Established in 1995, the unique project offers junior and senior students in the School of Communications the opportunity to work side by side with professionals to produce a 30-minute film in 12 weeks. This year's screenplay, "The Gospel According to Roy," was written by Andy Graham, who just happens to be a senior film and video production major at Grand Valley. It was chosen from more than 40 entries from 11 states and four countries.
"The script is well done and captures the imagination," said John Harper Philbin, associate professor at Grand Valley and the summer film's director. "With as much comedy as drama, this script is a departure from the more serious films we've done in the past."
The film opens with actor John Hawkinson as Roy, now in his 30s, heading to the city to reveal what he has believed all of his life - that he was a child born of Immaculate Conception, sent as the second son of God. The story is told by his best friend, Calvin, played by Joe Anderson, an atheist who not only doubts Roy's claim, but worries about the consequences of going public. These roles and several others are filled by professionals from the Screen Actors Guild, with lots of local talent and a cast of extras.
The four weeks of pre-production and two weeks allotted for filming, by Film Practicum students, are now completed. After the film is transferred to digital format, another six weeks are spent editing, adding music, voice overs, sound effects and titles. This is done by a new group of students enrolled in the six-week Post Production Practicum. The final product premieres at Studio 28 theatre in November and will be entered in several film festivals.
