., Ph.D. RIPMichael JordanC.C. Hope, Jr. RIPPaula WyrickJoanna (casting)One More Round! - Other mentions on WRAP BEER!Cat’s Eye (1985)Year of the Dragon (1985)Marie (1985)Atlanta Marriott MarquisHurricane Diane (1984)Anatomy of Motion Pictures ( Book)