|
Title:
Leatherheads, feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Teresa Montgomery and Hee’s Washee
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley,
Rick Reilly
About Teresa
Hometown: Bainbridge, Ohio
Sister: Shirley Ferrell
Niece: Sheila Tischler
Dream role: “With my experience with bulldogs it was
something I wanted so badly to perform.
Hee’s Washee
Name means: Indian name for “Little Chubby Boy”.
AKC Male: Confirmationed champion Red & White
Sire: Prince Albert’s Sam
Dam: Miss Bessley
Colors: White with brown spots
Kennels: www.threeoaksbulldogs.com
Teresa Montgomery drove all the way from Bainbridge, Ohio to Pilot
Mountain, North Carolina to be in “Leatherheads”. “My
sister lives in Winston-Salem and had prior obligations so I told
her there was no way to back out of an opportunity to be in the
movie with her dog,” said Teresa.
Teresa had first made up her mind not to drive all the way to North
Carolina. I didn’t think it was worth the money to go that
far. The moment I decided not to go I was so depressed. I had so
many family members asking me to go.” The dog auditioned for
a part that required him to act like he was humping George’s
leg. Steve, the wrangler, was so concerned he asked me, “Teresa,
do you think the dog will do it when asked and I said ‘I will
give it my best shot.’” The scene was set up with Clooney
and the players had won the game, George had won the girls (Renee)
and Hee’s Washee standing there humping George’s leg.”
Teresa got a call at 5 a.m. one morning to be on the set by 9 a.m.
“I was very, very happy and wanted Hee’s Washee to have
a chance to be in the movie.
Teresa was hoping to get her Bulldog, Hee’s Washee as the main
bulldog in the movie. But Hee’s Washee didn’t even audition.
Dream Weaver of the same kennel did audition but was passed over
for a role. He was bypassed when the crew spotted Hee’s Washee.
The main dog’s role was earned by “Rocky”. However,
Hee’s Washee did get some film time.
“The
coolest part of being there was watching George Clooney viewing
the monitor after each scene to see that he got what he wanted.
George would just laugh out loud at some of the scenes but he didn’t
quit until he got what he wanted,” said Teresa.
A wrangler looked after the dogs. A wrangler is a person who is
on the set to make sure the animals are taken care of and ready
for their roles when summoned. “Often we would only have 15-20
minutes advance notice,” said Teresa.
Clooney did make Teresa feel comfortable. “He shook my hand
with both of his and showed no nervousness at all. He has a way
to make you feel so comfortable. He never got angry. If everybody
else was so easy to work with it would be a wonderful world,”
said Teresa.
With the bulldogs so prominent in the movie Teresa said she only
hopes her dog gets credit. “Dream Weaver is the one who auditioned
for Rocky. Washee did not audition for this. He just happened to
be the look-a-like and Rocky would not perform any stunts so Washee
filled in. Weaver was not used because he was too dark in color.
We were not informed we could use Washee until later into the movie.
Risque
Hee’s Washee main scene was to wrap his legs around George
Clooney while the star was talking to Renee Zellweger during a game-winning
celebration.
Job well done
When the opportunity for Teresa to encourage the dog to do his “scene
with Hee’s Washee I did I it,” said Teresa.
How to spot Hee's Washee
“Our dog has brown ears compared to Rocky’s white,”
said Teresa. “And Rocky was never filmed with his helmet off
and was always in full costume.”
Who’s Dream Weaver?
Teresa said, “Dream Weaver is the one who auditioned for
Rocky. Washee did not audition. He just happened to be the look-a-like
that could double as Rocky.
|
