Page 12 The Battalion
Monday, April 17,1989
Special effects requests a daily challenge for casting director
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — It
takes a lot of chutzpah to close down
a busy section of Interstate 15, or
chestrate a simulated shootout in a
crowded airport lobby, or fake the
firebombing of a casino on the Las
Vegas Strip.
But for a former New York
model, such challenges have become
routine.
Christine O’Rourke, who saw
dreams of a modeling career de
railed 19 years ago, now runs the
only licensed movie casting and loca
tion management company in Ne
vada.
In that role, she finds her ingenu
ity tested almost daily by Hollywood
producers, taking part in the pro
duction of films such as “Rain Man,”
“Midnight Run,’* “Heat,” “Starman”
and the television series “Crime
Story.”
Her toughest assignment was set
ting up a scene in which a casino was
firebombed — a near-impossible
feat in a city where gaming exec
utives are skittish about even having
photographs taken in their establish
ments.
The firebombing was shot for one
of the episodes of the TV series
“Crime Story.”
“We had to clear everything
through security, deal with fire
codes, get clearance of city and
county officials, etc.,” O’Rourke
says.
“We had to practice the scene,
then shut down the entire casino op
eration to make it work.”
She found herself enlisting the aid
of the governor's office in closing a
section of 1-15, the main artery be
tween Las Vegas and Los Angeles, to
film a scene for “Starman.”
On other occasions, she has
cleared a mountain of legal and pub
lic relations problems to close down
sections of the Las Vegas Strip and
downtown’s Glitter Gulch.
“You’ve got to get the approval of
every casino owner who’s affected,”
she says. “You’ve got to go to all the
property owners, even the guy who
runs the hot dog stand and the
owner of the pawnshop. If just one
of them says no, it’s my job to con
vince them it would be good for
them.”
O’Rourke handled the Nevada lo
cations and casting of extras for
“Rain Man.”
But she found “Midnight Run”
one of her toughest challenges, espe
cially a scene filmed at McCarran In
ternational Airport in Las Vegas.
“These people were sticklers for
realism,” she recalls. “They wanted
real cops, real FBI agents. They said,
‘If you can’t get us real cops and FBI
men, we’ll find someone who can.’ ”
O’Rourke found herself calling
powerful Clark County Sheriff John
Moran in the pre-dawn hours one
day to enlist his aid in the search for
extras. She delivered, and the air
port scene, involving 400 extras, was
one of the more dramatic segments
of the hit film.
Martin Sheen needed soldiers in
his upcoming movie “Night-
breaker.” The extras were to portray
American servicemen used in atmo
spheric nuclear testing at the Ne
vada Test Site in the 1950s. Veterans
have contended they were subjected
to radioactive fallout from the test
ing, a charge denied by the govern
ment.
The sensitive nature of the film
ruled out government agencies as a
source for the extras. So O’Rourke
recruited high school and college
ROTC students to provide the
needed manpower.
The heady world of Hollywood
was something of a natural progrtt
sion for O’Rourke, 38, who
modeling in her hometown of Sn
Jose, Calif, at the age of 15
headed for New York City two yean
later, modeling for magazines sutl
as “Seventeen.”
That career came to a halt whet
she married at the age of 19. Adi
voi ce, then a move to Las Vegasn®
years ago found her searching fon
new career while trying to si
her children, Patrick, 13, and Tan
12.
She started Spectrum Service;
her location and casting company
on less than $100.
INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS
sponsored by
AA
£ McDonald's
McDonald’s
Post Oak Mall • Hwy 21
Manor East Mail • University Dr.
Texas Ave. at S.W. Parkway
Breakfast Every Morning • 5 locations • Drive Thru
FOOTNOTES
IM GAMEPLAN
Monday, April 17 Canoe Pretrip Meeting 6 PM
161 Read.
Tuesday, April 18 Volleyball Triples Playoffs
begin.
Thursday, April 20 Pickleball Doubles Playoffs
begin.
Saturday, April 22 SOA Happy Hour 6 - 8 PM at
the Double Daves on Jersey.
HELP WANTED:
Photographer to take pictures of intramural
and sport club activities. Must have black and
white darkroom experience. For more infor
mation call P.J. at 845-7826.
RAINING???
Call 845-2625 to see if
your game has been
rained out.
ENTRIES OPEN: APRIL 17 ENTRIES CLOSE: APRIL29
GOLF DRIVING RANGE HOURS
The Driving Range located at the Intramural Sports
Center is now open for operation Mon-Thu, 3 PM - 6
PM; Fri, 12 PM - 6 PM; Sat, 10 AM - 6 PM; and Sun,
12 noon - 6 PM.
GET INVOLVED
The Slam Dunk Contest and the Gymnastics Club are two of the many diverse activi
ties offered by the Department of Recreational Sports.
FUN RUN CONTEST DATE: Saturday, April 29, 10: am. LOCATION: Meet in front of
G. Rollie White. APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 3.1 miles (5K). ENTRY FEE: Free!
ELIGIBILITY: All TAMU students, faculty, staff and spouses. Men’s and Womens
individual competion. NoTeam competition AWARDS: All University Champion T-Shirts
will be given to the winners (male and female) in each of the following age groups: 18and
under, 19 20, 21,22-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46+. Anyone under 18 competing in this run mus!
be a TAMU Student. Entrants
must present a current stu
dent ID or recreation ID wi
intramural validation on race
day.
FRISBEE GOLF CONTES!
DATE: Saturday, April29at
12 Noon. Meet at
Aggie. ENTRY FEE: FREE
!!! ELIGIBILITY: Thecontes!
is open to all TAMU students
faculty, staff, and their n
spective spouces. Compel
tors must present a
student ID or Recreation
with Intramural Validation.
EQUIPMENT:
YOUR OWN DISC! !!!D
SIONS: Men and women
compete in singles competi
tion only.
WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
< > -’v.
tlSgPft &
0 X. ■ -
TAMU-OUTDOORS
Climb A Rock At Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Intermediate Climbing Trip April 28 - 30
Registration; April 10-24
Join us at the Rock and experience the thrills of rock climbing and rappeling! This intermediate climbing trip
is open to those who wish to learn more advanced climbing skills and techniques. More challenging climbs
and rappels will be introduced. The $30 ($35 non A&M) fee for this adventure includes rental of group
camping equipment, climbing equipment, camping permits, and experienced instruction. The trip is offered
to intermediate climbers and is limited to 10 participants.
Canoe the Guadalupe River April 22 - 23
Registration: April 3 - April 17
The Guadalupe River is the most popular canoeing river in Texas and is famous for its exciting Whitewa
ter and scenic beauty. Spend the weekend camping on the banks of the river and testing your Whitewater
skills.The $30 ($35 for Non A&M) fee for this weekend adventure includes rental of canoes, shuttle costs,
instruction before the trip and while on the river, and experienced guides. This trip is offered for beginning
and intermediate canoeists and is limited to 14 participants.
Register for these trips in the Recreational Sports Office, 159 Read Bldg. For more information about
these trips or TAMU Outdoors, contact Patsy Greiner, 845-7826.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS: McDonald’s Intramural Highlights is sponsored in the Battalion by your local
McDonald's Restaurant at University Drive, Manor East Mall, Hwy 21, Texas Ave. at SW Parkway and Post
Oak Mall. Stories are by Steve Harding, graphics are by Paul Irwin and photos are by Mark Figart and Lynda
Bottos.
Penberthy Softball
Tournament Update
The Penberthy Tournament, which was
rained out April 14-16, has been resched
uled to April 22-23. New brackets for the
tournament will be posted Wednesday,
April 19. The tournament will be held on
Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23.
Opening ceremonies have been resched
uled to Saturday, April 22, 9:45 a.m. at the
Penberthy Intramural Center.
WASHINGTOl
House ethics comr
crats and Republ
mally charged Sp
Monday with 69
chamber’s rules ir
panel’s chairman c
evade” limits on oi
After a 10-moni
vestigation, the <
Democrats and
voted unanimousl
finding “reason
Texas Democrat
House rules requ
gifts, barring ac
from persons with
legislation and
earned income.
“1 know in my I
olated any of the r
lion,” Wright said
bor meeting shori
report was release
He said he hai
and earnesrlv” fo
Prere
will r
by m
By Stephen Mas
SENIOR STAFF \A
Texas A&M sti
parking permits
tration will have
fewer line in the f.
parking policy.
Tom Williams,
ing and transit st
will mail all non-p
mils with fee slip
preregister. T he 1
switch from sticke
mils, he said.
Spaces in the I
garage must be rt
for the 1989-90 ye
lost, names will g<
1,100-person wait
Williams said.
Permits for par
must be picked u
and Sept. 15.
Parking fees wi
the 1988-89 schoc
MBAc
pay di\
to recif
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