January 30, 2007   

UARA Going to the Movies 

What an exciting year for the UARA-STARS.  Mach 1 Productions came on board filming at several different races this past season.  They are producing a down to earth Saturday night racing movie called “Short Track” due out later in 2007.  Pepper Sweeney and Ann Bratton are two of the stars that visited UARA races in 2006  for filming of the movie. 

      Marie Hopkins  

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pepper Sweeney, Ann Bratton & Cathy Hopkins Ward 

Marie Hopkins who is the Writer/Director/Producer and her sister Cathy Hopkins Ward Co-Producer have been an inspiration to the UARA with their upbeat attitude. They are determined to shine the spotlight on the Saturday night racer with action up close and personal.  They were very much hands on during the filming and all the behind the scenes activities.  Marie and her staff went from being on the track during practice cautions and pre-race, to the pits and up to the rooftops during the race to get the most exciting footage  

Their crew on some shoots consisted of: C .J. Julian-camera-Los Angeles CA; Josh Ellis-focus puller-Los Angles CA; Jeremy Grant-gaffer/lighting-Winston-Salem NC; Rory King-cinematographer-Los Angeles CA; Singhowe Yam-camera assistant-Winston Salem NC and Brandon Goodwin-sound recordist/foley-Charlotte NC.

This movie has been a dream of Marie’s for some time.  She said “ I never thought that I’d ever get a chance to do something like this. I just want to make everyone involved in the movie and in racing proud.  That is my goal.” 

Marie and her crew were all a pleasure to meet and work with.  They are very excited about the movie and the action that the UARA-STARS drivers gave them.  Marie has been on cloud nine about the footage they acquired during 2006 and the progress that they have made with the movie.  Below are a couple of shots from the movie. 

For more info visit www.uara-stars.com or call 828-692-3833

Press Release by: Wink Bodenhamer