2008 Woodie Awards
UCM Student Takes on Starring Role in 'The Pony Express'
Sarah Coss: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Features
Amidst a sea of about 11,000 college students is a star of a DVD documentary, masked as a cowboy boots-wearing, small-town, reserved freshman. Full-time student, sprinter for the track team, Agriculture Club member and rodeo participant Justin Rother has landed the lead role as Johnny Fry for "The Pony Express."
The documentary, which is produced/written/directed by Jim Conlon, will come out on DVD in June. Scout Pictures, The Pony Express and the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor Bureau are affiliated with the project.
Rother, agriculture major, is shooting live action shots for the project. The character he plays was among the first Pony Express riders in the 1860s, and came to be very popular, especially with the local women. In the documentary, he will ride his black quarter mayor, Lilly.
"He is an excellent rider," his mother Pam Rippey said, "He can get on the horse on a fly."
In the past, he has acted in Civil War reenactments, but has never acted on-camera or on-stage. He heard about the casting call for the documentary from his mother.
"We heard the casting call on a [St. Joseph] radio, we told him about it and he said 'I'm in'," she said.
The role called for a person with an extensive horse-riding background and access to clothing conducive to it. The producer thought he was ideal for the role and chose Rother out of the 150 people who auditioned for roles, 25 of which auditioned for the central character.
"He blew everyone out of the water," Conlon said. "He was the right age [for the role], he brought an impressive portfolio that showed everything he said he could do on a horse and he came dressed in the exact outfit Pony Express riders wore."
After his audition, "The producer called him back about as soon as he got home ," Rippey said.
Rother was somewhat surprised to receive a call-back.
"I was really excited because I really haven't done any acting before," he said. His experience and familiarity riding horses proved to be an advantage to landing the role. He has ridden horses since he was 4 years old. From that early age, he came to be very passionate about riding.
The documentary, which is produced/written/directed by Jim Conlon, will come out on DVD in June. Scout Pictures, The Pony Express and the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor Bureau are affiliated with the project.
Rother, agriculture major, is shooting live action shots for the project. The character he plays was among the first Pony Express riders in the 1860s, and came to be very popular, especially with the local women. In the documentary, he will ride his black quarter mayor, Lilly.
"He is an excellent rider," his mother Pam Rippey said, "He can get on the horse on a fly."
In the past, he has acted in Civil War reenactments, but has never acted on-camera or on-stage. He heard about the casting call for the documentary from his mother.
"We heard the casting call on a [St. Joseph] radio, we told him about it and he said 'I'm in'," she said.
The role called for a person with an extensive horse-riding background and access to clothing conducive to it. The producer thought he was ideal for the role and chose Rother out of the 150 people who auditioned for roles, 25 of which auditioned for the central character.
"He blew everyone out of the water," Conlon said. "He was the right age [for the role], he brought an impressive portfolio that showed everything he said he could do on a horse and he came dressed in the exact outfit Pony Express riders wore."
After his audition, "The producer called him back about as soon as he got home ," Rippey said.
Rother was somewhat surprised to receive a call-back.
"I was really excited because I really haven't done any acting before," he said. His experience and familiarity riding horses proved to be an advantage to landing the role. He has ridden horses since he was 4 years old. From that early age, he came to be very passionate about riding.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Peggy Fairlie
posted 2/21/08 @ 9:13 PM CST
Justin, we are all so proud of you in this accomplishment. Will be anxious to see the completed project.
Great Aunt Peggy
Sherry Needham
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:31 PM CST
Hey Justin, Way to go! We know you'll do a great job of portraying Johnny Fry and you're certainly the best young rider we know. That's great that you plan to continue with acting. (Continued…)
Jayne Rivera
posted 2/22/08 @ 12:17 PM CST
Justin we are so excited about you and your film making. I know how much you have enjoyed your horses and you will be the perfect one for this movie. (Continued…)
Post a Comment