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Train ShedYou Can't Win; movie; Michael Pitt; Robinson Devor; Snoqualmie Depot; boxcar

Studio Snoqualmie

May 28, 2012August 28th, 2024
Northern Pacific Stock Car #83296 sits in the Train Shed prior to filming for "You Can't Win". A spotlight is set up next to the car, and a pad is set on the ground at the doorway.

Former NP stock car is positioned for filming inside the Train Shed exhibit building.

Lights!  Camera!  Work Extra 4024, take it ahead!  Not quite what you were expecting?  The Northwest Railway Museum was briefly transformed into a movie studio for the production of You Can’t Win, a screen play adapted from the literary work of the same name.  Filming at the Museum of this independent production took place on May 16 and 17, 2012; other scenes were filmed in the Snoqualmie Valley in the following week.
Two actors stand ready for action along the boardwalk of the Snoqualmie depot. One is in a porter's outfit and has a cart with luggage aboard near the railroad tracks. The other is in an old-fashioned suit holding a suitcase near the baggage room doors. Between the actors is a movie crew member with radios and listening to a headset. Two other crew members attend to costumes on a bench. US Plywood 11 sits at the platform with the Silver Bullet and 4024 behind it.

Costume specialists make last minute preparations to a jacket for a young Jack Black as extras prepare for their entry into the scene.

You Can’t Win is a novel published in 1926 and is the autobiography of Jack Black, a hobo and thief for more than 30 years who in later life reformed himself and became a librarian.  Black is portrayed by Michael Pitt, an American actor best known for his role as Jimmy Darmody in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.  The film is directed by Robinson Devor, a Seattle-based director.
Actors and crew ride inside NP Stock Car 83296 during filming along the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. Director Robinson Devor is seen looking at the camera, and actor Michael Pitt as hobo Jack Black can been seen at the back of the car.

Inside the stock car, the film crew prepares to shoot as the train operates between Snoqualmie Falls and Bridge 35.  Director Devor is seen in the center looking toward the camera. Pitt is seen at the other end of the car in character.

The production team had a variety of “riding the rails” scenes they wanted to recreate, many dating from the late 19th Century.  A train station scene was filmed in the Snoqualmie Depot ladies’ waiting room with locomotive 11 visible through the windows.  Several more scenes were filmed with representative freight cars from the Museum’s collection including a stock car, two former Northern Pacific Railway boxcars and a former Great Northern auto boxcar as they operated between Snoqualmie Falls and Bridge 35.

One of the former GN automobile boxcars rests in the Train Shed. A blue screen is set up outside the open doors, with lights and reflectors set up around. Film crew are present, helping filming.

The former Great Northern automobile boxcar is prepared for an action scene with lighting and a blue screen. The car was rocked back and forth while filming took place.

Later, the Museum’s Train Shed exhibit building proved to be a workable studio where a number of important scenes could be filmed inside the cars while they were stationary.  A “blue screen” was placed in the background and will be used to insert motion scenes later.  A crew of more than 70 specialists was involved in the production, which is expected to debut at a film festival in 2013.
Lumber is stacked in a former NP boxcar. Flim crew and actors for "You Can't Win" stand around and sit on the lumber.

Former NP boxcar was the site of a “staged” accident.

The Museum only rarely participates in movie production – it is very disruptive to operations and is distracting to volunteers and staff.  You Can’t Win is different: it has thematic content consistent with the Museum’s mission.  And license fees the Museum charged were sufficient to fund work on Bridge 35 earlier this year.  Overall, the project progressed without incident thanks in part to the Museum’s great team of volunteers (more than 20 participated!), staff, and a great and respectful movie production company.

 

No Comments

  • David says:
    May 28, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Spike, Actually this is very cool! Also a great way to make some money for the Museum. Quality attracts quality… Take Care,
    Big Daddy Dave

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