”You can’t make a feature-length musical on Super-8 film!” exclaimed one of our opening night guests in 1998. But that is exactly what we had done. This is the feel-good mod hooker musical of the year, inspired by the “three girls” films of the 50s and 60s.
Young and innocent Lorraine Willis leaves her smalltown home and runs away to the big city in search of fame and fortune -- and Mr. Right. What she finds along the way are two call girls, Myrna Beavers and Trish Vanderplop, who end up being her best friends and roommates. They show her the tricks of the trade and together they take on all the fellas in the big city. Lorraine transforms herself from country mouse to glamorous city girl, all while trying to steer clear of the wrath of their wicked pimp Mrs. Schnitzel, to become the most profitable “meter girl” in town.
I love the midcentury “three girls” movies, what with their groovy clothes and mod apartments, and decided this would be my foray into that world. I teamed up with Jilly Idle, Uncle Alice and Tony Pinizzotto to write a bunch of original songs (with titles like “You Gave Me the Clap”) that the cast would perform. We started shooting in July of 1997 in sweltering heat, and wrapped by shooting pickups for the same scene in November as a light snow was falling on the girls in their sleeveless polyester finery. This was our most ambitious project to date, and it received a lot of love from our audiences.
We played a string of sold-out shows at Beat Kitchen in Chicago, returning for several short runs. We received a bunch of press (including a blurb from Roger Ebert, which literally made my day -- I still keep a printout of it above my desk), and even wound up being profiled on PBS’ “Wild Chicago.” Every once in a while, if you’re lucky, you might find a VHS of this floating around.
1998, color, Super-8 film, 105 min.
Click on thumbnails below to start slideshow of behind-the-scenes photos!
The girls are suited up for the first day of wardrobe tests
Recording the songs for the soundtrack... (L-R) Al Strutz, Christine Bouchard, Janet Hurley, Linda Larson
Recording songs with Gabby Sanalitro, Erik Larson and Maxine
The Willis family in happier times back in Pleasant Prairie - Edna, Ernie, Lorraine and Ed
Shooting a scene outside Union Station in downtown Chicago
Linda Larson as Myrna Beavers
The diner where Lorraine meets future friend/roommate Myrna
Barri Evans as the waitress
Behind the scenes... a set visit from Faith Darling
Myrna ready for a scene
Christine Bouchard as Trish Vanderplop
Myrna says a little prayer before heading out
Dawn Lorraine as Midge... the clumsiest call girl around
Trish Vanderplop... ready for a night on the town
The girls get ready to take Lorraine out for her first night “working”
The reason we call them Meter Girls
Mrs. Schnitzel checking up on her investments
Gabby Sanalitro as Mrs. Schnitzel
Lorraine goes from failure to fashion plate!
The Schnitzels
Lorraine learns an important lesson
Naomi in her normal state.
Lorraine strikes a pose
Lorraine learns the tricks of the trade
Mrs. Willis (stevie)
Naomi’s version of a welcome mat
Bitter rivals Cece Horné (Carrie D’Waay) and Trish Vanderplop (Christine Bouchard)
Gig (Jerry Nunn) has a run-in with Naomi (Uncle Alice)
Hammer time.
Gig (Jerry Nunn)
A chance encounter leads to love for Bobby and Lorraine
It’s 10am somewhere
Ernie Willis (Jimmy Murray)
Seductive Cece Horné (Carrie D’Waay)
Trish has a murderous encounter
The girls at their party - Lorraine, Myrna and Trish
Engagement party... and everyone’s coming!
We ain’t did the cake yet!
Unexpected party guests
Rehearsing for “The Clap Song”
You gave me the clap!
Myrna finds true love with Dr. Dirk (Tony Pinizzotto)
Naomi (Uncle Alice)
Trish and Gig are crazy about each other
Myrna finds happiness with Dr. Dirk
The most epic wedding this asylum has ever seen
Wedding guests Smudge and Jon Kimlicko
The girls... happy at last
BW glamor shot of Lorraine (Miss Janet Hurley)
photo by John Rogers
BW glamor shot of Myrna (Linda Larson)
photo by John Rogers
BW glamor shot of Trish (Christine Bouchard)
photo by John Rogers
BW glamor shot of Midge (Dawn Lorraine)
photo by John Rogers
It’s a wrap! Hey... That’s not nice!
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Cast
JANET HURLEY
LINDA LARSON
CHRISTINE BOUCHARD
UNCLE ALICE
GABRIELLE SANALITRO
JERRY NUNN
stevie
DAWN LORRAINE
TONY PINIZZOTTO
CARRIE D’WAAY
JILLY IDLE
ERIK LARSON
TONY PINIZZOTTO
Lorraine Willis
Myrna Beavers
Trish Vanderplop
Naomi Baker
Mrs. Schnitzel
Gig
Edna Willis
Midge
Viener Schnitzel/Dr. Dirk
Cece Horné
Music
Writer/Director/Editor
Producer
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