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Hollywood visits Taylor area By David Wolbrueck There was an attempted murder out on a farm north of Taylor last week and local law enforcement officials didn't respond or conduct an investigation. But don't worry, it's not time to head for the hardware store and go into the protect and serve business yourself - the entire crime was all just make-believe. Hollywood has returned to the Taylor area and Central Texas. The Wolbrueck Farm north of Taylor, the Circleville Store and Georgetown's airport are among the sites film crews descended upon last week and early this week for "The Wendell Baker Story," a Franchise Pictures comedy co-directed by Dallas-born actor Luke Wilson ("Old School," "The Royal Tenenbaums") and his brother, actor Andrew Wilson ("Charlie's Angels 2," "Bottle Rocket"). Luke Wilson wrote the screenplay. Mark Johnson ("Rain Man," "The Rookie") and David Bushell ("Sling Blade," "The Minus Man") are producing the small-budget independent film. The film stars Luke Wilson in the title role and an ensemble that includes Owen Wilson ("Shanghai Noon," "Behind Enemy Lines"), Eva Mendes ("Once Upon a Time in Mexico"), Eddie Griffin ("Undercover Brother"), Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell, Seymour Cassel, Harry Dean Stanton and Kris Kristofferson. Shooting began in early September and is expected to take about 35 days, wrapping up in late October. "The Wendell Baker Story" is a comedy about a dreamer and misguided entrepreneur (Luke Wilson) who takes a job in a retirement hotel upon release from prison, according to information provided by the film's publicity department. One of the local sets - the Wolbrueck Farm - is owned by Edward and Deloris Wolbrueck of Taylor. A Texas Family Land Heritage Farm, it has been owned by the Wolbrueck family since 1883. The home was also featured in a television commercial for Jack Daniels Hard Cola beverage that filmed this past February. John Crowley, location manager for the Jack Daniels commercial, was instrumental in the selection of the Wolbrueck Farm for "The Wendell Baker Story." "I saw the script and I knew this house was perfect for it, " Crowley said during a break in filming. Edward and Deloris Wolbrueck are also appearing briefly as extras in the film, playing retirement home residents. Although filming of the actual scenes took a comparatively short time, advance preparations took several days. Much of the work involved making the new appear old, to match the home's rustic appearance. Outside the farmhouse, a brand new wire and cedar post fence was built, then "aged" with the help of paint and a sledgehammer. Rusty cans, a vintage pickup, battered furniture and old tin added to the deteriorated look. On the day of filming, several 18-wheel trucks full of equipment and dozens of cast and crew descended upon Wolbrueck Farm, turning it into a beehive of activity. However fast-paced the final product may be, the actual production of a movie isn't always the most exciting show in town. Some scenes had to be shot and re-shot and then shot again. After a while, you didn't need a script to know the lines. "The Wendell Baker Story" is scheduled for release in 2004.
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