‘ACTION’

So you think all those Hollywood-types are stuck up and don’t live in reality, huh?

If so, that means you weren’t on hand earlier this week at Mariposa County High School when some 40 or so of those “types” were filming the pilot episode of a TV show conceived by one of the school’s graduates.

In fact, everyone on the set was cordial, introduced themselves to total strangers, were polite and well spoken and were no different than anyone else.

Most of them, too, said they were thrilled to be in Mariposa filming and all had high praise for the town and, most importantly, its people.

The people were here filming the pilot episode of entitled “Edge of the Lot,” which focuses on the fictional town of “Mayfield,” which is based on Mariposa. Not surprisingly, even the basketball uniforms were green and gold and the entire set had the feel of the historic high school in which filming was taking place.

“It fits into what we are doing here,” said Sophia Delucchi, who plays “Karlie” in the show.

Delucchi was sitting in a makeup chair while Chad Rivera, the lead makeup artist, and Marina Rivera, an assistant makeup artist, were transforming her into a blonde school girl for the part.

“It’s so charming,” said Rivera. “I see why Jazzy insisted on us filming here. There is a small-town vibe.”

Rivera admitted she isn’t a natural blonde and was herself amazed at the transformation.

“It is helpful to be here,” said Delucchia, who lives in Hollywood. “We can play pretend all we want (in Hollywood), but to be here is so helpful.”

She said “pulling into the parking lot” even gave them insight. The show’s title is based on the parking lot across the street from MCHS.

“I love it here,” added Rivera, noting, “there are no cars honking.”

Being from Los Angeles, Rivera said the difference could not be more stark and though he enjoys his occupation and life in the big city, coming to Mariposa, he said, is a good distraction from the rat race.

For Hawley, it was a true homecoming as she looked around the makeup room and recalled she began her drama career right in this room with former English teacher Bryan Starchman, who also was the drama teacher and produced many plays before he left the school.

Hawley was also quite appreciative of the many people who have stepped in to help with the production following a series of stories which appeared in this newspaper.

She said the Hilltop Manner, Yosemite Sunrise Retreat and Whispering Pines were all hosting the crew from the production.

In addition, Smokin’ Oak BBQ and Dixon’s Fixin’s provided the cast and crew with lunch during the two days of filming at MCHS.

“And my grandparents,” noted Hawley, who she said are even pitching in. So are her parents, April and Jason Hawley, who not only gave her the unique name, but who have been supportive of her career from the start.

She also said there have been many other people who have helped, including people who loaned them vehicles to film in the parking lot scenes.

Back home again

“It’s definitely surreal,” said Hawley. “I had to do a double take.”

The 2019 MCHS graduate remembers walking the halls and she was pointing out all of her relatives, including her parents, whose photos are on the walls of the school. The cast and crew were impressed at the many photos on the halls of MCHS which depict the graduates over the years.

One of the reasons she wanted to do part of the filming at the high school was to give the cast a sense of a small-town high school and what it is like — literally.

“The actors feel like they are stepping into the shoes of a character,” she said. “Also, it is just cool.”

Hawley said there will still be some filming to do in Hollywood. That will take up three days later this month.

Then comes the editing process as well as getting some of the footage to Canon, the company that made this trip possible for Hawley and some of her closest friends. Hawley was one of the winners of a Canon competition, from which she received funding to film the pilot episode.

There is also the post-production work including incorporating the original music that will be used for this episode — and hopefully the entire series. She said that will take a few months.

Hawley also thinks this is a big step closer to getting the show marketed and hopefully on a network.

“Having the pilot first is a way to open more doors,” she said.

Asked if she thought that several years ago, while she was attending MCHS, she would have envisioned being able to come back here with an entire cast and crew to film, Hawley was quick to answer.

“Yes,” she said.

She knew back then Hollywood was her goal and she has made that happen.

“It’s my dream,” said Hawley, who exudes confidence.

So what advice would she give to younger people who may have similar aspirations?

“Have faith in themselves,” she said. “Make it happen.”

But don’t think she isn’t humble.

“I am very grateful,” she said. “And super proud.”

So many aspects

Emily Blue is the assistant wardrobe specialists and was walking around with her tablet and literally changing the outfits of the cast on the screen.

“We are having a fun time in wardrobe,” she said.

There was an extensive wardrobe rack inside the room once occupied by Starchman, who most certainly would be proud of what was taking place at MCHS.

Blue said wardrobe, combined with makeup, can make a huge difference for the actors.

“They transform,” she said.

She was also enjoying just being in this area, noting how “perfect” it was to be staying at the Yosemite Sunrise Retreat.

Yancy Perez is the director and co-creator of the show with Hawley. He was the first person in Los Angeles to read the script.

“Let’s do this,” was his initial reaction some three years ago.

And on Monday, he was standing on the basketball court at MCHS getting ready to film the “basketball scene.”

This was the third trip to Mariposa for Perez, who came before with Hawley when they did some filming at Pioneer Market in the initial phases of the production.

“The school is perfect,” he said. “The magic of Mariposa. I love being here.”

Perez is from New York City, so coming to Mariposa is essentially the complete opposite of where he grew up as well as where he lives now in Los Angeles.

He noted how the cast and crew quickly adapted to filming at the high school and being in Mariposa, in general.

“Just the reaction of everyone,” he said. “They connect themselves in their characters.”

The concept for “Edge of the Lot” has been in Hawley’s mind for many years. In fact, it came to her while she was a student at MCHS but she put it in the back of her mind for years.

Then, after moving to Hollywood and getting involved in the industry as an actress as well as in production and writing, she pulled it out of the cobwebs.

Perez gives Hawley a lot of credit.

“It is such a fresh idea,” he said of the television series. “I believe in Jazzy.”

That seems to be the sentiment of everyone who was involved in the production.

In fact, one of the actors revealed that is has been Hawley who has remained loyal to the group of people involved in the production. He said she could have easily sold the concept or recruited new actors, but she stuck to her guns for three years to make it happen.

That speaks volumes about Hawley.

And she credits her upbringing in Mariposa for how her life has evolved. She reiterated that while getting ready to sit down to a lunch of barbecue made right in Mariposa.

The cast and crew filmed for two days in Mariposa before returning back to Hollywood.