From farm markets to film markets
You may remember seeing her working behind the counter at Tice’s Farm Market. Now you may remember her as the star of a new movie.
Clare native Andrea Tice is producing and starring in a new action film shot in July at locations in Bay City.
“We scurried all over the city covering around 20 different locations. This production was filmed in only 3 ½ weeks,” said Tice.
Explaining the synopsis of the film, Tice said, “A FBI agent goes deep under cover to bring down a crime syndicate. When his cover is blown, the Mob and FBI turn against him and want him dead. His only hope of survival is a female agent who is willing to break the rules to help save his life. Out numbered and out gunned it’s a deadly fight to the finish.”
The film, “Meltdown” features two Hollywood actors, Joe Estevez, brother to Martin Sheen and Uncle to Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen; and Robert Z’Dar, who performed in Tango and Cash, Mobsters, and Maniac Cop. Both men are credited with over 100 films.
Additional performers include Chilae’ (Maurice Kelly Jr.,) a hip-hop artist who has performed all over the U.S. and Canada; local theatre buff Vernon Zuacha; and Rob DuPont who studied at the New York University.
Playing the lead roles in the film are Christopher J. Martin, who is also Director and Director of Photography who plays FBI Agent John Thomas and Andrea Tice as “his saving grace” Agent Preston.
Clare “extras” playing mobsters in the film include Tice’s father Jon Tice (owner of Tice’s Farm Market in Clare), Uncle Dave Tice, Neal Erickson, Paul Weissend, Paul West and Jason Cooper. “The director put Uzis in their hands and they all fought to their death. In the film my character actually has a gun fight with my dad’s character,” said Tice.
“Meltdown’s” Midwestern premiere is scheduled today (October 30) at the State Theatre in Bay City. Estevez will be signing autographs at the event.
The film’s world premiere will be in Santa Monica, California where she and Martin hope to sell it to international buyers. “The states can expect to see the film on the shelves in video stores somewhere around January,” Tice said.
Meltdown isn’t the end for Tice. She said another Michigan based film is in the planning stages. “It will be called ‘Disposable Soldier,” she said. “It will be a bigger film with more Hollywood actors and entail a larger crew. We hope tentatively to begin within a month.” The new film will be shot in the Lake George area in Clare County, she said. Tentative actors in the new film include Joe Estevez, Fred Williamson, Robert Z’Dar, William Forsythe, Wings Hauser and William Smith.
Tice grew up helping out at her dad Jon’s business, Tice’s Farm Market in Clare. She is the daughter of Becky (Brandon) Szul formerly of Clare and now living in Saginaw. Her grandparents include Gene and Phyllis Brandon who live in Clare and (now deceased) Jack and Alma Tice.
When asked how she got involved in the film industry, Tice said, “Fate I guess. I’ve always had aspirations of working in the entertainment industry.”
She began dancing at the age of three and has competed in beauty pageants since she was six adding acting lessons in the Detroit area during high school. At 18 she competed in acting and modeling in New York City, returning home and eventually attending Michigan State University first as a theatre major and later majoring in public administration.
After graduating from MSU, she moved to Chicago, doing some “things” with the Midwestern Film Festival.
“I came home ten months later, broke, frustrated and missing my family,” she said. While working out with a friend at a Bay City gym, she was approached by Martin, who asked if she had ever modeled or acted. “As a matter of fact, I had,” she said. “Eventually I was cast for a part in the film and (with his help and encouragement) became a producer.”
“Truthfully, it’s not been easy,” she said. “It’s hard enough to be taken seriously when you are 27, but to be a producer at 27, well it’s been a challenge…a huge challenge. Suddenly everyone is a critic. But thick skin, faith, patience and determination are what I’ve learned to be essential in this industry…But then again I suppose those elements are essential in life no matter the job you are doing. So that’s my story, from farm markets to film markets.”
