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"Major League" fans know him as Roger Dorn. But now actor/director Corbin Bernsen is becoming known to our region for something else. Last summer, Bernsen brought Hollywood to the city of Akron to make a movie about the All-American Soap Box Derby. His idea to make the film ignited after he read an article in "USA Today" about how the traditional downhill race was facing major financial troubles.
With a goal of bringing more attention to the All-American race, Bernsen, who currently stars on "Psych," quickly wrote a script and found sponsors to help finance the film. Following mutliple casting calls where more than 1,000 people showed up to be extras, cameras rolled for the first time at Derby Downs in Akron on April 7, 2010. After several months of production, the movie — "25 Hill" — finally wrapped in early August.
Now in the final stages of producing the film, Bernsen, who also directed the movie, has announced the movie will have its world premiere at the Akron Civic Theatre on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Anybody interested in attending the premiere can order tickets online at www.25hill.com. The cost is $25, which includes a special premiere-edition DVD with admission into the screening. If you can't make it on Saturday night, you have a second chance to see the movie at 2 p.m. the next day.
Metromix spent some time with Bernsen during his latest visit in Akron to ask him a few questions about "25 Hill." We also found out his thoughts on Charlie Sheen and the possibility of making another "Major League" movie.
What exactly are guests going to experience at the movie's world premiere in Akron? Is it going to be a grand red carpet entrance?
Yeah. We're going to be red carpet. Whether it's up the hall or out on the street, we have got to work out some stuff with Italain Fest (taking place that same weekend in Akron) to make sure we have some space out front. But yeah, a big premiere. Red carpet. Big signs behind it with all the sponsors and all that. Hopefully maybe getting some Hollywood lights.
Any special guests going to be in attendance at the premiere?
Mostly people from the movie, depending on their schedules. There's a couple of other people I've talked to, but I can't make any guarantees there.
What is your general perspective on the city of Akron and the region?
I love it up here. There's a sort of working-class people that I like that still sort of remains from the factory days. It's very much "Main Street" America. I like that. I think that's why I'm attracted to it. It's why I was attracted to the Derby. I like the hardworking people. It's no nonsense, people, too. You can't B.S. people. ... I've got to be on my best game. It's very important to me to deliver to the best of my ability. Some people may not like the movie, but I'm giving it 120 percent. I've done everything I can with every dollar that I had to make it good. You just can't fool people here. So you've really got to be on your "A" game.
Any future films for you in Northeast Ohio?
This is certainly a place we love to shoot films. We've got a big slate of films coming up that we want to do. The incentives are good here. The people are great. Crews are good here. So yeah, we're definitely thinking about coming back here.
You have some connection with our area because of the "Major League" movies. Did you shoot any of the original film in the Cleveland area?
No we didn't, but I will take full responsibility for the Indians doing as well as they are. (Laughs) It was actually in the paper the other day. Everybody is comparing it to "Major League." ...
Are you a fan of the Indians?
I've always been a fan of the Indians. It's been more fun to be a fan of the Indians than it has the Dodgers, which is my team. The Dodgers, as far as I can tell, every year they're .500. I'm so tired of being in the middle. I'd rather be a loser that's got to climb -- I'd rather be where the Indians have been. All the highs they rode right after "Major League." Then they went down and now they're coming back up again. I love that. At least it's a movement. ... My default team has been the Indians. I think you're always allowed an American League team and a National League team.
When Charlie Sheen's "Violent Torpedo of Truth Tour" was in Cleveland, he was dressed like his character from "Major League." He had the crowd on his side when he discussed his desire to make another movie in that franchise. Is that something realistic, or is that just Charlie Sheen talking big?
There's a script written that I was not included in originally. Charlie went to battle for me, I think. I talked to him right after and I thanked him for it. There is a "Major League" out there, I think it's really down to the question of where Charlie is at. I think he wants to do it, but when you have behavior that's -- I love Charlie and I want to be careful of what I say -- behavior that's unpredictable, it's very hard because you're spending a lot of money. I believe if he can convince the people that want to put the money out to make the movie that he's going to be predictable or reliable, then I think we'll get the movie made. It's not in my hands at all. Like I said, I wasn't even in the script. I tell people and they go, "What? No Dorn in the script? That's crazy!" I just go with the flow. I'm doing my thing, (but) it would be great. I would love it.
Do you want to give any opinion on Charlie Sheen?
I think Charlie is a great guy. Charlie just is dealing with things in his life. I don't know well enough to say what it is. We all have to vomit at some point in our life. You get a little too much poison. You drink too much. We say it in the movie. It's actually in this movie. There's the line, "You just keep holding stuff in, at some point it's gotta come out." ... Whatever things are in his head, at some point that stuff has to come out. It's literally a line in "25 Hill." This is the point that came out. You just hope and pray he doesn't do it in such a way and burn so many bridges that there's no road back.
