We Love You, Billy!

By James Tealy • May 20th, 2008 • Category: Artists in Residence

I did something crazy today. A few weeks ago I saw a posting in the local paper for extras casting in the film, Billy: The Early Years. It’s a film about the beginning of Billy Graham’s career as an evangelist. I sent in a picture and they called me in to be a “stagehand” in a scene being filmed at a local theater today. By 8:30 I was on set finding some 1940’s clothes and getting a 1940’s haircut and a sweet fedora. There were 4 of us playing stage hands in the scene and we spent most of the day just standing around. We were finally called to our places after lunch. My job was to stand huddled up with the other stagehands peeking around a corner as “Billy” preached out on stage. The camera moves past us following another character down the stairs. If they don’t cut the scene I should get at least 3 tenths of a second of face time on camera. MovieStah!

It was a fun way to spend the day. I was left with plenty of time to think about Billy Graham and his impact on culture, on the church, even on my family. All day I was singing an old song in my head. In 1989 a band called the “Swirling Eddies” released a tribute song to Billy Graham on a record called “Outdoor Elvis.” HERE’S A TASTE. - “Billy You’re the man who don’t use slight of hand. Ain’t wearing no disguise. I love you, Billy.” It’s a strange and sweet little song and I walked around singing it in my head all day long.

Surely they will release Billy: The Tribute Record along with the film. Maybe I can land a song on the release to accompany my big screen acting debut. My job was to gawk from backstage and I gawked like a gawking champion! We love you, Billy.

Peace,
James

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