A well-known radio host and Elvis Tribute Artist from Steinbach has just landed a role in a feature film.
Corny Rempel, who has hosted the morning show on MIX 96.7 FM for 18 years, says it has always been his dream to act in a movie. That dream will become a reality later this year.
Rempel says he was contacted by Peter Yanke, a talent booking agent from New Mexico, who works for Phirgun Mair Worldwide. Yanke has family in Steinbach and has been a contact of Rempel’s for years.
“One day he messages me and just says, ‘I’ve got a director who is looking for a guy who could portray Elvis in about 1975, should I send your picture?'” recalls Rempel.
Why not me?
Rempel says his initial thought was to go ahead and submit his photo, but they will not select him anyway. But, after giving it some thought, he started to shift his thinking. Rather than ask, ‘Why me?” Rempel asked, ‘Why not me?’
The photo was sent and appealed to the Casting Director, who then requested videos of any recent performances. Having a plethora of videos from concerts and events, Rempel was able to quickly put a few together and send them off. He was soon told that the Casting Director was interested in hiring him, but no formal decision was immediately made. Then one day it came.
“When I got that email saying ‘confirmed,’ I literally yelled out loud,” recalls Rempel. “I was at work in the coffee room with a couple of people there, and I literally almost threw my phone and just yelled out loud.”
Rempel had just landed the role, and he immediately got in his vehicle and drove to his wife’s place of employment to share the news.
Details of the movie remain confidential
Rempel is able to say very little about his upcoming opportunity. Most of the details must remain a secret as per his non-disclosure agreement. What he can say is that he will be flying to Budapest in order to shoot the one scene he will be in. That particular scene is about one of the movie’s characters meeting Elvis Presley back in 1975.
“That’s literally all I can say about the movie itself,” says Rempel. “I’m going to fly to Budapest to shoot one scene in a movie.”
Though Rempel is still awaiting further details on when the filming will happen, he says it will either be late October or early November. The whirlwind trip will only last about five days. He says it will take one day to fly there, one day of makeup and blocking, one day of filming his scene, possibly one day to tour Budapest, and then one day to fly home.
“It’s a 24-hour journey to Budapest, and they are 7 hours ahead of us,” says Rempel. “So, I will be jetlagged, I will be exhausted, and it will be 100 per cent worth it.”
Rempel impersonating a much younger legend
Elvis Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42. That means the 1975 version of Presley, whom Rempel will be portraying in the movie, was 40 years old at the time.
“I’m 56 years old already,” shares Rempel. “That this opportunity comes, at the age of 56, when I get to portray Elvis as 40, and that I can still pull it off, that means a lot to me.”
Though having a role in a motion picture will be a first for Rempel, the world of acting is not new to him. Rempel says he has done stage acting and theatre productions, noting he is currently involved in the production of The Crucible in Steinbach. He has also acted in television commercials and done lots of voice acting for shows like Lego Bionicle and Super Strikas. Rempel has also done voiceover work for documentaries, different TV shows, and video games.
Reflecting on the journey that got him here
Rempel says landing this gig has reminded him to think positive thoughts. When he got that email saying he got the role, he says it was an absolute shock, but it was also an opportunity for him to reflect back on those times when he asked, ‘Why me?’
“That really reminded me to be positive, speak positivity into your life, speak positivity into the things you dream about because if you think it’s not possible, you’re right,” he says.
This rare opportunity is giving Rempel a chance to reflect on what got him to this point. He recalls his younger years as a student with ADHD, who was misunderstood by his teachers. His teachers told him he needed to concentrate more, instead of humming, singing, and making silly noises. Years later, his humming, singing, and silly noises have allowed him to tour across Canada, fly as far north as Nunavut, as far south as Mexico, and compete against the top Elvis performers on the planet.
“When I talk to kids, I always tell them that thing that makes you unique, and maybe it’s a thing you get in trouble for sometimes, that could be what you are going to do for a living,” says Rempel.
He adds that with passion and drive, those things he once got in trouble for have brought him to places like Memphis, Mexico and Nunavut, and now Budapest.