Movie role teaches deputy surprise lesson
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

Troy Albrecht

While some movie roles are cast because a person looks the part, Wharton County Sheriff's Deputy Troy Albrecht was cast in the independent movie "Mindsight" because he is the part.

"(Assistant producer) Jon-Michael Foshee asked if I'd consider being the court bailiff for the movie," said Albrecht, who serves as the bailiff for District Court Judge Randy Clapp. "He said that I already had the uniform and everything. I said 'sure' and that's how it came about."

Albrecht was not looking for a different kind of movie magic from Foshee when he first approached the former El Campo resident. President of the board of the Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt, Albrecht said that he initially approached Foshee about using his contacts to help the scholarship program.

"I asked him if he'd be willing to use his contacts to help line up some celebrities for our hunt event in December," Albrecht said. "After I explained it, he said it was a neat deal and agreed to help and then he and Judge Clapp went up to the third floor (of the Wharton County Courthouse) to look at the gallery and jury room."

From first hearing about the project, Albrecht said he was interested seeing how a movie set worked more than being in a movie.

"I've been around the sets of several movies shot in this area, but it was always as security, so I was block streets off away from where the action was taking place," he said. "Judge Clapp said Jon would need to find someone willing to open the courthouse to shoot on the weekend and I volunteered so I'd get to see things first hand. And it worked out because being responsible for courthouse security, I have keys to all the rooms the movie crew would need access to during the shooting."

While not paid for his role, Albrecht's participation in the film was more than that of an extra. He is listed as a featured actor and will have his name listed in the film's closing credits. He will also receive a DVD of the completed movie and will be invited to attend either the production's wrap or premier party.

In his final scene of the movie, he is shot and killed in the courtroom. He admitted it was an interesting experience.

"When I got shot, it was the first time I'd ever seen squibs (small, exploding blood packets) used. Because of the historical nature of the courthouse, they used water instead of a blood substitute and said they would CGI (computer graphics) in the blood during postproduction. I thought there might be some pain but there wasn't. It didn't hurt but felt wet because of the water."

During the shooting, Albrecht said that he had the chance to talk to some of the actors. He said that was important they got to his big scene, wrestling with one of the actors.

"They told me (the person) was kind of tough and I'd have to wrestle with her," Albrecht said. "I said I was up to it. The first two times, I just grabbed and hugged them to me. The third time, she grabbed the railing so it was a little more of a struggle but then my training kicked in and it wasn't a problem. If nothing else, I learned that my training has become so instinctive I really don't think about it."

He added that while he was shot and killed in the movie, it hasn't caused nightmares.

"Actually, it was kind of comforting," he said. "It's every law enforcement officer's worst dream to be shot, but you understand it is part of the profession. So to know I was going to get shot and killed, and then be able to get up and go home at night was actually kind of pleasant."

Albrecht said he wouldn't turn down another acting opportunity provided it didn't interfere with his law enforcement work.

"I've been in the business 21 years and it's what I do," he said. "But I wouldn't mind doing it again, particularly if I could be a bad guy. I've been exposed to a lot of bad guys over the years and I think I could take something from this guy, that guy and another guy and be pretty convincing."