Hey folks, Harry here... From time to time there are behind the scenes stories regarding the making of an independent film that are the stuff of legend. In the making of LEVITY, director Ed Solomon did the whole thing, everything from putting his house in risk, extending himself beyond any realm of reason. This film was his dream, something that he would... well, do anything to make happen. As a case in point, I present to you the following story about Ed Solomon, Billy Bob Thornton and the legendary Pat Boone... call it... a taste of LEVITY...

We were planning to shoot Levity in April when our lead, Billy Bob Thornton, called to say he was only available in January and February. Which was fine, except for one thing: this was mid-November, and we were missing some essential elements – namely locations, sets, and a crew.

Oh, and one other minor thing: financing.

So I started preproduction the old fashioned way… on credit. We did a schedule and budget which dictated that the absolute earliest we could begin shooting in Montreal was mid January, which would have us finished by March 9th.

But Billy Bob had to leave March 1st. Period. He had a family commitment he intended to honor, and I admire that greatly. I, however, forged ahead, hoping one of two things would happen: either Billy Bob’s schedule would shift, or he would see how hard we were working and give us an extra week.

By the beginning of January, I had phoned Billy Bob every day to see if his schedule had indeed changed. And, of course, it hadn’t. And the funding, which was dependent on Billy Bob’s participation, still hadn’t closed. And I was in so far over my head financially that our house was now officially collateral. And I was desperate.

So I called Billy Bob with my final plea: what was it, I asked, that was so important that he couldn’t leave later?

He was going on a trip to Namibia with his family, it was a vacation he desperately wanted to take, and going alone was not nearly the same thing.

“Well…” I stammered, “how about if I just get someone really really nice to fly with you instead?”

“Like who?” he said, “Like Pat Boone?”

“Yeah – what if I get Pat Boone to fly with you to Africa?”

He paused, and then chuckled. “Okay, fine. If you get Pat Boone to fly to Namibia with me, I’ll work till the 9th.”

“You promise?”

“Sure.”

Now I had never met Pat Boone. Nor had Billy Bob, for that matter. And to the best of my knowledge Billy’s not a particularly religious guy. Nor am I. And I’m certain that when Billy Bob suggested that Pat was the deal-breaker he never actually expected me to call him.

But, as I said, I was desperate.

“Pat Boone Enterprises,” said the cheery voice on the phone the next day.

“Can I speak with Mr. Boone, please?”

“May I ask what this is regarding?”

“Well, it’s a kind of, uh… request.”

“Yes…?”

“Well… it’s… I should probably tell him myself.”

“Mr. Boone having a root canal. He won’t be available till next week. Is this an emergency?”

“Well, to the rest of the world, no. But to me, well...”

I gave her my Montreal phone number, assuming all was lost, then hung up and set about figuring out how to explain to my six year old that his college fund had been squandered on a film that almost was.

At 1:45 a.m., the hotel phone jarred me awake.

“So what’s this crazy request I’m about to get?” There was a pause, followed by: “Hi, I’m Pat Boone.”

“The Pat Boone?”

“Well certainly a Pat Boone. So what’s this about Billy Bob Thornton and some crazy request?”

I gulped, sat up, and told him the story. The financiers, the March 1st thing, the years of putting this film together. Pat couldn’t have been nicer. In fact, he was so nice, it actually seemed like someone doing an impression of Pat Boone. The upshot is, at the end of the conversation, he thought for a moment, then said: “You know, if it means something to Billy Bob, and if it will help you keep your movie together… sure, I’ll fly with him to Namibia.”

To say I was flabbergasted would be an understatement. “I… do you want me to put you up there for a while? I mean, maybe there’s a spa or something you can stay at…”

“No, I’ll just turn around and fly back.”

After thanking him for what I’m sure was about a half hour, I hung up and called Billy Bob.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Nope. March 9th. Pat Boone. Namibia.”

Now, I still don’t know why Pat Boone was so important to Billy Bob; whether it was a lifelong fantasy, or an off-the-cuff whim – if even that. All I know is the next day, in the huge production meeting, just as I was explaining to everyone that we were, indeed, going till the 9th, my assistant slinked into the room with a sheepish look on her face and my cell phone in her hand.

“It’s Pat Boone’s office,” she whispered. I stepped outside with horror. I knew what was about to happen: it was his secretary, probably calling me to say something like “Uh, Mr. Boone was on Demerol when he spoke to you yesterday…”

But she was calling to know if he was flying to Montreal on the 9th, or Montreal on the 8th, and then Africa on the 9th (he had a busy concert schedule, and they needed to slot it in). I told her they left on the 9th for Namibia, and I thanked them for what I imagine was another half hour, and I did one of those silent screams of joy that you only see in the movies.

By the way, as things happen, Billy Bob’s family schedule did end up changing, and he did end up being able to go with his family on their trip. So Pat didn’t actually have to fly. So, in fact, I still have yet to meet Pat Boone, though I did thank him at the end of our film.

And Pat, if you’re out there, I promise never to do this again. Although, Kevin Spacey did call the other day. He’s going on a trekking trip in Chang Mai and was curious if you were doing anything.

I told him I didn’t know, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.