From HOLLYWOOD to the PINEYWOODS
Denzel Washington directs 'The Great Debaters' at the Texas State Railroad
BY LELAND ACKER
As the sun rose at the Palestine Depot of the Texas State Railroad Monday, the movie crew was already at full speed preparing to film a scene of "The Great Debaters," starring and directed by Denzel Washington. The scene being filmed at the state railroad is one where the 1935 debate team from Wiley College is boarding a train bound for Boston to face a team from Harvard University.

Denzel Washington the star and director of "The Great Debaters," was on set as a scene was filmed on the TSR.

State railroad officials said extras (actors who only appear in the background) began arriving as early as 3:17 a.m. As of 9 a.m., the extras were still lined up for hair styling and make-up.

Monday was a crucial day for filming. Robert Crossman, state railroad superintendent, said if the scene did not get filmed Monday, it would not be filmed at all due to "actor issues." A movie official who asked not to be identified said the actor issues were that Monday was the last day that Forest Whitaker could be involved in filming. Mr. Whitaker, a 45-year old native of Longview, plays the role of James Farmer, Sr, father to James Farmer, Jr, a member of the debate team who went on to found the Congress on Racial Equality and helped organize the Freedom Riders in the 1960s.

Extras await a van to transport them to the set after having their hair style and make-up applied. They portrayed passengers boarding a train for Boston during the depot scene of "The Great Debaters," starring Denzel Washington. The scene was filmed at the Texas State Railroad in Palestine Monday. PHOTO: LELAND ACKER

Monday was also the final day of filming for Kimberly Elise, who plays the wife of the elder Mr. Farmer.

"The Great Debaters" will portray the 1935 Wiley College debate team, which defeated Harvard University for the national championship. Mr. Washington plays coach Melvin B. Tolson, an instructor at Wiley College who was impassioned by scholarship and motivated his students to succeed. The real life Tolson also coached the football team and taught English.

Filming will continue in the East Texas/Northern Louisiana area through mid July. After that, scenes will be filmed at Harvard University, said Cid Swank, publicist for "The Great Debaters."

The Wiley College m Band gives a send-off party to the debate team as they depart for the national finals at Harvard University.

Ms. Swank said one day of filming is scheduled for Wiley College next week, with the bulk of the filming to take place in the northeast corner of Louisiana. She said filming will be wrapped up around the end of August, with the movie scheduled to open in Theaters Dec. 25.

"The Great Debaters" is being produced by Oprah Winfrey, Kate Forte, Todd Black and Joe Roth.

Passengers and film l crew members move luggage before shooting the train boarding scene Monday at the Texas State Railroad in Palestine. "The Great Debaters," starring Denzel Washington, will open in Theaters Dec. 25. Extras await their turn for make-up and hair styling during Monday's shoot of "The Great Debaters" at the Texas State Railroad. The film, set for release on Dec. 25, stars Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. Filming will continue in East Texas and Northern Louisiana through mid-June. PHOTOS: LELAND ACKER