ThatWasThenThisIsNow

About the Book:

Publishing Information:

First Published: 1971

Published by: Puffin Books

"That Was Then, This is Now"was written as a cure to writers' block for S.E. Hinton during her freshman year at Tulsa University. Prompted by David, whom she married in September 1970

ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 1971

Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1971

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1978

Source: S.E. Hinton

Synopsis:

The novel takes place roughly two years after the events in "The Outsiders". It centers around the relationship bewtween two teenagers, Bryon and Mark, and how they begin to grow apart. Ever since Mark's parents shot each other out of drunken rage, he has been living with Bryon, his best friend for as long as they can remember. They have spent their days boozing in dry river beds, playing poker, and hustling pool games. But now things are changing. Bryon is spending more time with his girlfriend, Cathy, while Mark becomes more distant and isolates himself from Bryon while bringing in massive amounts of money. Also, Bryon is growing tired of the seemingly never ending street fights that plague their town, while Mark can't seem to live without them. When Cathy's brother, M&M, runs away, Mark finds him in a hippie commune under the influence of LSD. Bryon and Cathy are able to bring him home, but then Bryon discovers something horrific about Mark that changes both of them forever. At the end of the story, Mark is in jail, Cathy has left Bryon, and M&M tells Bryon of the lasting effects the drugs had on him. Bryon is left emotionless, wondering about everything that has happened but knowing nothing will ever be the same.

Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org

The Experience of an 'Extra' on the Film...
From James Clark- Texas

March 25, 1983 was an exciting day for me, I would turn 19 years old that day and it was the opening of the movie “The Outsiders.” with Matt Dillon and a fine list of up and coming stars. What a birthday present.
I must have seen the movie 3 or 4 times in the week that it opened. I was hooked! Rumble Fish was due to be released in the fall  and I walked away from that movie thinking what an awesome film and thought there is one book left from Author S.E.Hinton that had not been made into a film yet called  “That Was Then…This
is Now“.

Later in the year I looked further into the possible making of this film and read that Emilio Estevez was involved and wanted to have it made into a film. If I can remember right , rumor had it was going to be made in the Tulsa area. I was not going to miss
this opportunity and desperately wanted to be a part of this film. I made the call to Mary Nell Clark of
the Oklahoma Film Commission and she stated unfortunately the location for the film would not be
Tulsa and that Minnesota was chosen. More on this later.

It was July I think when I began to hear that “That Was Then….This is Now was to start shooting in
Minneapolis St Paul, Minnesota in mid  to late August
1984, 1000 miles to my north. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for, I was ecstatic. Regardless I was going and nothing could stop me, job, money, car, permission from my parents. NOTHING. The plans were being made, I would quit my job as a gas attendant, keep it long enough to save up some money and to make the journey to the Twin Cities and I wasn’t going
alone either. I called my friends Tim Bartz and Richard Baldwin who I had met A year earlier in Texas and currently living in rural Springfield, Illinois. I told them that I was planning the trip to see them and then off to Minnesota.  I packed my 1973 Oldsmobile
Delta 88 and off I was.

I had made contact with the Extras Coordinator Sharon Selberg once I got to Illinois and pleaded with her  to use me in the film and that I was driving 1000 miles to be in it. The green light was given to me to come up and just in time, Tim and Richard’s job would end as door men at an Adult Men’s Club. The trip was on with a flat tire, plugged and ready to go. We made it to Minnesota and set up camp at a local camp ground, tent and all.. I was really excited about this. The first call was to show up at a local tavern on 7th Street St Paul for an
interior shoot at Charlie’s Bar. The shoot would begin at 4pm and last till the wee hours of the morning. I remember shooting just a couple of location pictures
only with no actors. What was I thinking. I did witness Emilio posing for pictures with fans and being very friendly and energetic. The scene was with Emilio
Estevez, Morgan Freeman and Craig Sheffer talking around the bar and a few of us sitting around as bar patrons. To be in the presence of these actors was unbelievable. The thrill was on.

The next shoot was at the All American Lanes for the Bowling scenes, this is where I would later appear on screen several times.

Tim Bartz would also fill in as an extra. The final location was Calhoun Square Downtown Minneapolis for some street scenes. I remember lots of extras that night  Most memorable were the punk kids with spiked hair. I spent 3 or 4 nights there and can tell you this was the most excitement I had being an extra. It
was then on to visit the nightclub First Avenue and 7th Street Entry where Prince’s Purple Rain was
filmed.

I’m sad to say that  my friends that accompanied me on this trip are no longer with us. Tim Bartz passed away from complications of Cystic Fibrosis in 2000 and Richard Baldwin a Drug Suicide in
1998. May they both rest in peace and without them this trip may not have been  possible. Unforgettable.

**The pics from the set are courtesy of James**