Moviemakers return to URI Kingston Campus for props

KINGSTON, R.I., — June 23, 1999–When moviemakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly wanted the epitome of a New England campus for their film, “Outside Providence,” they focused their cameras on the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston Campus. Filming had no sooner finished in late April for that movie when crew members for the brothers’ comedy now being shot, “Me, Myself and Irene,” also called on URI. The request was made to help dress the set so viewers will be able to enter “the academic world of URI,” according to Karl Isselhardt, a production assistant with the movie. “Me, Myself & Irene,” the new comedy from Peter and Bobby Farrelly, starring Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger, began filming in Newport May 11. Filming also took place in Jamestown. Carrey portrays a Rhode Island state trooper who suffers from schizophrenia. Following medical treatment, he is assigned the job of transporting a female felon (Zellweger) back to New York State for a traffic violation. He forgets to bring his medication for the journey, allowing both personalities to surface and battle for the love of their beautiful prisoner. First, the call went out to Harold Knickle, associate dean of the College of Engineering and professor of chemical engineering. Then, the URI News Bureau received a call for posters and finally, Paul Whitney, director of the URI Bookstore, shipped a box full of URI trinkets to the movie’s art department. In early May, Knickle gave a tour of the materials and facilities at the College of Engineering to crew member Kyra Friedman. “She walked through the engineering departments, chose items and took photos of them. From those photos, the crew selected a final group of props,” Knickle said. “We provided a periodic chart of the elements, many things from the robotics lab, molecular models from chemical engineering. Many of them were student projects.” The engineering items will be shown in a scene involving a hobby room for brilliant kids. Knickle also lent the crew engineering books, computer circuit boards,valves, a magnetic train, robots and a model helicopter. “We gave them all the things they asked for, and they’ve already been returned in good shape,” Knickle said. The URI News Bureau gathered several admissions, theater and athletics posters, and shipped them to the production crew, which is now filming in Vermont. Over at the bookstore, Paul Whitney put together a package of URI mementos, for use in a train station scene. “We sent a wide assortment,” Whitney said. “They are doing a newsstand kind of shoot, so we sent them T-shirts, sweatshirts, key chains, and the exclusive Rhody Ram, just about everything you can think of that’s imprinted. We even have a little University of Rhode Island cooler in there too.” “Me, Myself & Irene” marks the fourth feature collaboration for the Farrelly brothers. The brothers also produced the upcoming Miramax release, “Outside Providence,” which they adapted from Peter’s first novel. “Me, Myself & Irene” is a Twentieth Century Fox presentation of a Conundrum Production. The film’s 11-week schedule also includes shooting in Burlington, Vt. Production concludes in late July for a summer, 2000 release through Twentieth Century Fox, a division of Newscorp. For Further Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116