Rochester native Josh Smith makes his debut on the big screen in the sports movie "The Fifth Quarter."
Based on a true story, the film tells about the Abbate family's response to the 2006 car crash death of 15-year-old Luke. It follows older brother and Wake Forest University football player Jon Abbate and chronicles how the team supported the family. That season, the Demon Deacons advanced to the Orange Bowl.
"My role is the best friend of Jon Abbate, Steve Justice," Smith, 29, of Holly Springs, N.C., said. "He's also kind of like a big-brother-slash-moral-check for Jon. He's a real balanced kind of individual."
Smith graduated from Rochester High School in 1997. His only acting experience: the portrayal of a minister in the RHS Tri-Epsilon presentation of Shakespeare's "As You Like It."
The son of Tim and RuthAnn Ravencroft and Tim and Pat Smith, he played Zebra football for three years. He was an All-Conference offensive tackle, defensive end and All-State place kicker. Smith planned to play football at University of Evansville, but decided to become a youth pastor. He works at Hope Chapel, Apex, N.C.
A friend, Nick Errato, a model and actor, told Smith the filmmakers wanted a 6'2" to 6'3" man weighing 260-300 pounds. He sent them his photo and was asked to audition. "What do I have to lose?" he thought. "I like to experience different things. This will be a really cool experience that I'll remember the rest of my life. ... When I learned that Andie MacDowell and Aiden Quinn were in it, I thought 'this is bigger than what I initially thought.'"
Quinn and MacDowell portray Jon's parents, Steven and Maryanne Abbate; Ryan Merriman plays Jon.
His pastor and the movie cast have been flexible. "We couldn't do this without you," he said the filmmakers told him.
It's intense working with professional actors, he said. "It was very intimidating," he said. "The difference that I've noticed is this is their job. They really put on the character they're playing. ... They're really quiet and focused. They want to make sure they nail the scene," Smith added.
It's also been fun. He recalled a time when he, MacDowell and Merriman began laughing accidentally during filming. "I try to follow their lead," Smith said, when it comes to being quiet or joking around.
Filming began Oct. 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C., and ends Tuesday. "It's been sporadic," Smith said. The cast began filming football scenes Thursday.
"They don't film chronologically," he said. "We memorize it from scene to scene. Fortunately they do retakes. I messed up a lot today," Smith said last Monday. "I love the workout scenes. All you have to do is grunt and sweat."
The day they filmed workout scenes, which Smith enjoyed, the cast spent 10 hours at Gold's Gym. Smith said he wore six outfits to represent different days. "I had been working out, but I'll be honest, I was pretty sore after that," he added.
Smith and his wife, Sumer, both attended LIFE Pacific College in Los Angeles and moved to North Carolina to work at Hope Chapel. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Hannah. Filming hasn't been too hard on the family, he said.
"I definitely could not see myself as a full-time actor," Smith said. However, he would act in a movie again if he were given the chance. "I would love to do a comedy. It would be much easier," he said.
The independent film, written and directed by Rick Bieber and produced by his Angel City Pictures, will be released in May 2009. Its budget: roughly $5 million.
On football
"I like to watch whoever is doing good. I don't like boring football," Smith said. He said he will always be loyal to the Zebras.
He has not met Justice, who is now background center for the Indianapolis Colts. "I did get to meet the Abbate family," he said. "They're just a precious family, very tight."
Jon Abbate played for the Houston Texans. "When I saw him a week ago, he said he was going to try out for the Raiders," Smith said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, November 17, 2008
Article comment by:
Challi Pullen
I am a cousin of Josh - We couldn't be more proud of him. It is really neat to see a small town kid get to do such a neat thing. Congratulations to the whole family.
