More from Imagination Station!

Calico the Clown was a character from the pilot of Imagination Sation and was played by Corey Blake. I contacted Corey via email last night and was delighted when he responded! We met for dinner tonight and he was able to paint a picture for me of what it was like to work with dad on this project. When he was hired dad gave him a book about clowns so that he could prepare for the role. Corey said it was obvious that dad had a clear vision of what he wanted out of each character and that it was important to him that everything be authentic. Even the makeup was researched because believe it or not a clowns make up has special meaning.

The following is from wikipedia:

The whiteface character-type is often serious, all-knowing (even if not particularly smart), bossy and cocky. He is the ultimate authority figure. He serves the role of "straight-man" and sets up situations that can be turned funny.

The auguste character-type is often an anarchist, a joker, or a fool. He is clever and has much lower status than the whiteface. Classically the whiteface character instructs the auguste character to perform his bidding. The auguste has a hard time performing the task given which leads to funny situations. Sometimes the auguste plays the role of an anarchist and purposefully has trouble following the whiteface's directions. Sometimes the auguste is confused or is foolish and is screwing up less deliberately.

The contra-auguste plays the role of the mediator between the whiteface character and the auguste character. He has a lower status than the whiteface but a higher status than the auguste. He aspires to be more like the whiteface and often mimics everything the whiteface does to try to gain approval. If there is a contra-auguste character, he often is instructed by the whiteface to correct the auguste when he is doing something wrong.

I found this very interesting! Ya learn somethin new every day!!!

As he was telling me about how he was hired, the role he played and information about his character he mentioned that his "Parents" (the clowns parents) were trapeze artists in a circus and he left the circus because he felt like a misfit because he was a clown. His parents were the Flying Esmeraldas. It reminded me that dad had named several of the characters based on family and friends.

The flying Esmeraldas are based on The Flying Wallendas who came to First Assembly in Bradenton many years ago, Princess Falling Star was based on Pam Thum who is also known by her Indian Name, Princess Shining Star, and both Autumn and Destinty were based on my niece.

He also shared with me about the set. He told me that he has never worked on another set that was as expertly propped as dads. All the props were perfect to that time period and he was amazed by the victrola and the recording that dad had of Abe Lincoln's speach. It was used in one of the scenes. He told me that the filming was in late 2000 or early 2001 so it has been a long time since he was in touch with dad, making his willingness to meet with me on such short notice even more special. It was such a treat to get to talk with him! Thanks Corey!!