Hollywood Meets The Modeler's Resource

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This originally appeared in The Modeler's Resource, Jan/Feb issue #14 as a two-page article, with black and white photos.

by Silvia DeRuvo

Toward the end of last summer, Hollywood contacted The Modeler's Resource. Brendan Carter, from Weller-Grossman Productions in Hollywood, had seen the magazine highlighted on The Sci-Fi Network and had thought that this subject would fit perfectly with the Home & Garden Television Network's (HGTV) regular cable series that brought to light people and their hobbies in , "What's Your Hobby?"

Brief discussions ensued regarding what exactly would be covered on the show and a date was set for Hollywood to come to the Fresno-Clovis area. That date was Monday, September 9, 1996.

On the appointed day, four gentlemen arrived at Holland Elementary School to begin the filming, since by day, Fred teaches 6th grade. They wanted to begin there because of Fred's model building club, which took place at school, usually during lunch time. The film crew spent roughly 2 hours watching Fred and his students build kits and the host of the show, Eric Boardman interacted with Fred and the kids by asking them questions about the model building process: why did they build models? what did they enjoy most about it? if they could hsare one of the best things about model building, what would it be? etc.

After the filming was done at school, the entire crew came to the house where the office is located and where Fred builds the models that often appear in the pages of the magazine

It was extremely exciting for our own two children and me to watch Fred as he was interviewed by Eric, or as he taught Eric and the viewing audience how to drybrush for instance. Eric even got involved by doing some painting himself on a gorilla kit produced by Heroes from Another Planet!

The film crew was here until after 9:00 pm interviewing, filming Fred's models, the covers of a number of issues of the magazine, watching Fred as he typed in an article for the issue that you are now reading and watching him build, paint and airbrush. When it ws over, we were tired but it was absolutely fun. The guys in the crew were absolutely wonderful and certainly knew their jobs very well. They had a great time and felt that the story would be a great upcoming piece for the "What's Your Hobby" show.

It was a day we'll never forget, when Hollywood came to visit The Modeler's Resource. Thanks to the crew: Sound: Adrian Reecer; Host/Interviewer: Eric Boardman; Director: Gordon Recht; Cameraman: Kurt Zell.