“Tank II” cast and crew members David Espie (left) Wendel Millstaed, Tim Rezaie, and Kevin O’Connor listen as actor Rick Meredith talks about his experiences filming the short film during its premiere at the Wyandotte Arts Center Nov. 19.
By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – The first advice most writers get is to stick to what they know.
So it should come as no surprise that a Wyandotte police detective’s three-part short film series revolves around crime and punishment.
“The Tank II,” the second in the series which began in 2010, premiered before a crowd of more than 450 guests at the Wyandotte Arts Center Nov. 19.
Written by Wyandotte Police Det. Scott Galeski, the film follows a day in the lives of cellmates in the Wayne County Jail as they clash with law enforcement and each other. As each is questioned privately by a detective, the audience learns that their personas – and their offenses – are not always as they seem.
Galeski said he draws inspiration for his scrips from every aspect of his life and has used his active imagination to write scripts for years. He is currently working on a feature-length film, “Pookerland,” starring Detroit rock icon Mitch Ryder and due out next year.
“I’ve drawn from my life in general,” Galeski said. “The paths I’ve taken, my heritage, the 30 years of coaching (high school football) and law enforcement.”
But his life doesn’t just provide inspiration, it also helps find actors, most of whom are Downriver natives, family members and friends.
His brother, Daniel Galeski Jr., handles all the sound recording and editing for the films. “The Tank II” also features familiar faces like Timothy A. King, of the punk band Heresy and cameos by Wyandotte Police Chief Daniel Grant and Lt. Bobie Heck.
Galeski’s brother-in-law, David Fuller, the information technology director for the city’s Municipal Services Department, plays a detective in all of the “Tank” films and said taking on Galeski’s real-life role on the screen was intimidating.
“I looked at authority figures in my life and saw what they did,” Fuller said. “I’d ask (Galeski) for tips. I must have a little of that authority in me.”
Wyandotte resident Chip Gillan, who plays an arrogant first-time offender taken in on a charge of driving under the influence, said he was excited to see the fruits of the cast’s labor on the big screen.
“It was good to see these professionals can make you look good,” he said.
Director Brion Dodson, of Wyandotte, said he was pleased with the reaction to the film, one of his first directing projects.
He said he most enjoyed working with the largely Downriver cast and crew.
“It’s the way it is on every film,” Dodson said. “You become a family and thats the best part to me.”
Galeski said after the third installment of the “Tank” series, due next year, he plans to shop the series for television. Attendee Paul Hardin, of New Boston, said he’d be among those tuning in.
“I loved it,” he said of the film. “I thought it was very interesting. It was gripping and it got your interest until the end. I could see it being a series.”