Pacino, other stars turn Pontiac into movie set

HBO shoots Kevorkian film, 'You Don't Know Jack'

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

Pontiac -- "Quiet on the set ... action."

With those off-camera instructions, actors portraying Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger -- trailed by a half-dozen question-shouting reporters, played by extras -- crossed a plaza outside the Oakland Circuit Court building on a chilly autumn Thursday.

It was a scene from the Home Box Office biopic "You Don't Know Jack" about the 81-year-old Kevorkian, a right-to-die advocate who served eight years in prison for a second-degree murder conviction in one of the more than 130 deaths he attended. He was released in June 2007.

Kevorkian is being played by actor Al Pacino, dressed in the type of casual attire Kevorkian frequently wore to court: cloth golf hat, light jacket, gray slacks, white socks and loafers. Actor Danny Huston, who is playing Fieger, has captured Fieger's strut and mannerisms, including hand gestures.

Susan Sarandon, frumped up with a babushka wrapped around her head, plays Janet Good, former head of the Michigan Hemlock Society, a right-to-die group that supported Kevorkian's early efforts. She also died with his help.

County clerks, attorneys, even judges never short of real-life drama were curious about the filming, eager to get a look at Pacino and others.

Oakland Circuit Judge Edward Sosnick joked with a production assistant in a hallway outside his second-floor courtroom. "Just want to let you know I'm available to take guilty pleas," cracked the robed Sosnick, as he peeked through a window at the scene below.

The day began at 6 a.m. for about 100 extras assembled in the Oakland Commissioners' Auditorium. Dwayne Roskowski, 42, of Livonia, relaxed in one of the rows, waiting his call to the set. "This is a real opportunity," he said.

Theresa Heinemann, a court worker, used her lunch hour with friends to sneak a peek at filming. That turned into a chance meeting and friendly banter with Pacino, who was seated in a hallway in an area roped off to the public.

"Hey Al, how about saying 'Say hello to my little friend'?" shouted Heinemann, referring to the classic line uttered by Pacino's drug dealer character Tony Montana in the 1983 film "Scarface." "Could you please say it?"

"Nah, it wouldn't sound good after all these years," muttered the award-winning actor, staring down at his feet.

"C'mon, please," she cajoled. "If I say it first, will you?"

"You say it," said Pacino, who after listening to her attempt said: 'No, no. Not little. Leedle. And 'fren' not friend. 'Say hello to myleedle fren."

As Heinemann and friends squealed in unison, Pacino got to his feet, obviously pleased with himself, smiling broadly to his fans. "I'm having more fun in here than out there," said Pacino, then spreading his arms wide: "So, how do I look?"