Was this role for McWilliams a mistake ? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Steinberg · 12-27-2008, 01:34 PM

Hi...been a long time since i visited here...

Saw this info about Caroline McWilliams in an independant film made in 2000.

HIGHWAY TIME
Written and Directed by Kate Duhamel
DV
87 Minute Feature Film
2000

Synopsis

Five petty felons quickly discover that a four-day stint of highway clean-up duty is not going to be spent cleaning the highway. When their supervising deputy disappears over a hill to target shoot all day, leaving them with only a warning to behave or their duty will be extended, the crew discovers there is no trash to pick up on this highway anyway.

Blade (Sammi Rotibi) immediately gives up any attempt to appear as if he’s working, retreating to the shade of an oak tree. But Rudy (Daniel Bryant), a plucky young black man has reason to avoid more highway time. He cajoles the others, a rebellious shoplifter, Autumn (Erin Underwood), a finicky and nervous 50 year old, Diane (Caroline McWilliams), and a hung-over car mechanic, Bruce (Courtney Gains) into at least appearing to work.

The first day is long and hot until Diane musters up the courage to use the porta-potty. A mirror hanging there reflects something other than the face of who seems to be looking in it. Unsure of whether its her imagination or not, Diane finds frequent reason to visit the bathroom, seeing increasingly intriguing reflections.

When the deputy returns to the same spot the next day, the rag-tag foursome resorts to passing the time by conducting a telephone ruse to convince Bruce’s girlfriend that he’s still at work. But everything changes when the crew stumbles upon a partially buried stash of valuable loot. The felons must decide what to do with it, and how to split the bounty. Blade, remaining aloof and remote resting in the tree, is a mysterious problem for the other four as they wrestle with how to share it.

The felons decide to hide the goods in the bus, planning to retrieve them the next day when they can all go together to make the sale. Settling in to pass time, they all find reason to visit the bathroom. As the mysterious mirror provides increasingly revealing reflections for each of them, we come to understand the loneliness underlying each of their lives. The final day’s cataclysmic events reveal that much more than money has been found among them, and the real source of riches isn’t what they thought it was.

Cast and Crew
Rudy Daniel Bryant
Diane Caroline McWilliams
Bruce Courtney Gains
Autumn Erin Underwood
Blade Sammi Rotibi

Deputy Dennis Lee Kelly
Ben Eric Davenport

Director of Photography Howard Shack
Original Music Composed and Produced by: Marco d’Ambrosio
Marcoco

What gets me is i would never think of seeing Caroline sitting on a porta potty...serious comedy or not.
Not that i know her but it justs seems like a strange role for her to take on.

Just cannot look at her in quite the same way.

Was this role right for her to do ?
Just think it happens to be weird for her to take on.

Has anyone else seen this movie ?

Movie website is here:

http://www.alleyoopfilms.com/highway.html

catlover79 · 12-27-2008, 01:37 PM

I never saw the movie, so I can't comment - but I guess that's what the actor's life is...trying out all sorts of roles as not to be typecast.

BensonFan · 12-27-2008, 02:15 PM

I've never seen Caroline in anything besides Benson and Soap (two very different characters too, by the way) so it would be hard to say without seeing it.

Maybe it's a "starving actor" thing? Roles for some are few and far between so sometimes they will take what they can get just to keep their names and faces out there.

blink · 12-30-2008, 08:07 PM

Television series provide steady employment and income so I defiantly can't see her role on "Benson" as being a mistake.

BensonFan · 12-30-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

Television series provide steady employment and income so I defiantly can't see her role on "Benson" as being a mistake.

I think Steinberg was referring to the movie "Highway Time", not Benson.

Scoobiedoo30 · 01-02-2009, 02:45 AM

No I think The Role of McWilliams was not a mistake I was just sorry to see Mcwilliams leave Benson.

Steinberg · 01-03-2009, 03:57 PM

Yes i was reffering to her role in "Highway Time", not Benson.

In Benson, i thought she did some brilliant work from as a talented actress and i was sorry to see her leave that show.
Plus she had gorgeous dimples.

I also am fully aware of a television series bringing steady employment ,income and of course publicity leading to other roles.

The fact that she never really got a massive break-through role in any major hollywood production has suprised me.
One of the many talented actresses in the buisiness who takes on countless roles but never made the "A" lists.

blink · 01-03-2009, 07:40 PM

I totally agree.

12-27-2008, 01:34 PM	#1
Steinberg Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 02, 2007 Posts: 6	Was this role for McWilliams a mistake ? Hi...been a long time since i visited here... Saw this info about Caroline McWilliams in an independant film made in 2000. HIGHWAY TIME Written and Directed by Kate Duhamel DV 87 Minute Feature Film 2000 Synopsis Five petty felons quickly discover that a four-day stint of highway clean-up duty is not going to be spent cleaning the highway. When their supervising deputy disappears over a hill to target shoot all day, leaving them with only a warning to behave or their duty will be extended, the crew discovers there is no trash to pick up on this highway anyway. Blade (Sammi Rotibi) immediately gives up any attempt to appear as if he’s working, retreating to the shade of an oak tree. But Rudy (Daniel Bryant), a plucky young black man has reason to avoid more highway time. He cajoles the others, a rebellious shoplifter, Autumn (Erin Underwood), a finicky and nervous 50 year old, Diane (Caroline McWilliams), and a hung-over car mechanic, Bruce (Courtney Gains) into at least appearing to work. The first day is long and hot until Diane musters up the courage to use the porta-potty. A mirror hanging there reflects something other than the face of who seems to be looking in it. Unsure of whether its her imagination or not, Diane finds frequent reason to visit the bathroom, seeing increasingly intriguing reflections. When the deputy returns to the same spot the next day, the rag-tag foursome resorts to passing the time by conducting a telephone ruse to convince Bruce’s girlfriend that he’s still at work. But everything changes when the crew stumbles upon a partially buried stash of valuable loot. The felons must decide what to do with it, and how to split the bounty. Blade, remaining aloof and remote resting in the tree, is a mysterious problem for the other four as they wrestle with how to share it. The felons decide to hide the goods in the bus, planning to retrieve them the next day when they can all go together to make the sale. Settling in to pass time, they all find reason to visit the bathroom. As the mysterious mirror provides increasingly revealing reflections for each of them, we come to understand the loneliness underlying each of their lives. The final day’s cataclysmic events reveal that much more than money has been found among them, and the real source of riches isn’t what they thought it was. Cast and Crew Rudy Daniel Bryant Diane Caroline McWilliams Bruce Courtney Gains Autumn Erin Underwood Blade Sammi Rotibi Deputy Dennis Lee Kelly Ben Eric Davenport Director of Photography Howard Shack Original Music Composed and Produced by: Marco d’Ambrosio Marcoco What gets me is i would never think of seeing Caroline sitting on a porta potty...serious comedy or not. Not that i know her but it justs seems like a strange role for her to take on. Just cannot look at her in quite the same way. Was this role right for her to do ? Just think it happens to be weird for her to take on. Has anyone else seen this movie ? Movie website is here: http://www.alleyoopfilms.com/highway.html

12-27-2008, 01:37 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I never saw the movie, so I can't comment - but I guess that's what the actor's life is...trying out all sorts of roles as not to be typecast.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-27-2008, 02:15 PM	#3
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	I've never seen Caroline in anything besides Benson and Soap (two very different characters too, by the way) so it would be hard to say without seeing it. Maybe it's a "starving actor" thing? Roles for some are few and far between so sometimes they will take what they can get just to keep their names and faces out there.
	__________________ HEY, SONY: Thank you for Benson, Season 2! Now can we get started on Season 3 plans?

01-02-2009, 02:45 AM	#6
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	No I think The Role of McWilliams was not a mistake I was just sorry to see Mcwilliams leave Benson.
	__________________ Who Dat

01-03-2009, 03:57 PM	#7
Steinberg Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 02, 2007 Posts: 6	Yes i was reffering to her role in "Highway Time", not Benson Yes i was reffering to her role in "Highway Time", not Benson. In Benson, i thought she did some brilliant work from as a talented actress and i was sorry to see her leave that show. Plus she had gorgeous dimples. I also am fully aware of a television series bringing steady employment ,income and of course publicity leading to other roles. The fact that she never really got a massive break-through role in any major hollywood production has suprised me. One of the many talented actresses in the buisiness who takes on countless roles but never made the "A" lists.

12-30-2008, 08:07 PM	#4
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	Television series provide steady employment and income so I defiantly can't see her role on "Benson" as being a mistake.

01-03-2009, 07:40 PM	#8
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	I totally agree.