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It’s the kind of story you hear about but never think could happen to you. Well, that’s what Brian Reece thought, anyway — until he was discovered.
Like, actually “discovered.”
Reece, a U.S. Air Force major and MH-53J Pavelow helicopter pilot stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, has — thanks to a lucky glance — become a key character in the new cartoon-taken-live-action version of the “Transformers” movie, which was shot last year in southern New Mexico and opens July 3 nationwide.
Reece’s unit was called on to fly Air Force helicopters in the “Transformers” movie. But that wasn’t what (he hopes anyway) will make him famous.
The movie called for Pavelow helicopters and one of the Decepticons — or bad-guys — is a robot/Pavelow.
But as a subordinate of Reece was walking by on the set (“doing something inappropriate,” Reece said), Reece shot a glance — “My piercing stare” — that got the attention of director Michael Bay.
“He told me, ‘How do you feel about being in the movie?’ ’’ Reece said. “I think I said ‘sure’ very, very fast.”
His character is a key part of the film. The Transformers, as you probably know, are robots that transform into things like airplanes, cars and Pavelow helicopters as part of their earthly camouflage.
Well, they also need a human as part of that. Reece plays the human “Mustache Man,” or hologram that the “Transformers” project to make it look like there’s actually a person in the driver’s seat.
“I’m the guy that pops up in the vehicles in order to fool people,” Reece said. It’s not a speaking role, but it’s key to the robots’ identities.
Reece thinks his all-American looks earned him the part.
“I’m not too good looking, but not too bad either,” he said.
Check out photos of Reece and the “Transformers” shoot at Holloman Air Force Base at www.holloman.af.mil/photos , click on People link.
It’s a dream come true for Reece. He’s a lifelong movie fan and can rattle off Bay’s movies — “Pearl Harbor,” “The Rock,” “Bad Boys” — like a 9-year-old knows his Yu-Gi-Oh cards.
Since the filming, Reece has hired an agent and will audition for more parts, including this weekend for the upcoming Duke City Shootout, which is July 21-29. (Go to dukecityshootout.org if you, too, want to audition.)
But he says the best part of being in the movie is that his face is on the new batch of “Transformers” collecting cards.
“I didn’t even know,” he said.
Reece will attend the premiere in Los Angeles, and when he gets back he’ll head to see the film with his Air Force buddies. Still, his wife is keeping him humble.
“My wife just laughs and laughs and laughs,” he said.
‘INDIANA’ IN NEW MEXICO: The folks doing it seem pathologically secretive.
But you would be, too, if you were working on the next “Indiana Jones” film. The Las Cruces Sun News has reported that the film that’s secretly building a set in Deming is actually the fourth “Jones” film.
A guy in state government who knows these things told me that the film is shooting this week in Ghost Ranch, the place near Abiquiu that artist Georgia O’Keeffe made famous.
At this point, there’s no word on when filming will start on the Deming set, nor which stars will be there. Translation: We don’t know yet if there will be a Harrison Ford sighting in New Mexico.
Still it’s interesting that the star of “Transformers,” (which was filmed in Alamogordo), Shia LaBeouf, has been named one of the stars of the “Indiana Jones” film.
Maybe LaBeouf should just buy a ranch in southern New Mexico.
SHOOTING NOW:
“Conspiracy,” starring Val Kilmer, shooting in Santa Fe, Galisteo, Madrid and Pecos through June 29; “Afterwards,” starring John Malkovich and Evangeline Lilly, shooting in Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Jemez and Tularosa through June 29; “Linewatch,” starring Cuba Gooding Jr., shooting in and around Albuquerque starting July 5; “Swing Vote,” starring Kevin Costner, shooting in Albuquerque and Belen starting July 23.
SEND YOUR TIPS: If you know of a film shooting in the state, or are curious about one, e-mail film@abqjournal.com.
