Grads act up in White House Down

A Concordia-trained journalist says he was overwhelmed by the set on his first day of filming his role in White House Down, an action blockbuster starring Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum.

The movie, which is heavy on computer-generated imagery (CGI), was filmed far from Washington, D.C., on a soundstage — complete with a giant, full-scale replica of the back of the White House — in the city of Laval, Que.

“There were decommissioned military helicopters, fireball special effects, hundreds of people, lighting and cameras everywhere,” says Tim Sargeant, BA 97. “And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is big!”

Sargeant, a journalist with Global News Montreal, plays a reporter. He is seen and heard describing some of the spectacular action sequences that unfold, including one where United States military helicopters mount an aerial attack on the White House and are then blown out of the sky by surface-to-air missiles.

White House Down depicts a paramilitary takeover of the White House. The president (Foxx) is held ransom, and it is left to a special agent (Tatum) to rescue him. The $150 million movie was directed by Roland Emmerich, whose previous films include Independence Day and 2012.

Sargeant is one of 11 Concordia graduates to appear in the film. His lines were largely improvised; the director preferred the naturalistic style of a veteran journalist to scripted words.

The challenge, he says, was calling the action in front of a CGI green screen, a green canvas that enables special effects people to superimpose imagery in post-production.

Sargeant was given direction from Emmerich with details on what would eventually be added.

“I had to imagine and then describe the scenes in vivid detail — the fires, explosions and all the panic,” says Sargeant. “It’s not traditional reporting; you’re reporting what’s in your head."

Another Concordian featured in the film — in a pivotal scene where he plays a helicopter reporter who relays a surreal car chase on the grounds of the White House — says he channelled a real experience to prepare for his green-screen debut.

Todd van der Heyden, GrDip 04, an anchor for CTV News Channel in Toronto and formerly co-anchor of CTV News Montreal, reported from New York City following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“It was like a war zone,” says van der Heyden. “And that was something I thought about while doing my scene — how you would feel overwhelmed by what you’re seeing.”

Van der Heyden has had small parts in several films in recent years. He credits some of his success to his Concordia education, where he completed a graduate diploma in the Department of Communication Studies.

The diploma program, says van der Heyden, allowed him to try his hand at a wide-range of facets of the communications industry. These included making short films. 

“Because I was able to get behind the camera, I developed a directorial eye,” he says. “That gives you a sense of what the director wants and needs from performers, of what works and what doesn’t.”

Van der Heyden is not, however, planning on leaving journalism for the silver screen. He says it's an important and thrilling profession, one that gives him an opportunity to interview interesting people and explore fascinating topics.

Nevertheless, he finds acting a new challenge, one he is passionate about and hopes to continue.

“It takes you back to when you were a teenager and you thought, ‘Boy, imagine if I could be on that screen?’ ”

Other Concordians featured in the film include Patrick Sabongui, BFA 00, who plays the role of Bobby; Yardly Kavanagh, BA 85, who plays the president's secretary; Kwasi Claude Songui, BA 95, who plays a guard; Daniel Bingham, BA 05, who plays a nuclear Scientist; Brent Skagford, BFA 05, who plays a marine pilot; Mark Anthony Krupa, BA 92, MA 12, who plays a Pentagon naval aid; Lecestre Ralph Prosper, BFA 04, who plays a police officer; and John H. MacDonald, BA 94, who plays a security guard.

More alumni from the Department of Journalism featured in White House Down include CTV weather specialist Lori Ann Graham, BA 96, and CTV Montreal weekend news anchor Tarah D. Schwartz, BA 94, who play reporters.