From left: Mike Cammilleri, Scott Beardsley, Chris Boeger
Premiering Friday, June 15, the comedy That's My Boy stars Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg. It will also -- hopefully -- feature Madison musicians Scott Beardsley, Chris Boeger and Mike Cammilleri, who a year ago flew to Cape Cod, where they were filmed in a dining room scene requiring a jazz trio.
The three were tapped by director Sean Anders, a Madison native and longtime friend of Boeger, who asked them to contribute original music for the film. Many tracks were written, with help from by Michael "Stu" Stoinski along with Mark Whitcomb and Madison's DNA Music Labs.
Hollywood producers will determine what's included in the final cut, maybe even a scene in which the musicians exchange a hearty hearty "whassssaaap" with Adam Sandler. They're keeping their fingers crossed.
Boeger and Beardsley have no special plans for seeing the film. Currently they are in New York, where they are playing shows and recording a new album with the Hometown Sweethearts. Here in Madison, Cammilleri says he will see the film with his wife. He'll report to his bandmates on how prominent their role is before they start bragging to all of their friends.
They three have fond memories of the experience, as anyone might after being plopped in the middle of a production starring some of the biggest celebrity names in Hollywood.
"It was nuts," says Boeger. "Nobody gave us any notes or pointers. We were taken to wardrobe, given our suits and dropped off near the set. Eventually an assistant came and yelled at us saying, 'You guys need to be on set!' Next thing we know, we're in a room with people like Will Forte, Rachel Dratch and Tony Orlando. And the whole time we're just trying to keep our cool, even though we've got these big ass lights on us the size of refrigerators."
Over a hard week of shooting, the three spent time between takes either sitting at their instruments, on set, or relaxing in a mansion next door, which served as the production's green room. A highlight was Will Forte's showing Boeger videogames on his phone, as was Tony Orlando's calling each band member's mother to leave voicemails. He sang a "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" to Cammilleri's mom.
The three had memorable interactions with Adam Sandler, whom they agree is a very nice guy.
"During one scene I was just up by the drums, and in between takes Adam Sandler walks up and asks if he can play a little," says Beardsley. "So while he was messing around, we started talking, and when Madison came up in the conversation, he started talking about how he had so much fun walking on State Street with Chris Farley back in the day, and all the trouble they'd get into."
Cammilleri describes one of his favorite moments on set. "We were sitting in the dining room with Adam Sandler's mother, who was just hanging out. She talks with a really loud voice, and the film's crew were shooting a scene outside. You're supposed to be quiet, but Sandler's mother was just blabbing away super loudly, and the sound guys eventually shushed her. I don't think they knew who she was, and she stormed off. And then Adam comes in, and he's like, 'What're you boys up to?' And we're like, 'Nothing, but the sound guys just shushed your mother, and she stormed off.' And he laughed and said, 'Like the sun and the moon,' and walked away."