Freezer Jesus premieres

Grand Valley presents the world premiere of 'The Freezer Jesus,' produced this summer as part of the School of Communications' annual Summer Film Project.

'The Freezer Jesus' will make its public debut at 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, at Studio 28, 1350 28th St. SW in Wyoming. The screening is open to the public. Admission is $5. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. For more information call (616) 895-3668.

Grand Valley students produced the 30-minute film with a little help from notable Hollywood cinematographer Jack Anderson, who was invited to work with film and video students for six weeks this summer as they gained firsthand knowledge of the movie industry. 'Freezer Jesus' was shot in June on farms near Allendale using local actors. Students then edited the film in the following weeks. GVSU film and video professor John Harper Philbin directed the production.

The film script was selected anonymously following an international screenplay competition. That it was submitted by prominent novelist John Dufresne, who teaches creative writing at Florida International University, was a pleasant surprise, said Philbin. Dufresne's script is adapted from a story in his 1991 short story collection, 'The Way That Water Enters Stone.'

'The Freezer Jesus' intertwines the stories of two neighboring farmers: Jesse (Craig Powers), whose wild 30-something son Russell (Steven Anderson) returns home seriously ill after many years away, and Arlis (Bob Keeler), 70ish, who sees the image of Jesus on his porch freezer and subsequently has pilgrims flocking to his farm. The drama combines supernatural overtones with a portrayal of plain, everyday people.