The last time Emmy Award-winning actor Gordon Clapp of "NYPD Blue" fame made a film in his native Mt. Washington Valley, he was a struggling actor.

That was in 1977, when Clapp appeared with fellow Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company cast members in the locally shot John Sayles written and directed (and much critically acclaimed) film, "The Return of the Secaucus 7," was released in 1980.

Back then, Clapp - who received an Emmy in 1998 for his portrayal of Det. Greg Medavoy for "NYPD Blue" and who also recently appeared in the film, "Rules of Engagement" - received $80 a week, plus room and meals (provided that he worked).

Sayles spent $40,000 for his film in 1977. Flash forward 23 years, and the North Conway-bred Clapp will soon be back, appearing in the thriller film, "Skeletons in the Closet," a similarly "low budget" film now being shot here in the Valley over the next few weeks by 1979 Kennett High grad-turned-director Wayne Powers and his wife, Donna.

[Image of Gordon Clapp] Former Mt. Washington Valley resident Gordon Clapp (above) of ABC-TV's "NYPD Blue" and former Valley resident Anna Cranage will be among the performers in "Skeletons in the Closet," a film being shot on location in Mt. Washington Valley over the next few weeks. The film is directed by 1979 Kennett High graduate Wayne Powers, who co-wrote the film "Deep Blue Sea" with his wife, Donna, last summer. Anyone interested in serving as an extra in the film is encouraged to call 383-8926.

Filming began in Jackson last week, and will continue over the next few weeks. Clapp will arrive in Jackson May 13 to shoot his scenes in the independent film, he told The Mountain Ear in a phone interview May 1 during a break in filming for "NYPD Blue" in Los Angeles.

"I’m looking forward to coming home and working in the area and seeing everybody," said Clapp, who owns a home in Jackson and whose sister, Polly Howe, lives in North Conway.

He guarantees that friend Tom "Hollywood" Mulkern, co-proprietor of the Shannon Door Pub, will not only appear in the film, but will also actually have a speaking part this time around - unlike in 1977, when a scene in "Secaucus 7" was filmed at the Shannon Door, and also last fall, when Clapp got his old friend a part in a barroom scene for an "NYPD Blue" segment that aired in late January.

Unfortunately, Mulkern’s cameo scene in "NYPD Blue" ended up on the cutting room floor.

"Well," said Clapp this week, "that was unfortunate, but that happens. That’s the business."

In addition to appearing with old friend Mulkern, Clapp will also appear in "Skeletons in the Closet" with fellow Kennett High alumn Anna Cranage, now an aspiring actress and comedienne in Los Angeles, who is the daughter of Bob and Kate Cranage of Freedom. Anna - who was profiled in The Mountain Ear last August - will play a sales clerk in a scene to be filmed at the Jack Frost Shop.

The film will also star Linda Hamilton of "The Terminator" and "Dante’s Peak;" Treat Williams of "The Devil’s Own" and "Where the Rivers Flow North;" and teen actor Jonathan Jackson, formerly of television’s "General Hospital," and most recently in "Deep End of the Ocean."

Clapp will play Williams’ boss, who is also the father of Treat’s son’s girlfriend.

Powers and his wife co-wrote "Deep Blue Sea," a box office hit last summer.

Clapp says he was put in touch with Powers by Cranage.

"I heard that Wayne was doing this project. I had met him a few times out here. Anna told me that Wayne was looking for a way to get me involved and he sent me the script and said, ‘OK, here’s the part.’ I had hoped to be able to get clear of ‘NYPD’ in time for me to be there for the shoot. Wayne managed to get me in for the last week of the shoot (we’re not wrapping up ‘NYPD’ until May 12), so I’ll arrive and be there for the final week," said Clapp.

He said in addition to performing in the film, he’s looking forward to getting a little golf in while he’s back home.

"I haven’t played except twice in the past year - and one of those times was with Tommy [Mulkern] when he came out to play in that celebrity tournament last fall with me," said Clapp.

"Skeletons in the Closet" is using the latest in digital technology, allowing production to "wrap" more quickly.

The new format requires less lighting. A director can also review the film on location by plugging into his laptop computer.

"As I understand it, you pretty much can work with the light that you have. I think it’s less time consuming and simpler to set up lighting if you need it. It’s like a home video in a way, but it’s such high quality that it almost looks like film," said Clapp.

Oddly enough, "home video" was the term that Clapp used to describe the original attitude that typified the making of "Secaucus" back in ’77.

"The making of that film was almost an extension of our summer stock season. At the time, we didn’t take it too seriously - we were doing a home movie, we thought, in those days before video. We just kind of thought we would throw this thing together. I had a lot of confidence in John [Sayles] as a writer back then, but not as a director because he was just putting it together. I didn’t have a lot of experience in movies at the time, either, as I had done a few things in Toronto but not in a real movie," he said.

"Secaucus" was a critically acclaimed independent film about a group of former college students getting back together in a small New England town (North Conway).

"Skeletons" will use several locations in the Valley, but will not make its New England setting an integral part of the story line, according to Clapp.

"It was originally set in the Pacific Northwest, and it has been somewhat adapted to New England, but it won’t be specific in terms of local dialect or location pinpointing where it takes place. So it won’t have that gothic New England feel. I had hoped it would have more of a New England feel specifically, but I think Wayne has backed off that."

Possible locations to be used for the filming include the Wentworth Resort, the Shannon Door Pub, Yesterday’s, the Jack Frost Shop, Chick’s in Madison, Cafe Noche, District Court for Northern Carroll County, The Memorial Hospital, and a field behind L.A. Drew in Intervale, along with other sites.

According to a press release issued this week, local residents will have a chance to be involved in the film, as many extras are needed.

Extras do not need any acting experience. They will primarily appear as background people appearing in different scenes. People of all ages are needed.

If you are interested in being an extra in this film, contact Christine Crowe at 383-8926. Leave a message and a local telephone number, and Crowe says she’ll get back to you.

Or in true Hollywood style, she can have her people get back to your people and maybe you can "do lunch" - at Yesterday’s ?

TOM EASTMAN, THE MOUNTAIN EAR, Vol. 24, No. 48, May 2000.