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Officially, tonight's screening of the film noir rock opera Rock-A-Bye Dead Man does not involve an audience participation segment. Hooligan Street Pictures and Sway Productions - the Tacoma-based producers of the 1940s rock musical - don't expect folks to throw toast, scream at the screen or clap coconut halves during chase scenes.
That said, last night the Weekly Volcano dropped in on the film's brain trust during their live interview with The Northwest Convergence Zone where we learned bits of trivia about the film. How you use this information is up to you. The film trivia below may pop up at trivia nights throughout Tacoma. File this information into your noggins.
Among other locations, auditions for Rock-A-Bye Dead Man were held at the Center For Spiritual Living and the Tacoma Film Club headquarters.
The film's score was first recorded at The Hungry Bard Foundation. The producer, Sean Gill-MacDonald, is the son of Lorraine Gill, an actress in the film. The remaining music was produced at the studio of Doug Mackey. Mackey is currently producing the second release by Loser Dog, Sean's band. In fact, a number of the cast members are in bands: Lorraine Gill (Taist of Iron), Bill Schlanbusch (The Plastards), Nate Dybevik (Taxi Driver), Loretta Deranleau Howard (Bodacious Ladyhood, a music and comedy group), Rich Bundy (The Plastards, Good Gravy, Breaking Quarantine). Dave McKibbin, who played lead guitar on all the music, is a veteran of many bands.
Actor Darryl Small learned all of the singing parts, both male and female, and taught each part to the cast member who would play that role in the film.
Director Joseph Kephart insisted there be a French horn in the film's music. After an exhaustive search, no French horn player could be found. Then, the actor who was playing the detective suggested his sister, Hilary Spear. She immediately became part of the band. Ironically, her brother had to drop out of the film. Lance Zielinski replaced him.
The opening scene of the detective driving was done on a green screen in the Graffiti Garages in downtown Tacoma.
Rock-A-Bye Dead Man crew went to film at one location and was mistaken by staff members for a totally different film crew who were scheduled to shoot at the same location.
The very last scene filmed was the séance, which was shot on Friday the 13th.
[Washington State History Museum, Rock-a-Bye Dead Man movie premier, Monday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., $3, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 888.238.4373]
LINK: The interview audio