Meet Charlie Finn Who Plays Brad Cohen’s Roommate Jordan Hirschfield and Also See Our Apartment
Thursday, October 9th, 2008
Charlie Finn plays the role of my roommate Jordan Hirschfield in the movie Front of the Class. When you start watching the movie, don’t get confused when you see Charlie’s character named “Ron.” At first the screen writer, Tom Rickman,” changed Jordan’s name to Ron because Ron was really a composite of a bunch of my friends. But as they edited the script, I noticed that almost all of the content about Jordan really was what happened with me and Jordan. By that time it was too late, and Ron was here to stay.Jordan was my roommate for 4 years when we first moved to Atlanta. I imagine a number of my friends characters could have made it to the big screen, but they chose “Ron” because they really focus on 1996 when I first moved to Atlanta, struggled to find a job because I had Tourette Syndrome, and of course Jordan was my roommate at the time.
Charlie was a very nice guy. I didn’t have a chance to see him shoot any scenes, but we did get to meet after lunch one day. As you could imagine, the first thing I noticed about him was the Cubs hat, so I wasn’t very excited about that. I allowed him to keep the hat on for the picture because I’m a nice guy.
The other two pictures show our apartment. I will guarantee you that this is not what our apartment looked like. Our place was much messier. Just kidding. They built this apartment from scratch in a warehouse studio they were using in Shreveport, LA. I also took a picture of what you will see across the street from our apartment. It is a nice house with trees in the front yard, but in reality, it is a huge background shot which will hang from the studio so it looks like we actually had neighbors. Cheers
Meet Joe Chrest playing Brad Cohen’s principal how hired him, Jim Ovbey, in Front of the Class
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
This is Joe Chrest, playing the role of Jim Ovbey in Front of the Class. I had a chance to chat with Joe for a while and he was a very nice guy. He’s been in a lot of films, most recently in “The Secret Life of Bees” which is about the be released. And of course how appropriate that the real Jim is a bee lover and makes his own honey right outside his home.
I only had a chance to see a few scenes filmed with Joe but with what I saw, I was impressed.
The one picture you see was when Jim and Hilarie and the state observer come visit my classroom and see a spelling lesson I was teaching.
Jim and Hilarie gave me a chance to teach in their school as a 2nd grade teacher despite having Tourette Syndrome. 24 other administrators didn’t give me the chance to be a teacher. You’ll see some of my experiences with the interview process as well as the magic question Jim asked me during the interview! You won’t believe what he asked me. But you’ll have to watch the movie! No spoilers! Cheers
Front of the Class introduces Dianne Butler playing Brad Cohen’s assistant principal, Hilarie
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Meet Dianne Butler, playing the role of assistant principal to Brad Cohen in Front of the Class. Hilaie Straka is the AP who finally hired me on my 25th interview. Dianne was a very nice lady and did a good job acting as Hilarie. Of course, more make-up, more jewelry, a better wardrobe and a younger actress would have pleased Hilarie more, but life goes on.
Hilarie is now my current assistant principal again. It has been great to work for her in two different situations. Hilarie deserves a lot of credit, along with Jim Ovbey, my first principal, for giving me the opportunity to begin my teaching career. 13 years later I’m still teaching and I’m not sure where I would be if they didn’t give me a chance and believe in me. Thanks!
Meet the Middle School Principal Brad Cohen Had…. Mike Pniewski
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Meet Mike Pniewski, who plays my middle school principal Mr. Myer. Mike was a great guy to be around. I had heard good things about him and then when we met him in person he was a joy to be around. We had a chance to have dinner with him as well as travel back to Atlanta on the airplane with him too. Mike has appeared in many movies and TV Shows. One of my favorites was We Are Marshall where he played Coach Bobby Bowden. But Nancy liked the fact that he was also in Big Love.The pictures above show Nancy, Mike and I and also a picture of the scene where Mr. Myer and me as a kid get up in front of the student body and educate them about Tourette Syndrome for the first time. This is my favorite scene and you will see why when you watch the movie! I will not share any spoilers in this BLOG! You’ll have to watch this scene very carefully!
Dominic does an amazing job, as always, in this scene. I guess you have to be on set to truly understand how hard acting and filming really is for everyone. This one scene started around 8am and was not completed until 5pm. The children who were the extras in the film sitting in the audience did a great job behaving and I’d like to give credit to the orchestra who played the same song over and over and over and over and over and over(I think you get the point).
I’m honored that Mike was selected for this role because he does a great job.
Cheers
Cheers
Meet Johnny, who is playing Brad Cohen’s brother Jeff as an adult!
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Believe it or not, we still haven’t figured out Johnny’s real last name. Johnny was one of the last actors hired on the set. He is a nice guy and Jeff and Johnny had a chance to hang out as we ate lunch together on the set and we went out to dinner one night. Johnny has a silly personality as during one scene at Thanksgiving dinner, he showed his creativity changing his motions each time he passed through the hallway. Most people didn’t notice but Jeff certainly did as he kept his eye on what Johnny was doing the entire time. You’ll see Jeff and Johnny in the pictures and you’ll also notice the Cohen Brothers. As if 2 Cohen boys weren’t bad enough, now you have a total of 6!
Charles Wyson plays Brad Cohen’s brother Jeff?
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
The young Jeff is being played by a boy named Charles Wyson. You might recognize him as the boy on Journeyman, which was on NBC. Charles was a very nice young man on the set. The scene that sticks out in my mind from the days we were on the set was when Dominic and Charles were fighting in the den area of our house and Dominic had to give Charles a wet willy. Of course this is what my brother and I did to each other often. But the funny thing about this is that they had to redo the scene so many times, Charles finally said, “Could Dominic please start giving me a wet willy in my other ear!” Of course he couldn’t because they had to stay consistent each time. You’ll see a picture here of Charles and Dominic practicing the fight scene.
My real brother, Jeff, and Charles enjoyed the time spent with each other.
Sarah Drew Plays the Wife of Brad Cohen, Nancy, in Front of the Class
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Yes, my wife did make it in the movie and she is being played by Sarah Drew.Sarah is a really sweet, fun and outgoing girl. You might recognize her from either Everwood, playing Hannah Rogers, or from the movie Radio, where she played the daughter of the coach. We really enjoyed ourselves as we had a chance to get to know each other. Nancy and I went out to dinner with Sarah and a small group from the set.
The best scene we watched them shoot was when Nancy visits St. Louis with me for the first time. At Thanksgiving dinner I pull Nancy away and give her a great big kiss. Obviously, in the movie it is Jimmy and Sarah kissing, so on this day, we just watched them go at it and we remembered the good ole days.
I know we were both happy with Sarah’s performance both during the kiss and the rest of the time. We know you will enjoy her character also when the movie comes out.
Hallmark Hall of Fame Presents Brad Cohen’s Story
Friday, September 19th, 2008
Dominic Scott Kay plays the young Brad Cohen in Front of the Class
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
It is an honor to introduce to you Dominic Scott Kay. This 12 year old kid is amazing. It didn’t take long for the two of us to bond. He has an impressive resume playing Tom Cruise as a child in Minority Report, he was the voice of Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web which also starred Dakota Fanning, he was recently in Snow Buddies and was also in the Kevin Bacon film Loverboy. Not only does he act, but he is a writer and director and plays in a band.
Dominic does an amazing job for playing me as a 12 year old boy during a difficult time in my life. He too has my tics down pat. He has worked hard at perfecting the tics to be just right. Dominic is a hit on the set as everyone enjoys being around him. I know it must be tough acting for several hours then having to go into a classroom and learn academics. But Dominic doesn’t have a hard time juggling.
I told Dominic if he truly wanted to know what it was like to be Brad Cohen, then he needed to eat at Moe’s! Moe’s Southwest Grill is one of my favorite restaurants (I only eat there 1 or 2 times a week usually getting the same Joey Bag of Donuts!) Dominic said he loved burritos and he wasn’t kidding. He got a huge burrito and scarfed it down in 4 minutes. I finished at least 10 minutes after him. When people walk into Moe’s the people working there scream out “Welcome to Moe’s!!!!!” I told Dominic we needed to just scream it out even though nobody was coming in. Once we screamed out “Welcome to Moe’s” all the people working there began screaming out “Welcome to Moe’s” also. He is now official!
I know you will all love watching him in this movie…….Dominic will be a hit! Nancy and I have enjoyed getting to know Dominic and his family. They are all great. Cheers
Patricia Heaton plays the mother of Brad Cohen in Front of the Class movie
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
Patricia Heaton is playing the mother of Brad Cohen in Front of the Class. Even though I have Tourette Syndrome, this doesn’t stop my mom from helping me grow up to live a life as normal as everyone else. Patricia does a fabulous job in playing my mom. I can see why everyone loves her. She works hard and does quality work. She was very friendly with myself, my wife and of course my mother. They had a good amount of time to chat in between sets. It still amazes me how long it takes to do each scene in the movie. The actors must repeat the same lines and motions until it is perfect, then they have to start all over again from a different angle. Patience and talent put together make wonderful stars.
Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to Jimmy Wolk, playing me as a 22 year old and the day after that Dominic Scott Kay, who plays me as a 12 year old.
Cheers
