Roma entrepreneur now calling shots in Hollywood

HOMETOWN HOLLYWOOD: William Park

December 01, 2009 7:09 AM

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Brandon R. Garcia

The Monitor

Typical producers would have had a big-name actor like Michael Madsen carried off in a limo.

William Park drove the leading man home in his pickup truck every day after filming — he’s a hands-on type of guy like that. Plus, it was a way to save money.

“Most producers sit in New York City and write checks,” said Park, a native of Roma and the producer of Now Here, a drama starring Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) and Mickey Rooney. “I was on the set 95 percent of the time.”

Park’s work ethic and knack for business have served him well all his life. He spent years running a financial service practice in the Rio Grande Valley and was the managing dealer for one of the largest oil and gas drilling operations in the state.

“I wasn’t trying to break into Hollywood,” said Park, a relative newcomer to the film industry.

That idea came from investors who were aware of Park’s potential. They saw in him a sharp-witted project manager capable of commandeering a film through production — and making bank in the process.

Powerful friends like Hutton Gibson (Mel Gibson’s father) and Dean Devlin (writer, Independence Day) helped guide him in the right direction. Just a few years later, Park now has two feature-length films under his belt: Now Here and Scout’s Honor: Badge To The Bone, a new comedy starring Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live) and Fred Willard (Best In Show) that made a splash at this past October’s Hollywood Film Festival.

As with all new ventures, self-doubt didn’t figure in to the business plan.

“I had a bigger responsibility: making it a viable investment.”

Money may be Hollywood’s motivation, but what drives Park, he said, is the chance to imbue the box office with some integrity — hence the name of his company, Park Integrity Productions.

“T&A is used to sell movies all the time,” he said. “There’s a huge lack and a need” for family films that are truly family-friendly, i.e. free of profanity and adult content. Both Now Here and Scout’s Honor are rated PG.

“A family can watch (my) movies and not worry about any surprises.”

It’s all part of doing business the right way, Park believes.

“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

WILLIAM PARK
CAREER: Film producer
HOMETOWN: Roma
HIGH SCHOOL: Roma High School, Class of 1981
COLLEGE: Attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.; later earned degree at a university in Costa Rica
FILMOGRAPHY:
>> Scout’s Honor: Badge to the Bone (2009, Chris Kattan, Fred Willard)
>> Now Here (2010, Michael Madsen, Mickey Rooney)

ON THE WEB

ON CHRIS KATTAN

“He’s got a big heart,” Park said about the wacky comic actor and star of Scout’s Honor. “He’s very approachable. The last day (of filming) he comes to the set with nine or 10 jewelry boxes. He proceeded to give all the ladies (in the cast) these nice silver necklaces.”

Kattan showed his commitment to the film during its premiere this past August in Los Angeles. Kattan’s father had just been hospitalized with double pneumonia.

“We told Chris, ‘You don’t have to come to the premiere,’ but Chris still made the sacrifice and showed up,” Park recalled.

WHAT'S NEXT

Park is putting together a film version of the classic TV series Green Acres, which ran from 1965 to 1971 and starred Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert. He said the $150-$200 million production will be directed by Richard L. Bare, who directed the TV series the movie is based on.

'I LOVE THE VALLEY'

FAVORITE VALLEY SLANG WORD: “Vato”
FAVORITE VALLEY MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANT: La Casa del Taco. Park loves their botanas
SOUTH PADRE: BEACH OR BAY SIDE? Beach
REYNOSO OR PROGRESO? “The taquitos in Reynosa; the dentist in Progreso.”
MOST VALLEY THING I DO: “Giving people a hug who shake my hand.”
FAVORITE SELENA SONG: “I Could Fall In Love”
FAVORITE RASPA IN THE VALLEY: The tamarindo chile-flavored raspa at La Raspa in Roma

FUN FACTS

In high school, Park’s nickname was “El Pollito.” Despite being only 5’6”, Park played on Roma’s basketball team.
Park’s father was a Christian missionary in Mexico. He currently resides in Miguel Alemán, a town just across the Rio Grande from the Valley.
Park speaks fluent Spanish. “It’s a huge advantage” in the movie industry, he said.

Brandon Garcia is editor of Festiva. He writes about Valley natives who have found success in the entertainment industry. Know someone he should write about? Contact him at bgarcia@themonitor.com.

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