"Alabama" Films IMAX Segment at Kenworth Plant

5 January 2001

    KIRKLAND, Wash. - Some folks whistle while they work; but what about singing 
while you build trucks?  It can happen. Randy Owen, lead singer for "Alabama" 
and the rest of the group recently visited Kenworth's Chillicothe plant to 
film a segment for a new IMAX(R) movie which journeys through the sounds of 
country music.

    While on the Kenworth production line, Owen sang Alabama's rendition of
Ernie Ford's classic song, "16 Tons," while other members of the band, Jeff
Cook, Teddy Gentry and Mark Herndon, were busy helping to construct a new
Kenworth.

    IMAX's new movie, with the working title "Twang," is due out next summer and
centers around a young boy in Ireland as he time travels the history of
country music.  It begins with the Celtic roots of country music in the
1800s and winds its way through sub-genres, including honky-tonk, bluegrass,
mountain, and western swing, before ending with what country music has
become today.  

    In addition to Alabama, the film features country's brightest stars,
including the Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson and Vince Gill.
According to executive producer Clare Bisceglia, each of today's stars
performs renditions of classic country music.

    Owen suggested to producers that the Alabama segment be filmed at the
Kenworth plant, the location where Alabama's tour trucks are built.  "We
have a very special relationship with the people at the factory," said Owen.
"They work hard to produce the product they make; the trucks our drivers
drive." 

    During the shoot, the production line was operating as normal with the crew
filming around the building of T2000s, W900s, and other Kenworth models.
Greg Fowler, tour manager for Alabama, said the band was excited to be
filming at the Kenworth plant.  "Alabama was asked to represent the working
man, and we felt this was a great place to do it," he said.  "It was win-win
for everybody.  We have a very positive relationship with Kenworth."

    "Graphically it's heaven for a producer," added Bisceglia, in an interview
with the Chillicothe Gazette.  "The juxtaposition is perfect.  Their
enthusiasm for this work will be shown all over the world and people will
get to see the technology and brilliance of how these trucks are put
together."

    For the employees of Kenworth, their day in the spotlight left lasting
memories. "Everyone had a good time and it was nice for our group to be
recognized for their hard work in building the world's best trucks," said
Alan Mayne, Kenworth Chillicothe plant manager.  "Alabama has been here
before, picking up their new trucks and talking with employees.  We consider
them good friends and we're their biggest fans.  Once the IMAX film comes to
town, I don't think the theatre will having any difficulty finding an
audience," smiled  Mayne.

    IMAX Corporation was founded in 1967 and there are more than 200 IMAX
theatres in 25 countries.  More than 500 million people have seen an IMAX
presentation since the medium premiered in 1970. In 1997, IMAX was awarded
an Oscar(R) for Scientific and Technical Achievement by the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.