Leisure Suit and GTO Land Saginaw Native a Role

Timothy W. Ader of Thomas Township says his experience as a background extra is far more pleasant than his efforts with 'Semi-Pro' starring Will Ferrell, which features a minor league basketball team that supposedly, is based in Flint.  "With Street Boss it is totally different," says Ader, a Grey Iron Plant retiree.    "Here we have a low-budget film being put forward by a hometown person. The crew goes out of its way to treat everybody with respect, as opposed to the Los Angeles crew (for Semi-Pro) in which everyone was trying to be Mister Hollywood and they did not treat people very well."

Both films are set in the 1970s. Ader made his pitches to become an extra with his old polyester 'leisure suit' from the '70s that he still can fit onto his trim frame. His other main asset has been his wine-colored 1966 GTO, still in mint condition.

"Mobsters drove muscle cars because they could afford them and they could get away fast. My GTO runs on high octane gas and gets about 10 miles per gallon," Ader says with a chuckle.

For Semi-Pro, he invested three full days in Flint and another trio in Pontiac.  He was paid $7.50 an hour and his classic car 'earned' an added $50 per day.

"The money added up to $644, but most of the extras did it because they wanted to be in the movie, not because of the pay," Ader says.

"Then the movie came out, and there was no more than 30 seconds of footage from Flint and Pontiac. I was in there for all of 2 seconds, and I could spot myself only because of my hair and because I knew where I was standing," he says.

In contrast, Ader and other extras for Street Boss are donating their time and energies. His role is as a street tough.

"It's just nice to work with people on Street Boss who appreciate the time we give and recognize our dedication to making this movie."

Ader won't get any lines, because only paid unionized actors are allowed to speak.

"Extras are instructed to pretend that we are talking, but to be careful not to make any sounds because the microphones are sensitive and pick up even small noises," Ader says.

The Saginaw News editorialized on April 10 that providing scenes for a mobster movie could further feed the community's reputation as a crime haven.

Ader disagrees.

"Our community's negative image is more likely to be fostered by the nightly news, than by a fictional movie about the mob," he says.

Author Phil Kerby agrees with this assessment, commenting on the set one day last week, "I don't view this as a negative movie in the least - after all, the good guys end up winning."